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Saturday, April 22, 2006
FRONT PAGE FIRST CAPITOL NEWS _ April 22, 2006
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ARTIST REMOVES SCULPTURE FROM ART FOUNDRY AND WITHDRAWS FROM ARTWALK - CLAIMS CENSORSHIP
“THE CREATION OF ADAM,” INSPIRED BY MICHELANGELO SISTINE CHAPEL COVERED BY TABLE CLOTHS AND FIG LEAF AT FOUNDRY ART CENTRE
By Phyllis Schaltenbrand
and Tony Brockmeyer
Award winning artist Philip Hitchcock has removed his sculpture, “The Creation of Adam,” from the Foundry Art Centre and has notified the organizers of the St. Charles Spring ArtWalk he will not participate. The Foundry Art Centre at Saint Charles had chosen a sculpture by Philip Hitchcock as its centerpiece exhibit for The Saint Charles Spring ArtWalk, April 28, 29, and 30, 2006. The Creation of Adam, inspired by Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel was to be on view daily at the Foundry Art Centre's main entrance for the entire month of April. He said he removed it because of censorship. Joyce Rosen, Executive Director of the Foundry Art Centre told the First Capitol News there was no censorship and there is no official policy on frontal nudity.
Hitchcock was going to demonstrate the process of casting from life at the Foundry Art Centre, during the Spring ArtWalk festivities.
Hitchcock told the First Capitol News, “I installed “The Creation of Adam,” on Sunday, April 2nd at the Foundry Art Centre. I discovered the “Fig Leaf” nonsense 24 hours after the initial set up of the sculpture.”
Hitchcock said several attempts to contact Joyce Rosen, the executive director of the Foundry Art Centre, were futile. He produced an e-mail that he sent to Rosen when he was unable to reach her by phone. In his e-mail he said, “No more “vigilante censorship.” There needs to be in place a “Do Not touch” policy for my work, that includes patrons and staff. I am most disturbed by the actions of Sara Beth (according to Hitchcock she is an employee at the Foundry Art Centre), who having received neither a complaint nor a raised eyebrow, took it upon herself in anticipation of controversy to censor my work. I’m sure this action is not a duty listed in her job description. If this work is censored, that decision is to be made by you,” The work shall be displayed “as is” or I will happily remove it within 72 hours of your request. (During that 72 hour period there shall be no “modesty breeches,” table cloths or foliage, lain upon my work, nor anything similar that undignifies or undermines my art work. Both figures shall be draped in their entirety until I can remove them. Having lived that last quarter of a century in earth quake country, I learned to live without the constant fear of a shaker. I found it was best to simply keep a gallon of fresh water under the sink and let disaster take me by surprise. I think it’s better to foster a climate of righteousness and leadership thank to expect the other shoe to drop. I’d rather say, “I’m shocked by their small mindness,” than, “I knew this would happen.”
Removing his art work after 13 days at the Foundry Art Centre, Hitchcock in a letter to those involved with the St. Charles Spring ArtWalk wrote, “After being invited to install my sculpture “The Creation of Adam” inspired by Michelangelo’s Fresco at the Sistine Chapel, in the entry of the St. Charles Foundry Art Centre, the work was targeted repeatedly for censorship. On one occasion I found a fig leaf covering Adam’s nudity. (Literally a piece of foliage had been laid across the genitals.) On at least two other occasions, including a wedding on April 8, dish rags or table cloths were draped across Adam’s genitals. The event on the 8th happened after I sent Foundry executive director Joyce Rosen a letter expressly stating that no modifications were to be made on my work. If it’s too controversial then please allow me some dignity and drape the piece in its entirety. My request went ignored. Now in what I consider the final insult to me personally and to my reputation as an artist, a massive twelve foot wall was placed six feet in front of my sculpture. Please try to imagine how I felt as an artist having a wall placed in front of work I was invited to put there in the first place. I was humiliated. I was embarrassed to have my work hang in a place that would treat me with such disrespect. Never in my 17 year international exhibition history has my work been denigrated the way it was in just two short weeks at the St. Charles Foundry Art Centere.
I was left no choice but to remove the work, and I am withdrawing m participation and support in the St. Charles Spring ArtWalk.
Unfortunately, I believe that commingled with the censorship of my work is a considerable does of homophobia. The fact that a large breasted female bronze remains just outside the Foundry’s doors is a glaring inconsistency. Why aren’t her breasts and genitals draped in fabric? Perhaps I wasn’t targeted because of the nudity in my work, but because I was the only openly gay artist participating in the Artwalk. Whatever the reason my work was targeted for censorship, the impression I’m left with is this: St. Charles is not a welcome environment for the Arts.
Hitchcock also provided an e-mail he received from Christy Sawyer of Studio 17 in the Foundry:
Philip: Of all that I’ve seen of your work, I’m so disappointed that you chose that piece to display at the Foundry. I can only assume it was poor judgment, bad taste, or deliberate defiance. Surely you didn’t think there would be NO response to your deliberate disregard for the Foundry’s limitation on full frontal nudity. Given that the Foundry is a meeting place for sooooo many streams of life: weddings, children’s events AND art events, it boggles the mind that you chose that piece. And especially because so many of your other pieces are so very very beautiful and are not genitally explicit.
To compare the breasts on the sculpture outside the Foundry with the detailed penis on your piece is absolutely absurd. Snail’s sculpture doesn’t even have nipples! Nor does it have genitals as you implied.
And by the way, where on the roster of artists in the Spring ArtWalk does it indicate WHO IS GAY AND WHO IS NOT/ Is there a “g” beside your name? How would anyone know that fact unless you had sent this inflammatory email?
You put us in a bad light and I’m very resentful of that. The Foundry Art Centre has been on the front line for the last two years bringing the arts into this community and I greatly resent you implying that this is not a welcome environment. Everyone else who opens a gallery of studio in Historic St. Charles will stand on the shoulders of the Foundry Art Centre. Christy Sawyer.
The First Capitol News asked a St. Charles grandmother who frequently visits the Art Foundry with her grandson what her thoughts were regarding the “Creation of Adam.”
“My four year old grandson and I periodically go th the art foundry and look at the art. We walked around and looked at everything and that was one of the pieces we looked at. The only comment from either of us was from my my grandson who said wow that is a big statue compared to the other ones. There was no repulsion due to the nature of the figure. We viewed it as a piece of art and moved on . This is much ado about nothing because if a four year old boy doesn’t notice or make comments what's the big deal?”
Joyce Rosen, Executive Director of the Foundry Art Centre told the First Capitol News, “The work was installed on a Sunday when I was not here. On Monday, when I came in I discovered it had been draped with a table cloth and I removed it. One of the artists who has a studio upstairs, as a joke, covered it with a dried flower. Philip came in and saw it covered with the dried flower. I apologized to him At a press party, on Wednesday, I told Philip that private clients use our facilities for different functions and asked him if it could be covered if they asked. He said I can do that. On April 7th we had the Foundry rented for a wedding and the bride asked that the sculpture be covered and we covered it with a table cloth.”
When questioned if the Foundry Art Centre had a policy prohibiting full frontal nudity Joyce Rosen said, We have no official policy on censoring. I do tell the artists exhibiting here to be award that we are a family viewing facility and to be sensitive.”
Joyce Rosen said she had not seen the sculpture prior to it’s installation. “He has a drawing on his web site with God’s hand extended to Adam and I though that was the one being installed here. You could not tell from the web site that Adam was fully nude.”
When asked about response from the St. Charles Spring ArtWalk Committee regarding his refusal to participate Hitchcock said, Although I have received no official response from the St. Charles Spring ArtWalk Committee, I have received a direct apology via e-mail from Tom Hannegan who is a committee member and through my publicist I received word from Nadine Boon, Committee head, who expressed her apologies and states that my absence would be the ArtWalk’s loss.”
The juried ArtWalk, April 28-30, 2006, is free and open to the public and will showcase 50 professional regional artists who will exhibit their work in a dozen sites on Main Street in downtown St. Charles and in the Foundry Art Centre, 520 North Main Center.
By Phyllis Schaltenbrand
and Tony Brockmeyer
Award winning artist Philip Hitchcock has removed his sculpture, “The Creation of Adam,” from the Foundry Art Centre and has notified the organizers of the St. Charles Spring ArtWalk he will not participate. The Foundry Art Centre at Saint Charles had chosen a sculpture by Philip Hitchcock as its centerpiece exhibit for The Saint Charles Spring ArtWalk, April 28, 29, and 30, 2006. The Creation of Adam, inspired by Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel was to be on view daily at the Foundry Art Centre's main entrance for the entire month of April. He said he removed it because of censorship. Joyce Rosen, Executive Director of the Foundry Art Centre told the First Capitol News there was no censorship and there is no official policy on frontal nudity.
Hitchcock was going to demonstrate the process of casting from life at the Foundry Art Centre, during the Spring ArtWalk festivities.
Hitchcock told the First Capitol News, “I installed “The Creation of Adam,” on Sunday, April 2nd at the Foundry Art Centre. I discovered the “Fig Leaf” nonsense 24 hours after the initial set up of the sculpture.”
Hitchcock said several attempts to contact Joyce Rosen, the executive director of the Foundry Art Centre, were futile. He produced an e-mail that he sent to Rosen when he was unable to reach her by phone. In his e-mail he said, “No more “vigilante censorship.” There needs to be in place a “Do Not touch” policy for my work, that includes patrons and staff. I am most disturbed by the actions of Sara Beth (according to Hitchcock she is an employee at the Foundry Art Centre), who having received neither a complaint nor a raised eyebrow, took it upon herself in anticipation of controversy to censor my work. I’m sure this action is not a duty listed in her job description. If this work is censored, that decision is to be made by you,” The work shall be displayed “as is” or I will happily remove it within 72 hours of your request. (During that 72 hour period there shall be no “modesty breeches,” table cloths or foliage, lain upon my work, nor anything similar that undignifies or undermines my art work. Both figures shall be draped in their entirety until I can remove them. Having lived that last quarter of a century in earth quake country, I learned to live without the constant fear of a shaker. I found it was best to simply keep a gallon of fresh water under the sink and let disaster take me by surprise. I think it’s better to foster a climate of righteousness and leadership thank to expect the other shoe to drop. I’d rather say, “I’m shocked by their small mindness,” than, “I knew this would happen.”
Removing his art work after 13 days at the Foundry Art Centre, Hitchcock in a letter to those involved with the St. Charles Spring ArtWalk wrote, “After being invited to install my sculpture “The Creation of Adam” inspired by Michelangelo’s Fresco at the Sistine Chapel, in the entry of the St. Charles Foundry Art Centre, the work was targeted repeatedly for censorship. On one occasion I found a fig leaf covering Adam’s nudity. (Literally a piece of foliage had been laid across the genitals.) On at least two other occasions, including a wedding on April 8, dish rags or table cloths were draped across Adam’s genitals. The event on the 8th happened after I sent Foundry executive director Joyce Rosen a letter expressly stating that no modifications were to be made on my work. If it’s too controversial then please allow me some dignity and drape the piece in its entirety. My request went ignored. Now in what I consider the final insult to me personally and to my reputation as an artist, a massive twelve foot wall was placed six feet in front of my sculpture. Please try to imagine how I felt as an artist having a wall placed in front of work I was invited to put there in the first place. I was humiliated. I was embarrassed to have my work hang in a place that would treat me with such disrespect. Never in my 17 year international exhibition history has my work been denigrated the way it was in just two short weeks at the St. Charles Foundry Art Centere.
I was left no choice but to remove the work, and I am withdrawing m participation and support in the St. Charles Spring ArtWalk.
Unfortunately, I believe that commingled with the censorship of my work is a considerable does of homophobia. The fact that a large breasted female bronze remains just outside the Foundry’s doors is a glaring inconsistency. Why aren’t her breasts and genitals draped in fabric? Perhaps I wasn’t targeted because of the nudity in my work, but because I was the only openly gay artist participating in the Artwalk. Whatever the reason my work was targeted for censorship, the impression I’m left with is this: St. Charles is not a welcome environment for the Arts.
Hitchcock also provided an e-mail he received from Christy Sawyer of Studio 17 in the Foundry:
Philip: Of all that I’ve seen of your work, I’m so disappointed that you chose that piece to display at the Foundry. I can only assume it was poor judgment, bad taste, or deliberate defiance. Surely you didn’t think there would be NO response to your deliberate disregard for the Foundry’s limitation on full frontal nudity. Given that the Foundry is a meeting place for sooooo many streams of life: weddings, children’s events AND art events, it boggles the mind that you chose that piece. And especially because so many of your other pieces are so very very beautiful and are not genitally explicit.
To compare the breasts on the sculpture outside the Foundry with the detailed penis on your piece is absolutely absurd. Snail’s sculpture doesn’t even have nipples! Nor does it have genitals as you implied.
And by the way, where on the roster of artists in the Spring ArtWalk does it indicate WHO IS GAY AND WHO IS NOT/ Is there a “g” beside your name? How would anyone know that fact unless you had sent this inflammatory email?
You put us in a bad light and I’m very resentful of that. The Foundry Art Centre has been on the front line for the last two years bringing the arts into this community and I greatly resent you implying that this is not a welcome environment. Everyone else who opens a gallery of studio in Historic St. Charles will stand on the shoulders of the Foundry Art Centre. Christy Sawyer.
The First Capitol News asked a St. Charles grandmother who frequently visits the Art Foundry with her grandson what her thoughts were regarding the “Creation of Adam.”
“My four year old grandson and I periodically go th the art foundry and look at the art. We walked around and looked at everything and that was one of the pieces we looked at. The only comment from either of us was from my my grandson who said wow that is a big statue compared to the other ones. There was no repulsion due to the nature of the figure. We viewed it as a piece of art and moved on . This is much ado about nothing because if a four year old boy doesn’t notice or make comments what's the big deal?”
Joyce Rosen, Executive Director of the Foundry Art Centre told the First Capitol News, “The work was installed on a Sunday when I was not here. On Monday, when I came in I discovered it had been draped with a table cloth and I removed it. One of the artists who has a studio upstairs, as a joke, covered it with a dried flower. Philip came in and saw it covered with the dried flower. I apologized to him At a press party, on Wednesday, I told Philip that private clients use our facilities for different functions and asked him if it could be covered if they asked. He said I can do that. On April 7th we had the Foundry rented for a wedding and the bride asked that the sculpture be covered and we covered it with a table cloth.”
When questioned if the Foundry Art Centre had a policy prohibiting full frontal nudity Joyce Rosen said, We have no official policy on censoring. I do tell the artists exhibiting here to be award that we are a family viewing facility and to be sensitive.”
Joyce Rosen said she had not seen the sculpture prior to it’s installation. “He has a drawing on his web site with God’s hand extended to Adam and I though that was the one being installed here. You could not tell from the web site that Adam was fully nude.”
When asked about response from the St. Charles Spring ArtWalk Committee regarding his refusal to participate Hitchcock said, Although I have received no official response from the St. Charles Spring ArtWalk Committee, I have received a direct apology via e-mail from Tom Hannegan who is a committee member and through my publicist I received word from Nadine Boon, Committee head, who expressed her apologies and states that my absence would be the ArtWalk’s loss.”
The juried ArtWalk, April 28-30, 2006, is free and open to the public and will showcase 50 professional regional artists who will exhibit their work in a dozen sites on Main Street in downtown St. Charles and in the Foundry Art Centre, 520 North Main Center.
Missourians Have a Right to Know Who Is Influencing Who
Missourians Have a Right to Know Who Is Influencing Who
Senator Timothy P. Green
Missouri State Senate District 13
An editorial in the Post entitled “Sixpack v. Fatcat” (March 30) overlooks the complex mess of campaign finance. The whisper of Missouri voters’ voices can’t compete with the bellow of influential big-money donor special interests. The people of Missouri know that politicians are being influenced by campaign contributions, and the voters have the right to know who is doing the influencing. Missouri needs additional transparency in campaigns.
Consider: The Republican 18th Legislative District Committee connected to Republican House Majority Floor Leader Rep. Tom Dempsey (R-18) received $100,030 in January 2006 and spent $88,750 during that reporting period. Some $5,500 of the $100,000 came from the 2nd Senatorial District Republican Committee. The 18th District Committee then funneled $6,650 to other legislative committees, including giving $2,050 back to the 2nd Senatorial District Republican Committee. Rep. Dempsey, as Majority Floor Leader, controls and decides which bills will go to the House floor. This legal money funneling which provides zero accountability and zero transparency must end.
By eliminating the caps placed on candidate campaign committees and placing them on third-party committees the public would be able to find out exactly who spends what on whom. Campaign finance limits cannot end political corruption, but at least with transparency, the people will know who is influencing who and why certain interests are rewarded.
Currently, it is difficult for people to find out what third-party committees spend on individual candidates. If those committees were placed under limits, the money would flow directly to the individual candidate committees, where the public could easily view the contributions and hold politicians accountable. Then at least the Sixpack would know what Fatcat is doing the influencing.
Senator Timothy P. Green
Missouri State Senate District 13
An editorial in the Post entitled “Sixpack v. Fatcat” (March 30) overlooks the complex mess of campaign finance. The whisper of Missouri voters’ voices can’t compete with the bellow of influential big-money donor special interests. The people of Missouri know that politicians are being influenced by campaign contributions, and the voters have the right to know who is doing the influencing. Missouri needs additional transparency in campaigns.
Consider: The Republican 18th Legislative District Committee connected to Republican House Majority Floor Leader Rep. Tom Dempsey (R-18) received $100,030 in January 2006 and spent $88,750 during that reporting period. Some $5,500 of the $100,000 came from the 2nd Senatorial District Republican Committee. The 18th District Committee then funneled $6,650 to other legislative committees, including giving $2,050 back to the 2nd Senatorial District Republican Committee. Rep. Dempsey, as Majority Floor Leader, controls and decides which bills will go to the House floor. This legal money funneling which provides zero accountability and zero transparency must end.
By eliminating the caps placed on candidate campaign committees and placing them on third-party committees the public would be able to find out exactly who spends what on whom. Campaign finance limits cannot end political corruption, but at least with transparency, the people will know who is influencing who and why certain interests are rewarded.
Currently, it is difficult for people to find out what third-party committees spend on individual candidates. If those committees were placed under limits, the money would flow directly to the individual candidate committees, where the public could easily view the contributions and hold politicians accountable. Then at least the Sixpack would know what Fatcat is doing the influencing.
RAMBLING WITH THE EDITOR - Tony Brockmeyer
Weller rants and raves about the First Capitol News
At a meeting of the City Council a couple of weeks ago Council members along with City Hall and television audiences were subjected to the wild ranting and raving of Councilman Mike Weller. For over twenty minutes Weller went on complaining that the First Capitol News has not called him for any quotes but yet quotes attributed to him have appeared in this publication. “Since they never called me for quotes the First Capitol News is full of lies printing quotes they never called me for It’s nothing but lies, lies, lies.. Why don’t they ever call me for quotes instead of making up lies. I want their questions.”
All quotes attributed to Weller in our newspaper are comments he has made on the Council floor during City Council meetings. We stopped calling him early on in his career as a Councilman when our repeated attempts were ignored. Since Weller says all of the quotes we have credited to him are lies and since we took those quotes from City Council meetings is he telling us that he lies, lies, lies during the Council meetings?
Weller wants us to ask him questions so we will. Right here in the newspaper.
Michael, we were told that at a recent meeting of the Missouri Municipal League at the Lake of the Ozarks you were missing from most of the meetings and seminars. They mentioned you even missed a presentation of a certificate you were to receive. But later one evening you walked into a private dinner sponsored by EMC (they operate the City Sewer facilities) for St. Charles officials with the attractive young Mayor of Mountain Grove, Missouri as your guest. Your EMC hosts made it known they were highly agitated because you brought an uninvited guest to their private dinner. But that aside, our question is: Since you missed the meetings and seminars of the Municipal League and since your attendance at the meetings and lodging was paid for by the City of St. Charles, did you return the taxpayer’s money to the City or did you keep it. Perhaps you thought, as you mentioned at a City Council meeting when you were attempting to justify a raise for the city Council, you could, “Use the money to do something nice for my family.?’
That is our question Michael, we await your answer.
INVESTIGATIVE REPORTS
We have had calls from readers who have given us news tips asking when the stories will appear. Some of the investigations we are conducting take time. We are working on your tips and our investigative report will be coming forward brought about because of the information you have provided. If you have information or tips you want the First Capitol News to investigate do not hesitate to call or write us.
OUR NEXT EDITION MAY 6th
At a meeting of the City Council a couple of weeks ago Council members along with City Hall and television audiences were subjected to the wild ranting and raving of Councilman Mike Weller. For over twenty minutes Weller went on complaining that the First Capitol News has not called him for any quotes but yet quotes attributed to him have appeared in this publication. “Since they never called me for quotes the First Capitol News is full of lies printing quotes they never called me for It’s nothing but lies, lies, lies.. Why don’t they ever call me for quotes instead of making up lies. I want their questions.”
All quotes attributed to Weller in our newspaper are comments he has made on the Council floor during City Council meetings. We stopped calling him early on in his career as a Councilman when our repeated attempts were ignored. Since Weller says all of the quotes we have credited to him are lies and since we took those quotes from City Council meetings is he telling us that he lies, lies, lies during the Council meetings?
Weller wants us to ask him questions so we will. Right here in the newspaper.
Michael, we were told that at a recent meeting of the Missouri Municipal League at the Lake of the Ozarks you were missing from most of the meetings and seminars. They mentioned you even missed a presentation of a certificate you were to receive. But later one evening you walked into a private dinner sponsored by EMC (they operate the City Sewer facilities) for St. Charles officials with the attractive young Mayor of Mountain Grove, Missouri as your guest. Your EMC hosts made it known they were highly agitated because you brought an uninvited guest to their private dinner. But that aside, our question is: Since you missed the meetings and seminars of the Municipal League and since your attendance at the meetings and lodging was paid for by the City of St. Charles, did you return the taxpayer’s money to the City or did you keep it. Perhaps you thought, as you mentioned at a City Council meeting when you were attempting to justify a raise for the city Council, you could, “Use the money to do something nice for my family.?’
That is our question Michael, we await your answer.
INVESTIGATIVE REPORTS
We have had calls from readers who have given us news tips asking when the stories will appear. Some of the investigations we are conducting take time. We are working on your tips and our investigative report will be coming forward brought about because of the information you have provided. If you have information or tips you want the First Capitol News to investigate do not hesitate to call or write us.
OUR NEXT EDITION MAY 6th
THE CITY DESK - City Council President Rory Riddler
Cheap Labor Centerpiece Of
Illegal Immigration Debate
In the current debate over the status of illegal immigrants, what really bothers me are the cheerleaders of cheap labor who keep telling us that an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants are only doing the jobs American’s won’t do. Right. Apparently the homeless people I see standing on street corners, holding up going out of business signs for $50 a day, didn’t get that memo. Or the single moms who open up restaurants at six in the morning for minimum wage and those great “flexible” hours.
Somebody also forgot to tell the entire State of West Virginia. Or perhaps working yourself to death in a coalmine just isn’t as tough as manicuring lawns in Los Angeles. I also don’t like people to tell me there are tough jobs Americans “won’t” do when there are Americans dying in the streets of Iraq trying to bring peace and stability to sectarian factions who appear to want neither. Sounds like a pretty tough job to me.
I’ll be the first to admit that many of the jobs taken by illegal immigrants are hard. But there are plenty of tough jobs Americans do every day. How much particular employers are willing to pay seems to be the real issue.
O’Fallon recently passed legislation to keep contractors from hiring illegal immigrants on jobs involving taxpayer dollars. It grew out of an incident where undocumented workers were brought into the county on a project where there was plenty of willing local manpower to do the job. There simply was no pretext or excuse for turning to undocumented workers other than the lure of cheap labor.
Every American who wants to work should be given every opportunity to work. They price of their labor should not have to compete against undocumented workers. It is simply not a level playing field, when for one set of workers you have to pay applicable taxes and abide by labor and safety regulations and for another set of workers none of that applies.
I have tremendous sympathy for people who want to improve their life or provide for their family. I can’t blame someone for wanting to live the American Dream. But illegal immigrants are exploited because of their status. They have become a permanent underclass of people without the same legal rights, votes or say in the affairs of the place where they live. How likely are they to complain if they are cheated? Who do they call if injured on the job? How do they stop an employer working them sixty hours a week without overtime if in fear of being deported?
John Steinbeck’s novel, The Grapes Of Wrath, tells the story of a farm family who lost everything and were forced to became migrant farm workers to keep from starving. It paints a stark, but accurate picture of waves of desperate displaced persons, willing to work for almost anything. They were hated for taking jobs away from people in the communities to which they traveled. They lived in horrible conditions and were constantly threatened, cheated and bullied. Sounds familiar doesn’t it.
If you haven’t watched the black and white movie version staring Henry Fonda in a while, it’s well worth the rental. But if you think what it portrays is all part of America’s past…think again. Ask yourself if the high prices charged in the “Company” store in the 1930s are really that much different than the excessive fees those without access to regular bank accounts now pay to the Check-Cashing store?
We are all immigrants or the children and grandchildren of immigrants. My fraternal grandparents came to the United States by steamship from Scotland and were processed through Ellis Island in site of the Statue of Liberty. I don’t want to close that door to others. But there is a big difference between coming through the front door and sneaking in through the window.
So what should be done? First, secure the borders. Solving the problem of what to do with 11 million illegal immigrants won’t be helped by adding another 11 million. Hold employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants responsible. Don’t reward people for breaking the law…but recognize that those already here could be given the second chance we all hope a benevolent God and country would offer us…a chance to make things right…a chance to make restitution and earn the rights of citizenship.
Let some hate us if they must, but America is still the destination of choice for most of the oppressed and economically downtrodden people around the world. We bring cultures together better than any nation of Earth. The great melting pot continues to work. The Statue of Liberty has the same meaning for people today as when my grandfather and grandmother first set eyes upon it…a beacon of hope.
Illegal Immigration Debate
In the current debate over the status of illegal immigrants, what really bothers me are the cheerleaders of cheap labor who keep telling us that an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants are only doing the jobs American’s won’t do. Right. Apparently the homeless people I see standing on street corners, holding up going out of business signs for $50 a day, didn’t get that memo. Or the single moms who open up restaurants at six in the morning for minimum wage and those great “flexible” hours.
Somebody also forgot to tell the entire State of West Virginia. Or perhaps working yourself to death in a coalmine just isn’t as tough as manicuring lawns in Los Angeles. I also don’t like people to tell me there are tough jobs Americans “won’t” do when there are Americans dying in the streets of Iraq trying to bring peace and stability to sectarian factions who appear to want neither. Sounds like a pretty tough job to me.
I’ll be the first to admit that many of the jobs taken by illegal immigrants are hard. But there are plenty of tough jobs Americans do every day. How much particular employers are willing to pay seems to be the real issue.
O’Fallon recently passed legislation to keep contractors from hiring illegal immigrants on jobs involving taxpayer dollars. It grew out of an incident where undocumented workers were brought into the county on a project where there was plenty of willing local manpower to do the job. There simply was no pretext or excuse for turning to undocumented workers other than the lure of cheap labor.
Every American who wants to work should be given every opportunity to work. They price of their labor should not have to compete against undocumented workers. It is simply not a level playing field, when for one set of workers you have to pay applicable taxes and abide by labor and safety regulations and for another set of workers none of that applies.
I have tremendous sympathy for people who want to improve their life or provide for their family. I can’t blame someone for wanting to live the American Dream. But illegal immigrants are exploited because of their status. They have become a permanent underclass of people without the same legal rights, votes or say in the affairs of the place where they live. How likely are they to complain if they are cheated? Who do they call if injured on the job? How do they stop an employer working them sixty hours a week without overtime if in fear of being deported?
John Steinbeck’s novel, The Grapes Of Wrath, tells the story of a farm family who lost everything and were forced to became migrant farm workers to keep from starving. It paints a stark, but accurate picture of waves of desperate displaced persons, willing to work for almost anything. They were hated for taking jobs away from people in the communities to which they traveled. They lived in horrible conditions and were constantly threatened, cheated and bullied. Sounds familiar doesn’t it.
If you haven’t watched the black and white movie version staring Henry Fonda in a while, it’s well worth the rental. But if you think what it portrays is all part of America’s past…think again. Ask yourself if the high prices charged in the “Company” store in the 1930s are really that much different than the excessive fees those without access to regular bank accounts now pay to the Check-Cashing store?
We are all immigrants or the children and grandchildren of immigrants. My fraternal grandparents came to the United States by steamship from Scotland and were processed through Ellis Island in site of the Statue of Liberty. I don’t want to close that door to others. But there is a big difference between coming through the front door and sneaking in through the window.
So what should be done? First, secure the borders. Solving the problem of what to do with 11 million illegal immigrants won’t be helped by adding another 11 million. Hold employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants responsible. Don’t reward people for breaking the law…but recognize that those already here could be given the second chance we all hope a benevolent God and country would offer us…a chance to make things right…a chance to make restitution and earn the rights of citizenship.
Let some hate us if they must, but America is still the destination of choice for most of the oppressed and economically downtrodden people around the world. We bring cultures together better than any nation of Earth. The great melting pot continues to work. The Statue of Liberty has the same meaning for people today as when my grandfather and grandmother first set eyes upon it…a beacon of hope.
CASE IN POINT By Joe Koester, Councilman Ward 9
To avoid criticism, do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing.
Elbert Hubbard
A student of mine came bearing a newspaper clipping. He stated, “I have something from out of the paper for you.” Before I could see the little scrap he held, I said, “Let me guess, it’s a Sonderegger column making fun of the Council.”
It wasn't a difficult thing to guess, in fact I think I have the pattern down...begrudgingly write some drivel that no one reads or responds to, such as watching a sporting event or going to a fancy ball around town, then slam the Saint Charles City Council with every little sophomoric thing you can think of. Next, maybe write a little something on St. Peters and O’Fallon (with only a jab or two against St. Charles) followed up by a rant about the “Silly Council.” For good measure, write three more times about St. Charles to reinforce your message and then suffer back through the cycle all over again.
Honestly, I don't mind the one-sidedness of Sonderegger; he has his stance and will not sway, so why bother. What many of us in the county have been asking for now for a long time is simply a column that runs opposite of his to give another perspective – one that is shared by many, many readers from Portage to Foristell. I gave up hope that the paper would offer someone to give a counterpoint to the silly columns of Sonderegger and decided to turn to the, First Capitol News to get an alternative voice out to the public – a voice that Lee Enterprise, developers, movers and shakers throughout our town resent because this little paper has beat the big dogs at the newspaper game! Imagine that, a staff of two and some citizen help has created a newspaper with a far more loyal readership than the three newspapers published in town by Lee Enterprises!
Remember the claimed intimidation by those who made it their daily obsession with attacking the City Council? What you may not know is, some of these same people make it a point to contact anyone who advertises in the First Capitol News and threaten to withdraw their business from them because they have the nerve to put their money anywhere besides the Lee Enterprises Corporation where the message is pro-movers and shakers and the bias slant is sure to lean the way they paid for it to!
To these guys I say: you have three newspapers at your disposal. Do what many of us have had to endure for years now with the Post and Journal, write letters to the editor and engage the paper. I remember the first time Steve Pokin, a reporter with the Journal, tried to reach me. I refused to return a call. It was unfair to Steve, but I figured that I knew the spin he would put on an article regardless what I had to say. Luckily, I moved from the leadership position of the Party and handed that on to others due to mounting duties of the Council. To his credit, I think Steve has tried to be a serious, fair reporter. Likewise, contact FCN in a serious fashion -- the paper has proven in the past that it is willing to put in different viewpoints.
What did surprise me a little was that John Sonderegger watches, “American Idol.” I have never liked these reality shows or their mean-spiritedness that send a message that public discourse can spiral into blatant insults and that's somehow acceptable and funny. In fact, when I read Sonderegger’s column's title, I had to ask students who Simon Cowell is. To me, this kind of entertainment does fit well into the toy box of Sonderegger and many around who speak of “Jesus” when it serves their purpose and then spend the rest of their time on the attack of any and all with whom they disagree, often with a hatred that is inexplicable. Surely, such tactics lack all charity found in the gospel.
I do not know John Sonderegger's faith nor do I concern myself with such, but I do believe that nothing good comes from name calling because it is then that dialog breaks down. I read a quote once that said something like, “It’s better to be an actor on the stage than a critic in the seats.” Any actor on the stage can expect criticism of his work. I expect criticism in our role as council members, I just wish this could be expressed as critique of policy instead of using stupid school-yard tactics. Maybe it's time for John to run for office himself.
Regardless, it is too bad Mr. Sonderegger didn't take time to self-reflect and write a few things that Simon Cowell may have scolded him about. Certainly, I could think up some moronic statements that would apply to Mr. Sonderegger, but talk about silly...
Elbert Hubbard
A student of mine came bearing a newspaper clipping. He stated, “I have something from out of the paper for you.” Before I could see the little scrap he held, I said, “Let me guess, it’s a Sonderegger column making fun of the Council.”
It wasn't a difficult thing to guess, in fact I think I have the pattern down...begrudgingly write some drivel that no one reads or responds to, such as watching a sporting event or going to a fancy ball around town, then slam the Saint Charles City Council with every little sophomoric thing you can think of. Next, maybe write a little something on St. Peters and O’Fallon (with only a jab or two against St. Charles) followed up by a rant about the “Silly Council.” For good measure, write three more times about St. Charles to reinforce your message and then suffer back through the cycle all over again.
Honestly, I don't mind the one-sidedness of Sonderegger; he has his stance and will not sway, so why bother. What many of us in the county have been asking for now for a long time is simply a column that runs opposite of his to give another perspective – one that is shared by many, many readers from Portage to Foristell. I gave up hope that the paper would offer someone to give a counterpoint to the silly columns of Sonderegger and decided to turn to the, First Capitol News to get an alternative voice out to the public – a voice that Lee Enterprise, developers, movers and shakers throughout our town resent because this little paper has beat the big dogs at the newspaper game! Imagine that, a staff of two and some citizen help has created a newspaper with a far more loyal readership than the three newspapers published in town by Lee Enterprises!
Remember the claimed intimidation by those who made it their daily obsession with attacking the City Council? What you may not know is, some of these same people make it a point to contact anyone who advertises in the First Capitol News and threaten to withdraw their business from them because they have the nerve to put their money anywhere besides the Lee Enterprises Corporation where the message is pro-movers and shakers and the bias slant is sure to lean the way they paid for it to!
To these guys I say: you have three newspapers at your disposal. Do what many of us have had to endure for years now with the Post and Journal, write letters to the editor and engage the paper. I remember the first time Steve Pokin, a reporter with the Journal, tried to reach me. I refused to return a call. It was unfair to Steve, but I figured that I knew the spin he would put on an article regardless what I had to say. Luckily, I moved from the leadership position of the Party and handed that on to others due to mounting duties of the Council. To his credit, I think Steve has tried to be a serious, fair reporter. Likewise, contact FCN in a serious fashion -- the paper has proven in the past that it is willing to put in different viewpoints.
What did surprise me a little was that John Sonderegger watches, “American Idol.” I have never liked these reality shows or their mean-spiritedness that send a message that public discourse can spiral into blatant insults and that's somehow acceptable and funny. In fact, when I read Sonderegger’s column's title, I had to ask students who Simon Cowell is. To me, this kind of entertainment does fit well into the toy box of Sonderegger and many around who speak of “Jesus” when it serves their purpose and then spend the rest of their time on the attack of any and all with whom they disagree, often with a hatred that is inexplicable. Surely, such tactics lack all charity found in the gospel.
I do not know John Sonderegger's faith nor do I concern myself with such, but I do believe that nothing good comes from name calling because it is then that dialog breaks down. I read a quote once that said something like, “It’s better to be an actor on the stage than a critic in the seats.” Any actor on the stage can expect criticism of his work. I expect criticism in our role as council members, I just wish this could be expressed as critique of policy instead of using stupid school-yard tactics. Maybe it's time for John to run for office himself.
Regardless, it is too bad Mr. Sonderegger didn't take time to self-reflect and write a few things that Simon Cowell may have scolded him about. Certainly, I could think up some moronic statements that would apply to Mr. Sonderegger, but talk about silly...
CONSERVATIVE FACTOR Alex Spencer
Things have settled down after the election, or have they? At first glance, everyone has gone back to the business of governing, but there seem to be a few bumps in the road.
The Francis Howell School Board had a bit of a shake-up. Two incumbent board members were voted out in favor of change. Change seems like an overstatement since Board President Mark Lafata is still leading the bunch. Not too hard to tell what happened there. Lafata abandoned Rhonda Brown, wife of Mayor Shawn Brown, because she abandoned him. She starting taking the advice of political novice Bob Farr, who ironically had a three-year term and the luxury of figuring things out on the job, and rightfully so, Lafata left it up to Farr to help her get re-elected. Farr is beholden to the Teacher’s Union, and the Teacher’s Union did not trust Rhonda Brown either, which is what happens when you switch sides. Trying to please all the people all the time just ensures that no one you have to work with will trust you. You would think she would have learned that lesson from her husband. In any case, Lafata worked with the Union and he remains at the helm of the ship. Lafata now seems to tussle the most with Farr, at least according to the press. Pastor Farr, who never met a reporter he didn’t like, continues to go with whatever position or theory will get him the most press coverage. Who knows what he is running for next, but he’s gotten as transparent as Pandering Pagano over in St. Peters. I gotta wonder what his flock must think of his political extracurricular activities. I guess I’m thankful that we don’t allow that sort of thing with Catholic priests. I prefer a little separation between church and state and a lot less political agenda on the part of my spiritual advisor.
Over in St. Charles, Darling Dottie survived the recall election. You would think the St. Charles City Council would have buried the hatchet and re-elected Council President Riddler. It’s time for the Mayor to throw in the towel. Try as she might, she was unable to recall Darling Dottie. It’s time to stop being a hindrance and work with the Council. Some of the Mayor’s bunch allegedly campaigned actively against one of their own colleagues. This is not really the way to govern, now is it? Infighting is unproductive and the only losers are the residents. Give it up people. Riddler beat you fair and square. You tried and you failed. Now wait until the next election to push your agenda. On a side note, apparently Kevin Kast has taken a post in Illinois. I wonder what this will mean for the 2007 St. Charles Mayoral race. That remains to be seen I suppose, but apparently a board majority is not for sale, so it’s time to go back to the business of governing.
Even though they didn’t have an election, the sparks are flying in St. Peters. The normally mundane act of naming a Board President became quite a performance the other night. I use the word performance, because it starred our favorite character, Pandering Len Pagano. Good old Pandering Pagano created a fairly impressive drama. Pagano who is not the most eloquent of speakers, after all the doddering old fool routine is his shtick, bumbled out a character attack against Alderman Terry Hawkins. In his trumped up outrage it was a bit hard to figure out his point, but basically, he thinks Hawkins is unfit to serve as Board President because last year Hawkins wrote a letter to a judge asking for leniency for a relative of one of his neighbors. From all accounts, Hawkins did not condone the man’s actions, but simply asked for leniency so the man could see his daughter graduate high school. I’ll save my sermon on federal sentencing guidelines for another time. Seems that it’s really no big deal except that Hawkins signed the letter in his capacity as Board President. Again, not a big deal, but maybe bad judgment. Pagano needs to give it up. It’s a little unclear what his purpose was, of course it’s always unclear what his purpose is. Was he trying to garner support for himself or for his compatriot Patrick Barclay, who practically threw a temper tantrum over the whole process? In any case, Barclay and Pagano should be embarrassed. We’ll see what the next chapter will bring in this drama.
It’s also worth mentioning the 2nd District Senate Race. St. Charles County’s Chief RINO (that’s Republican-in-Name-Only) has a slow but decent fundraising start in his efforts to completely destroy the party and unseat newly elected Senator Scott Rupp. Brazil has created a situation which will force Rupp to raise funds and run two additional campaigns. This is all because A.B. wants to have a state senator in his pocket. Brazil’s donors include the usual suspects and various duck-related individuals and entities. In addition, Malcontent Chuck MacNab and Pathetic Brandy Pedersen actually wrote checks in support of Brazil. I’m not sure I’d be so proud of their support. That seems so incredibly appropriate, doesn’t it? The destroyers-in-chief of the Republican Party are supporting the most dangerous RINO of them all. It’s a bit early to tell, but it certainly seems unlikely that Brazil will do the right thing and step aside for the good of the party. After all, you would have to be a Republican to want to do the right thing for the Republican Party and Brazil is certainly no friend of the Republican Party. Maybe Pedersen and MacNab will go with him to Jeff City if Brazil somehow manages to win. They would be great at constituent services. At least that would get them out of the County.
There was some good news, however. In the department of a less bumpy road, how about the difference in O’Fallon? It’s a new day for sure. Four new board members joined the only two reasonable members of the prior Board of Aldermen and these six new councilmen unanimously elected Councilman Cantwell as President Pro Tem. Wow. What a difference. The people of O’Fallon were unhappy with the direction of their government and they expressed their feelings at the ballot box during a regularly scheduled election. The Mayor even appears to be taking her time in appointing members to fill the two vacant seats as opposed to taking marching orders from A.B., or anyone else for that matter. That is a refreshing change of pace. However, it’s not all roses in O’Fallon. It remains to be seen whether the change to a third class city will truly be a transition period for O’Fallon as they explore the possibility of adopting a charter or if they will join the recall circus in St. Charles.
O’Fallon had a transition in the true democratic tradition envisioned by our founding fathers – the Mayor of St. Charles should note the civics lesson. We’ll have to keep an eye on the road and see if it becomes less bumpy.
The Francis Howell School Board had a bit of a shake-up. Two incumbent board members were voted out in favor of change. Change seems like an overstatement since Board President Mark Lafata is still leading the bunch. Not too hard to tell what happened there. Lafata abandoned Rhonda Brown, wife of Mayor Shawn Brown, because she abandoned him. She starting taking the advice of political novice Bob Farr, who ironically had a three-year term and the luxury of figuring things out on the job, and rightfully so, Lafata left it up to Farr to help her get re-elected. Farr is beholden to the Teacher’s Union, and the Teacher’s Union did not trust Rhonda Brown either, which is what happens when you switch sides. Trying to please all the people all the time just ensures that no one you have to work with will trust you. You would think she would have learned that lesson from her husband. In any case, Lafata worked with the Union and he remains at the helm of the ship. Lafata now seems to tussle the most with Farr, at least according to the press. Pastor Farr, who never met a reporter he didn’t like, continues to go with whatever position or theory will get him the most press coverage. Who knows what he is running for next, but he’s gotten as transparent as Pandering Pagano over in St. Peters. I gotta wonder what his flock must think of his political extracurricular activities. I guess I’m thankful that we don’t allow that sort of thing with Catholic priests. I prefer a little separation between church and state and a lot less political agenda on the part of my spiritual advisor.
Over in St. Charles, Darling Dottie survived the recall election. You would think the St. Charles City Council would have buried the hatchet and re-elected Council President Riddler. It’s time for the Mayor to throw in the towel. Try as she might, she was unable to recall Darling Dottie. It’s time to stop being a hindrance and work with the Council. Some of the Mayor’s bunch allegedly campaigned actively against one of their own colleagues. This is not really the way to govern, now is it? Infighting is unproductive and the only losers are the residents. Give it up people. Riddler beat you fair and square. You tried and you failed. Now wait until the next election to push your agenda. On a side note, apparently Kevin Kast has taken a post in Illinois. I wonder what this will mean for the 2007 St. Charles Mayoral race. That remains to be seen I suppose, but apparently a board majority is not for sale, so it’s time to go back to the business of governing.
Even though they didn’t have an election, the sparks are flying in St. Peters. The normally mundane act of naming a Board President became quite a performance the other night. I use the word performance, because it starred our favorite character, Pandering Len Pagano. Good old Pandering Pagano created a fairly impressive drama. Pagano who is not the most eloquent of speakers, after all the doddering old fool routine is his shtick, bumbled out a character attack against Alderman Terry Hawkins. In his trumped up outrage it was a bit hard to figure out his point, but basically, he thinks Hawkins is unfit to serve as Board President because last year Hawkins wrote a letter to a judge asking for leniency for a relative of one of his neighbors. From all accounts, Hawkins did not condone the man’s actions, but simply asked for leniency so the man could see his daughter graduate high school. I’ll save my sermon on federal sentencing guidelines for another time. Seems that it’s really no big deal except that Hawkins signed the letter in his capacity as Board President. Again, not a big deal, but maybe bad judgment. Pagano needs to give it up. It’s a little unclear what his purpose was, of course it’s always unclear what his purpose is. Was he trying to garner support for himself or for his compatriot Patrick Barclay, who practically threw a temper tantrum over the whole process? In any case, Barclay and Pagano should be embarrassed. We’ll see what the next chapter will bring in this drama.
It’s also worth mentioning the 2nd District Senate Race. St. Charles County’s Chief RINO (that’s Republican-in-Name-Only) has a slow but decent fundraising start in his efforts to completely destroy the party and unseat newly elected Senator Scott Rupp. Brazil has created a situation which will force Rupp to raise funds and run two additional campaigns. This is all because A.B. wants to have a state senator in his pocket. Brazil’s donors include the usual suspects and various duck-related individuals and entities. In addition, Malcontent Chuck MacNab and Pathetic Brandy Pedersen actually wrote checks in support of Brazil. I’m not sure I’d be so proud of their support. That seems so incredibly appropriate, doesn’t it? The destroyers-in-chief of the Republican Party are supporting the most dangerous RINO of them all. It’s a bit early to tell, but it certainly seems unlikely that Brazil will do the right thing and step aside for the good of the party. After all, you would have to be a Republican to want to do the right thing for the Republican Party and Brazil is certainly no friend of the Republican Party. Maybe Pedersen and MacNab will go with him to Jeff City if Brazil somehow manages to win. They would be great at constituent services. At least that would get them out of the County.
There was some good news, however. In the department of a less bumpy road, how about the difference in O’Fallon? It’s a new day for sure. Four new board members joined the only two reasonable members of the prior Board of Aldermen and these six new councilmen unanimously elected Councilman Cantwell as President Pro Tem. Wow. What a difference. The people of O’Fallon were unhappy with the direction of their government and they expressed their feelings at the ballot box during a regularly scheduled election. The Mayor even appears to be taking her time in appointing members to fill the two vacant seats as opposed to taking marching orders from A.B., or anyone else for that matter. That is a refreshing change of pace. However, it’s not all roses in O’Fallon. It remains to be seen whether the change to a third class city will truly be a transition period for O’Fallon as they explore the possibility of adopting a charter or if they will join the recall circus in St. Charles.
O’Fallon had a transition in the true democratic tradition envisioned by our founding fathers – the Mayor of St. Charles should note the civics lesson. We’ll have to keep an eye on the road and see if it becomes less bumpy.
VIEW FROM THE CHEAP SEATS by Jerry Haferkamp
The View From The Cheap Seats
By Jerry Haferkamp
First things first. In my last column I said Ward 2 was next on the “hit list” of the people trying to take control of your city from you. It was a typo. Of course I meant Ward 3. Larry is safe as long as he says “how high?” every time Weller says, “jump”. My other miss-que was referring to Hoepfner as “Schlep”. Everyone knows the fourth member of the Three Stooges was “Shep”, not Schlep. I offer my apologies for getting the name of the fourth of Patty’s Stooges wrong.
I just can’t get over how good it feels to know that $100 and a great deal of honesty turned back a $50,000 to $70,000 assault on your city. I had mentioned the problems in government in our neighboring cities to the west, and how the common factor isn’t politics, as the political affiliation of the combatants doesn’t seem to matter. What does seem to matter is the outside interference of the interlopers who don’t reside in any of the cities. They attempt to buy influence for their developer “du jour” I say “du jour” because in O’Fallon, the money to fund the Non-Citizens Responsible for Turmoil in your Community is now working for developers that gave nice donations to them. This is no surprise to me. I knew all along they were working for developers…it appears the requirement for them to support a developer is for the developer to support them. There is a bigger threat to us from these interlopers coming north across the Page Avenue extension than any imagined threat from those coming north across the Rio Grande.
St. Charles, we need to get control of our borders.
A tip of the hat goes to the many residents who spoke at Tuesday’s council meeting opposing eminent domain. As they so eloquently stated, the use of eminent domain isn’t necessary to cause financial injury to our residents. Just the threat of its use is more than enough. In fact, even the threat of its use is too much. The use of eminent domain and even the threat of its use have been shown to be a disaster to those whose property was taken from them. This council is sitting still while they see what comes from state legislation. We don’t need lemmings that just follow. We elected them as leaders. It’s time to say NO to eminent domain except for public works, utilities and cases of SEVERE, uncorrected blight.
In the next budget sessions, the council needs to set aside funding for a watch for the staffer responsible for setting the times for the school zone flashing lights on Zumbehl. They flash 15 MPH at 10 A.M. when no children are near. They are off at 8 A.M with kids everywhere. Many times the southbound are flashing when the northbound aren’t. Why would it be O.K. to drive 30 on one side of the street and 15 on the other? A little enforcement wouldn’t be bad either. I have been passed twice while obeying the 15 MPH lights. One was a teen with his cap on backwards, or maybe his hat was right and his head was backwards. Who knows?
Of course, that’s just the view from the cheap seats.
By Jerry Haferkamp
First things first. In my last column I said Ward 2 was next on the “hit list” of the people trying to take control of your city from you. It was a typo. Of course I meant Ward 3. Larry is safe as long as he says “how high?” every time Weller says, “jump”. My other miss-que was referring to Hoepfner as “Schlep”. Everyone knows the fourth member of the Three Stooges was “Shep”, not Schlep. I offer my apologies for getting the name of the fourth of Patty’s Stooges wrong.
I just can’t get over how good it feels to know that $100 and a great deal of honesty turned back a $50,000 to $70,000 assault on your city. I had mentioned the problems in government in our neighboring cities to the west, and how the common factor isn’t politics, as the political affiliation of the combatants doesn’t seem to matter. What does seem to matter is the outside interference of the interlopers who don’t reside in any of the cities. They attempt to buy influence for their developer “du jour” I say “du jour” because in O’Fallon, the money to fund the Non-Citizens Responsible for Turmoil in your Community is now working for developers that gave nice donations to them. This is no surprise to me. I knew all along they were working for developers…it appears the requirement for them to support a developer is for the developer to support them. There is a bigger threat to us from these interlopers coming north across the Page Avenue extension than any imagined threat from those coming north across the Rio Grande.
St. Charles, we need to get control of our borders.
A tip of the hat goes to the many residents who spoke at Tuesday’s council meeting opposing eminent domain. As they so eloquently stated, the use of eminent domain isn’t necessary to cause financial injury to our residents. Just the threat of its use is more than enough. In fact, even the threat of its use is too much. The use of eminent domain and even the threat of its use have been shown to be a disaster to those whose property was taken from them. This council is sitting still while they see what comes from state legislation. We don’t need lemmings that just follow. We elected them as leaders. It’s time to say NO to eminent domain except for public works, utilities and cases of SEVERE, uncorrected blight.
In the next budget sessions, the council needs to set aside funding for a watch for the staffer responsible for setting the times for the school zone flashing lights on Zumbehl. They flash 15 MPH at 10 A.M. when no children are near. They are off at 8 A.M with kids everywhere. Many times the southbound are flashing when the northbound aren’t. Why would it be O.K. to drive 30 on one side of the street and 15 on the other? A little enforcement wouldn’t be bad either. I have been passed twice while obeying the 15 MPH lights. One was a teen with his cap on backwards, or maybe his hat was right and his head was backwards. Who knows?
Of course, that’s just the view from the cheap seats.
THE PEOPLE SPEAK - Letters to the editor
Tony,
First of all, thank you Phyllis and Tony for your wonderful paper.
Congratulations to all of the voters of Ward 7. You “Did the right thing!” Maybe Mr. Hughes and Mr. Kast should move to O’Fallon. They sure as hell aren’t welcome in St. Charles.
In a future edition, could you please list when the terms expire for all the St. Charles Council members?
Also, would it be possible for you to do a piece on what properties on Main Street are owned by the Mayor or City Council members?
Keep up the good work!
T. J.
Ward 10
Dear Editor,
It is refreshing to see that there are times when money cannot buy everything. This has been one of those times. The defeat of the first recall in St. Charles history is a victory of the little guys over the big guys. Those who supported Dottie Greer by voting NO on recall did so for various reasons. Some people simply voted for Dottie because she is a good woman. Some voted for her because they approved of her as their council representative. Some people voted no recall because they were upset with the treatment to which she had been subjected. Others voted for her because they realized that their removal would upset the current balance of power on the council.
We must not get complacent. We have not won the war. We have only won a battle. There are much tougher battles ahead of us. We must keep on fighting.
Since the U.S. Supreme Court has given the green light to the indiscriminant use of the power of eminent domain we must be ever more vigilant. We must be very concerned about the ties between the major developers and our city administration, and ties between these developers and our individual councilpersons. It is happening right here, in our town, right now. Pay very close attention to what is going on in Frenchtown and what is surfacing up at Fifth Street and Boonslick. You would know what I mean if you had attended or watched last Tuesday’s April 4 council meeting.
Looking back a bit on this subject, four months ago on December 6, John Gieseke brought up Bill 8777 for introduction, a bill that would limit the use of eminent domain in our town. After many meetings, discussions, and revisions, this bill was defeated by six council members on February 21. Four council members, John Gieseke, Joe Koester, Mark Brown, and Dottie Greer voted FOR this bill, supporting OUR individual rights as property owners by attempting to limit the use of eminent domain. Dottie Greer is a determined fighter against the use of eminent domain.
I am pleased to see that a majority of the voters in Ward 7 were able to see past the tons of propaganda that was hurled at them by the factions opposing Dottie Greer. I am thankful that a majority of Ward 7 voters had the heart and the wisdom to do the right thing.
Glen Dashner
Dear Editor,
It is refreshing to see that there are times when money cannot buy everything. This has been one of those times. The defeat of the first recall in St. Charles history is a victory of the little guys over the big guys. Those who supported Dottie Greer by voting NO on recall did so for various reasons. Some people simply voted for Dottie because she is a good woman. Some voted for her because they approved of her as their council representative. Some people voted no recall because they were upset with the treatment to which she had been subjected. Others voted for her because they realized that their removal would upset the current balance of power on the council.
We must not get complacent. We have not won the war. We have only won a battle. There are much tougher battles ahead of us. We must keep on fighting.
Since the U.S. Supreme Court has given the green light to the indiscriminant use of the power of eminent domain we must be ever more vigilant. We must be very concerned about the ties between the major developers and our city administration, and ties between these developers and our individual councilpersons. It is happening right here, in our town, right now. Pay very close attention to what is going on in Frenchtown and what is surfacing up at Fifth Street and Boonslick. You would know what I mean if you had attended or watched last Tuesday’s April 4 council meeting.
Looking back a bit on this subject, four months ago on December 6, John Gieseke brought up Bill 8777 for introduction, a bill that would limit the use of eminent domain in our town. After many meetings, discussions, and revisions, this bill was defeated by six council members on February 21. Four council members, John Gieseke, Joe Koester, Mark Brown, and Dottie Greer voted FOR this bill, supporting OUR individual rights as property owners by attempting to limit the use of eminent domain. Dottie Greer is a determined fighter against the use of eminent domain.
I am pleased to see that a majority of the voters in Ward 7 were able to see past the tons of propaganda that was hurled at them by the factions opposing Dottie Greer. I am thankful that a majority of Ward 7 voters had the heart and the wisdom to do the right thing.
Gen Dashner
To the Editor:
Democracy Still Alive and Well!
Thanks to the FCN we the regular people can speak out and be heard. I want to thank Council Woman Dottie Greer for her courage, composure, and demeanor during her past experiences as representative for her constituents in Ward 7, as well as the people of our city. Thank you for being the catalyst that broke new ground in our political system. You proved that Democracy is still alive in our city no matter who or how many people try to destroy it. Truth does bubble to the top it doesn’t care who you are as was proven in our recent election.
Many people in the city were and are in your corner and salute you for your tenacity and caring. Also thank your to your adversaries who have helped to wake people up in our city. We have discovered some things we were unaware of and now have the opportunity to correct. That’s a good thing and now IS THE TIME!
My thanks also to President Riddler for his part in questioning the validity of signatures on the petitions to recall and the part he played in this matter. The same is true for our Chief of Police Tim Swope and his performance in following through with this information. It is yet to be seen how our PA, follows through with what he has received.
Most of our citizens pay attention and want good representation in their wards, their county, state, and nation although we may differ in what we consider that to be. I call that Democracy and it begins in our own back yards. We are on the move and taking our country back. Inch by inch it is a cinch and working together we will succeed. Thanks FCN for this opportunity to speak out.
Darlene Damon
First of all, thank you Phyllis and Tony for your wonderful paper.
Congratulations to all of the voters of Ward 7. You “Did the right thing!” Maybe Mr. Hughes and Mr. Kast should move to O’Fallon. They sure as hell aren’t welcome in St. Charles.
In a future edition, could you please list when the terms expire for all the St. Charles Council members?
Also, would it be possible for you to do a piece on what properties on Main Street are owned by the Mayor or City Council members?
Keep up the good work!
T. J.
Ward 10
Dear Editor,
It is refreshing to see that there are times when money cannot buy everything. This has been one of those times. The defeat of the first recall in St. Charles history is a victory of the little guys over the big guys. Those who supported Dottie Greer by voting NO on recall did so for various reasons. Some people simply voted for Dottie because she is a good woman. Some voted for her because they approved of her as their council representative. Some people voted no recall because they were upset with the treatment to which she had been subjected. Others voted for her because they realized that their removal would upset the current balance of power on the council.
We must not get complacent. We have not won the war. We have only won a battle. There are much tougher battles ahead of us. We must keep on fighting.
Since the U.S. Supreme Court has given the green light to the indiscriminant use of the power of eminent domain we must be ever more vigilant. We must be very concerned about the ties between the major developers and our city administration, and ties between these developers and our individual councilpersons. It is happening right here, in our town, right now. Pay very close attention to what is going on in Frenchtown and what is surfacing up at Fifth Street and Boonslick. You would know what I mean if you had attended or watched last Tuesday’s April 4 council meeting.
Looking back a bit on this subject, four months ago on December 6, John Gieseke brought up Bill 8777 for introduction, a bill that would limit the use of eminent domain in our town. After many meetings, discussions, and revisions, this bill was defeated by six council members on February 21. Four council members, John Gieseke, Joe Koester, Mark Brown, and Dottie Greer voted FOR this bill, supporting OUR individual rights as property owners by attempting to limit the use of eminent domain. Dottie Greer is a determined fighter against the use of eminent domain.
I am pleased to see that a majority of the voters in Ward 7 were able to see past the tons of propaganda that was hurled at them by the factions opposing Dottie Greer. I am thankful that a majority of Ward 7 voters had the heart and the wisdom to do the right thing.
Glen Dashner
Dear Editor,
It is refreshing to see that there are times when money cannot buy everything. This has been one of those times. The defeat of the first recall in St. Charles history is a victory of the little guys over the big guys. Those who supported Dottie Greer by voting NO on recall did so for various reasons. Some people simply voted for Dottie because she is a good woman. Some voted for her because they approved of her as their council representative. Some people voted no recall because they were upset with the treatment to which she had been subjected. Others voted for her because they realized that their removal would upset the current balance of power on the council.
We must not get complacent. We have not won the war. We have only won a battle. There are much tougher battles ahead of us. We must keep on fighting.
Since the U.S. Supreme Court has given the green light to the indiscriminant use of the power of eminent domain we must be ever more vigilant. We must be very concerned about the ties between the major developers and our city administration, and ties between these developers and our individual councilpersons. It is happening right here, in our town, right now. Pay very close attention to what is going on in Frenchtown and what is surfacing up at Fifth Street and Boonslick. You would know what I mean if you had attended or watched last Tuesday’s April 4 council meeting.
Looking back a bit on this subject, four months ago on December 6, John Gieseke brought up Bill 8777 for introduction, a bill that would limit the use of eminent domain in our town. After many meetings, discussions, and revisions, this bill was defeated by six council members on February 21. Four council members, John Gieseke, Joe Koester, Mark Brown, and Dottie Greer voted FOR this bill, supporting OUR individual rights as property owners by attempting to limit the use of eminent domain. Dottie Greer is a determined fighter against the use of eminent domain.
I am pleased to see that a majority of the voters in Ward 7 were able to see past the tons of propaganda that was hurled at them by the factions opposing Dottie Greer. I am thankful that a majority of Ward 7 voters had the heart and the wisdom to do the right thing.
Gen Dashner
To the Editor:
Democracy Still Alive and Well!
Thanks to the FCN we the regular people can speak out and be heard. I want to thank Council Woman Dottie Greer for her courage, composure, and demeanor during her past experiences as representative for her constituents in Ward 7, as well as the people of our city. Thank you for being the catalyst that broke new ground in our political system. You proved that Democracy is still alive in our city no matter who or how many people try to destroy it. Truth does bubble to the top it doesn’t care who you are as was proven in our recent election.
Many people in the city were and are in your corner and salute you for your tenacity and caring. Also thank your to your adversaries who have helped to wake people up in our city. We have discovered some things we were unaware of and now have the opportunity to correct. That’s a good thing and now IS THE TIME!
My thanks also to President Riddler for his part in questioning the validity of signatures on the petitions to recall and the part he played in this matter. The same is true for our Chief of Police Tim Swope and his performance in following through with this information. It is yet to be seen how our PA, follows through with what he has received.
Most of our citizens pay attention and want good representation in their wards, their county, state, and nation although we may differ in what we consider that to be. I call that Democracy and it begins in our own back yards. We are on the move and taking our country back. Inch by inch it is a cinch and working together we will succeed. Thanks FCN for this opportunity to speak out.
Darlene Damon
FIRST CAPITOL NEWS SPORTS = Mike McMurran Sports Editor
MY COLUMN MIKE MCMURRAN, Sports Editor
I suspect most everyone remembers their first Cardinal baseball game, I certainly do. I was but 9 years old and my grandma, my grandma McMurran, took me to old Sportman’s Park. The year was 1964 and the Cardinals had just acquired an outfielder from the Cubs by the name of Lou Brock. As the saying goes, “the rest is history.”
There was a period in my life when I would attend 30 or so games a season; of course, like every other aspect of your life – kids changed that rather quickly. Still, we have attended at least one or two games a year as a family. This season I was fortunate enough to be invited in on splitting a season ticket with Doug Medley. What I really have is one-half of a season ticket, which means I have four tickets to 10 games. Lynn and I invited our good friends Dr. Bill Solomon and his better half Sue to this past Friday’s game with the Reds. We tried to walk around the stadium but found that to be a rather difficult, if not impossible task, so we entered new Busch Stadium about 90 minutes prior to the first pitch. First impression: it is not a stadium – not even close. It is clearly a “ballpark.” The four of us stood there like little kids, in complete and total awe of what we were witnessing. By now I am rather certain most everyone, at least most everyone who cares, has seen pictures of the ballpark. They do not do the park justice. It really is nothing less than breathtaking.
The four of us walked around the main level concourse for almost an hour; I am at a total loss of words to explain the feeling. Certainly it was not as exciting as the birth of my children, but for some strange reason that is what comes to mind. But, that is not what I wish to write about today…
…today I wish to ad the name of Daniel Patrick McMurran to the long list of those who call themselves “Cardinal Nation.” Paragraph one of this narrative tells how I attended my first Cardinal game at age 9 – and I have been a member of Cardinal Nation ever since. It was not uncommon for me to skip school, ride Bi-State to the Stadium and attend day games. As a matter of fact, often times my teachers would ask: “Is there a baseball game today,” on days that I was absent.
My oldest son Joe has been a member for about two years now. One of the first things Joe does every morning during the baseball season is check the morning paper to see (a) where the Cardinals are in the standings and (b) check out the individual stats for his favorite player, Scott Rolen. My favorite daughter Maggie proudly sports her Cardinal baseball hat most everywhere she goes, including soccer games, which I am certain drives her coach crazy.
Daniel is but 6 years old and still in kindergarten, too young some would say to be an official member of Cardinal Nation. Ah yes, just last evening, Dee, as he is affectionately known, walked up to me with the remote control of the television and asked, “Dad, what channel are the Cardinals on tonight, I want to watch the baseball game.” It was a special moment for me, as I knew my son was hooked for life as a Cardinal fan.
Another special moment happens this weekend for a number of my Titan baseball players who compete at the Atom level of the St. Peters Athletic Association. This Saturday Evan Oelklaus, Griffin Palmer, Will Fairless, Derrick Griffits, Sean Coogan, Matthew Murray, Brody Tinkham, Carson Green, Tyler Hash and of course Joe McMurran will be making their First Holy Communion. All for except Hash will celebrate the special occasion at ASH; Hash, whose father is the head baseball coach at Jennings Senior High, will make his at St. Cletus. Congratulations boys, it is a very special day for you and your parents. I know there was one very, very proud father sitting in the Shrine of St. Phillipine Duchesne, bursting with pride, as his son read Scripture to the 30 or so students and 100’s of parents and grandparents. He, without a doubt, gets his academic background from his mother. I am very proud of you Joe; as proud as I am, I love you even more.
By Louis J. Launer
The Missouri River Otters have faced this music before three seasons ago when there was a lack of attendance, upset fans and a talent roster that did not meet expectations. Three seasons ago, there was an ownership partnership led by Kevin Fitzpatrick, who promised the fans good hockey, yet they could not deliver. The team finished out of the first round and with many signs pointing to the team’s demise as a result of vendors and players not getting paid, the ownership was forfeited to the United Hockey League in 2003 and the 2003-04 season turned out to be one of the worst seasons in River Otters history. It still remains the team’s worst season. This season, it was the team’s second worst.
When Mike Shanahan, Jr. purchased the team in 2004, he promised to the fans that there would be changes made and that it would be more fan friendly. Fans didn’t return. Some fans were so burned by the actions of the Fitzpatrick ownership that even with the River Otters “repackaged,” it was still the same thing and they would never return to Family Arena. Many sponsors and vendors who were also fans felt cheated because they did not feel that they were getting their money’s worth. Some sponsors have said that even though there was new ownership with the Shanahans, that they would never venture into investing in minor league hockey.
It was a hard rebuilding program for the River Otters and apparently the Shanahan family realizes that they encountered more damage than they had expected to see. A week before the season ended, fans noticed that the ownership box was empty and dark.
This time, there are tell-tale signs again that the team could fold or relocate to another city. Attendance figures for this season fell short of expectations. Loyal fans who paid for season tickets felt that they were not getting their money’s worth as the team cut back on promotions. Many players who were doing very well with the River Otters were sent to other teams or were released. The latest “surprise” was the release of Brendan Cuthbert, the backup goaltender. He was picked up two weeks before the season ended by the Rockford IceHogs, a high seed in the UHL playoffs and could see ice time and possibly start because their regular goaltenders are injured.
Cuthbert’s surprise release and his pick up by a top contender could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back for most fans. Last Saturday’s final game may have been “fan appreciation night,” but it turned out to be more of a loud whisper night as various people, fans, concessionaires and some arena personnel were saying that this was “the final game ever” for the Missouri River Otters
The United Hockey League, which saw lots of success this season in a number of cities are facing some challenges. Four franchises, Port Huron, Roanoke, Richmond and Missouri have had problems in one way or another. Port Huron has had four different franchises in 15 years and continues to have problems in one way or another, either by the lack of attendance or poor hockey operations. Roanoke has had problems with their building throughout the season, keeping consistent ice (up to 5 games were postponed this year due to ice problems). Richmond has been rumored to move to Hoffman Estates, Illinois and merge with the expansion team scheduled to play in the Chicago suburbs in 2006-07. Missouri continues to have problems, which go back to the Fitzpatrick era and the Shanahan family could not erase those tarnished images and lack of communication that became engraved in the minds of fans and sponsors going back to 2003.
Even successful teams in the UHL faced some difficulty. The Quad City Mallards were just purchased by a group of Iowa investors. But fans and some sponsors tried to campaign for the team to move from the AA level in the UHL to the AAA level of the American Hockey League—the same league which features teams in Peoria, Milwaukee and Des Moines, Iowa. The Iowa investors have stated that they will keep the team in the UHL and many a Mallard fan, who dreams of taking on a team such as Peoria or Des Moines do not like staying in the same league.
The Rockford IceHogs, who saw one of their best teams ever this season, face the prospect of losing fans, not because of internal problems. At least one-third of their season ticket base comes from McHenry and Kane Counties, halfway between Chicago and Rockford. When the Hoffman Estates franchise becomes active, there is a distinct possibility that Rockford could lose season ticket holders to the new franchise because of the distance to and from the venues. Rockford’s successes today could mean that next season, they could play to lower attendance because of competition literally down the highway from them.
At this time, nothing has been decided concerning the Missouri River Otters. There are current contracts and agreements between the team and the United Hockey League that do not expire until July 1. That is also the date where the UHL begins its new fiscal year. Usually in the month of June, the UHL meets with their Board of Governors at their annual meetings in Las Vegas. A number of issues could be brought up. One of them could be the stability of several franchises.
Officials with both the River Otters organization and the UHL have clearly stated that at this time, it’s not time to circle the wagons.
“Hopefully the River Otters will be back next season!” said Dan Silver, who is in charge of media relations.
UHL’s media relations chief Brian Werger, believes that the talk of franchise problems and league problems have placed a cloud over this year’s Colonial Cup playoffs.
“All of these issues have been blown way out of proportion,” Werger said. That included rumors that Richmond, Roanoke, Port Huron and Missouri were going to be contracted and become dormant franchises. “It’s up to the individual team to make the decision and they do have to contact the league if they aren’t intending to return.”
River Otters General Manager Frank Buonomo, who has received a lot of criticism from fans, admitted that these are unknown days.
“It was an extremely tough season,” Buonomo said. “But we’ve been in conversations with various members of Family Arena officials and Mike [Shanahan] as to what we’re going to do. There are insurance issues, which we would like to resolve, particularly those concerning workers’ compensation and we also want prime dates from Family Arena. If we don’t get those prime dates, we can’t be successful.”
Buonomo has also received criticism from fans concerning both the firing of head coach Kevin Kaminski and the player personnel brought to the team. Jeff Brown, who was brought in to succeed Kaminski did keep the River Otters from becoming the worst in the UHL, but still finished last in the Western Division, where all of the other teams in the division qualified for the playoffs. Buonomo believes that it is up to Brown himself on whether or not he wants to stay as head coach next season. But Buonomo has said that a “timetable” needs to be put into place.
“We’ll find out next week,” he said.
There are some fans who are just upset with the team. People realize that there is quite a fan base and would definitely support a UHL team. What is not being understood is why the River Otters have been failing miserably. Adam Woehler, an avid hockey fan, feels that minor league hockey can be supported in St. Charles, if it is given a proper chance.
“During the two seasons we’ve been attending games, we’ve struck up friendships with season ticket holders and concession workers,” he said. “The concession people are in-the-stand workers who are Family Arena employees and seem to know everything going on.”
It’s not unusual in minor league hockey to wonder what the fate of a team is going to be when a season ends. There is so much emotion that runs through fans, players and coaches that a season that could have been more is finally over.
“It was a general buzz in the arena [last Saturday] night, with rumors and whispers, and a sense of finality to comments on the loud speaker. I know it wouldn’t be the first time a minor league team has folded, but it would be sad. St. Louis is a great hockey town and the River Otters are a way to support and get to know players, and not go broke on tickets in the process.”
The First Capitol News wanted to contact both River Otters majority owner Mike Shanahan and United Hockey League President/CEO Richard Brosal. But both were unavailable to be reached at this time.
I suspect most everyone remembers their first Cardinal baseball game, I certainly do. I was but 9 years old and my grandma, my grandma McMurran, took me to old Sportman’s Park. The year was 1964 and the Cardinals had just acquired an outfielder from the Cubs by the name of Lou Brock. As the saying goes, “the rest is history.”
There was a period in my life when I would attend 30 or so games a season; of course, like every other aspect of your life – kids changed that rather quickly. Still, we have attended at least one or two games a year as a family. This season I was fortunate enough to be invited in on splitting a season ticket with Doug Medley. What I really have is one-half of a season ticket, which means I have four tickets to 10 games. Lynn and I invited our good friends Dr. Bill Solomon and his better half Sue to this past Friday’s game with the Reds. We tried to walk around the stadium but found that to be a rather difficult, if not impossible task, so we entered new Busch Stadium about 90 minutes prior to the first pitch. First impression: it is not a stadium – not even close. It is clearly a “ballpark.” The four of us stood there like little kids, in complete and total awe of what we were witnessing. By now I am rather certain most everyone, at least most everyone who cares, has seen pictures of the ballpark. They do not do the park justice. It really is nothing less than breathtaking.
The four of us walked around the main level concourse for almost an hour; I am at a total loss of words to explain the feeling. Certainly it was not as exciting as the birth of my children, but for some strange reason that is what comes to mind. But, that is not what I wish to write about today…
…today I wish to ad the name of Daniel Patrick McMurran to the long list of those who call themselves “Cardinal Nation.” Paragraph one of this narrative tells how I attended my first Cardinal game at age 9 – and I have been a member of Cardinal Nation ever since. It was not uncommon for me to skip school, ride Bi-State to the Stadium and attend day games. As a matter of fact, often times my teachers would ask: “Is there a baseball game today,” on days that I was absent.
My oldest son Joe has been a member for about two years now. One of the first things Joe does every morning during the baseball season is check the morning paper to see (a) where the Cardinals are in the standings and (b) check out the individual stats for his favorite player, Scott Rolen. My favorite daughter Maggie proudly sports her Cardinal baseball hat most everywhere she goes, including soccer games, which I am certain drives her coach crazy.
Daniel is but 6 years old and still in kindergarten, too young some would say to be an official member of Cardinal Nation. Ah yes, just last evening, Dee, as he is affectionately known, walked up to me with the remote control of the television and asked, “Dad, what channel are the Cardinals on tonight, I want to watch the baseball game.” It was a special moment for me, as I knew my son was hooked for life as a Cardinal fan.
Another special moment happens this weekend for a number of my Titan baseball players who compete at the Atom level of the St. Peters Athletic Association. This Saturday Evan Oelklaus, Griffin Palmer, Will Fairless, Derrick Griffits, Sean Coogan, Matthew Murray, Brody Tinkham, Carson Green, Tyler Hash and of course Joe McMurran will be making their First Holy Communion. All for except Hash will celebrate the special occasion at ASH; Hash, whose father is the head baseball coach at Jennings Senior High, will make his at St. Cletus. Congratulations boys, it is a very special day for you and your parents. I know there was one very, very proud father sitting in the Shrine of St. Phillipine Duchesne, bursting with pride, as his son read Scripture to the 30 or so students and 100’s of parents and grandparents. He, without a doubt, gets his academic background from his mother. I am very proud of you Joe; as proud as I am, I love you even more.
By Louis J. Launer
The Missouri River Otters have faced this music before three seasons ago when there was a lack of attendance, upset fans and a talent roster that did not meet expectations. Three seasons ago, there was an ownership partnership led by Kevin Fitzpatrick, who promised the fans good hockey, yet they could not deliver. The team finished out of the first round and with many signs pointing to the team’s demise as a result of vendors and players not getting paid, the ownership was forfeited to the United Hockey League in 2003 and the 2003-04 season turned out to be one of the worst seasons in River Otters history. It still remains the team’s worst season. This season, it was the team’s second worst.
When Mike Shanahan, Jr. purchased the team in 2004, he promised to the fans that there would be changes made and that it would be more fan friendly. Fans didn’t return. Some fans were so burned by the actions of the Fitzpatrick ownership that even with the River Otters “repackaged,” it was still the same thing and they would never return to Family Arena. Many sponsors and vendors who were also fans felt cheated because they did not feel that they were getting their money’s worth. Some sponsors have said that even though there was new ownership with the Shanahans, that they would never venture into investing in minor league hockey.
It was a hard rebuilding program for the River Otters and apparently the Shanahan family realizes that they encountered more damage than they had expected to see. A week before the season ended, fans noticed that the ownership box was empty and dark.
This time, there are tell-tale signs again that the team could fold or relocate to another city. Attendance figures for this season fell short of expectations. Loyal fans who paid for season tickets felt that they were not getting their money’s worth as the team cut back on promotions. Many players who were doing very well with the River Otters were sent to other teams or were released. The latest “surprise” was the release of Brendan Cuthbert, the backup goaltender. He was picked up two weeks before the season ended by the Rockford IceHogs, a high seed in the UHL playoffs and could see ice time and possibly start because their regular goaltenders are injured.
Cuthbert’s surprise release and his pick up by a top contender could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back for most fans. Last Saturday’s final game may have been “fan appreciation night,” but it turned out to be more of a loud whisper night as various people, fans, concessionaires and some arena personnel were saying that this was “the final game ever” for the Missouri River Otters
The United Hockey League, which saw lots of success this season in a number of cities are facing some challenges. Four franchises, Port Huron, Roanoke, Richmond and Missouri have had problems in one way or another. Port Huron has had four different franchises in 15 years and continues to have problems in one way or another, either by the lack of attendance or poor hockey operations. Roanoke has had problems with their building throughout the season, keeping consistent ice (up to 5 games were postponed this year due to ice problems). Richmond has been rumored to move to Hoffman Estates, Illinois and merge with the expansion team scheduled to play in the Chicago suburbs in 2006-07. Missouri continues to have problems, which go back to the Fitzpatrick era and the Shanahan family could not erase those tarnished images and lack of communication that became engraved in the minds of fans and sponsors going back to 2003.
Even successful teams in the UHL faced some difficulty. The Quad City Mallards were just purchased by a group of Iowa investors. But fans and some sponsors tried to campaign for the team to move from the AA level in the UHL to the AAA level of the American Hockey League—the same league which features teams in Peoria, Milwaukee and Des Moines, Iowa. The Iowa investors have stated that they will keep the team in the UHL and many a Mallard fan, who dreams of taking on a team such as Peoria or Des Moines do not like staying in the same league.
The Rockford IceHogs, who saw one of their best teams ever this season, face the prospect of losing fans, not because of internal problems. At least one-third of their season ticket base comes from McHenry and Kane Counties, halfway between Chicago and Rockford. When the Hoffman Estates franchise becomes active, there is a distinct possibility that Rockford could lose season ticket holders to the new franchise because of the distance to and from the venues. Rockford’s successes today could mean that next season, they could play to lower attendance because of competition literally down the highway from them.
At this time, nothing has been decided concerning the Missouri River Otters. There are current contracts and agreements between the team and the United Hockey League that do not expire until July 1. That is also the date where the UHL begins its new fiscal year. Usually in the month of June, the UHL meets with their Board of Governors at their annual meetings in Las Vegas. A number of issues could be brought up. One of them could be the stability of several franchises.
Officials with both the River Otters organization and the UHL have clearly stated that at this time, it’s not time to circle the wagons.
“Hopefully the River Otters will be back next season!” said Dan Silver, who is in charge of media relations.
UHL’s media relations chief Brian Werger, believes that the talk of franchise problems and league problems have placed a cloud over this year’s Colonial Cup playoffs.
“All of these issues have been blown way out of proportion,” Werger said. That included rumors that Richmond, Roanoke, Port Huron and Missouri were going to be contracted and become dormant franchises. “It’s up to the individual team to make the decision and they do have to contact the league if they aren’t intending to return.”
River Otters General Manager Frank Buonomo, who has received a lot of criticism from fans, admitted that these are unknown days.
“It was an extremely tough season,” Buonomo said. “But we’ve been in conversations with various members of Family Arena officials and Mike [Shanahan] as to what we’re going to do. There are insurance issues, which we would like to resolve, particularly those concerning workers’ compensation and we also want prime dates from Family Arena. If we don’t get those prime dates, we can’t be successful.”
Buonomo has also received criticism from fans concerning both the firing of head coach Kevin Kaminski and the player personnel brought to the team. Jeff Brown, who was brought in to succeed Kaminski did keep the River Otters from becoming the worst in the UHL, but still finished last in the Western Division, where all of the other teams in the division qualified for the playoffs. Buonomo believes that it is up to Brown himself on whether or not he wants to stay as head coach next season. But Buonomo has said that a “timetable” needs to be put into place.
“We’ll find out next week,” he said.
There are some fans who are just upset with the team. People realize that there is quite a fan base and would definitely support a UHL team. What is not being understood is why the River Otters have been failing miserably. Adam Woehler, an avid hockey fan, feels that minor league hockey can be supported in St. Charles, if it is given a proper chance.
“During the two seasons we’ve been attending games, we’ve struck up friendships with season ticket holders and concession workers,” he said. “The concession people are in-the-stand workers who are Family Arena employees and seem to know everything going on.”
It’s not unusual in minor league hockey to wonder what the fate of a team is going to be when a season ends. There is so much emotion that runs through fans, players and coaches that a season that could have been more is finally over.
“It was a general buzz in the arena [last Saturday] night, with rumors and whispers, and a sense of finality to comments on the loud speaker. I know it wouldn’t be the first time a minor league team has folded, but it would be sad. St. Louis is a great hockey town and the River Otters are a way to support and get to know players, and not go broke on tickets in the process.”
The First Capitol News wanted to contact both River Otters majority owner Mike Shanahan and United Hockey League President/CEO Richard Brosal. But both were unavailable to be reached at this time.
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