(click on image to enlarge)SPECIAL NOTICE - Because of the Thanksgiving Holiday our next edition will be Decembert 3, 2005.
Sunday, November 20, 2005
FRONT PAGE FIRST CAPITOL NEWS - November 19, 2005
(click on image to enlarge)SPECIAL NOTICE - Because of the Thanksgiving Holiday our next edition will be Decembert 3, 2005.
Lawyer For Citizens Empowerment Committee Calls Police Detectives, “BROWN SHIRTS & THUGS”
TOP PHOTO - Michael Kielty, an attorney representing members of the Citizens Empowerment Committee, berating members of the City Council Tuesday evening because an investigation has been started by the St. Charles Police Department regarding alleged fraud in the collection of signatures in the movement to recall Council woman Dottie Greer. Kielty claimed the police detectives conducting the investigation were “brown shirts and thugs to intimidate.” Photo taken from video tape of Council meeting.
BOTTOM PHOTO - Linda Meyer, wife of a St. Charles police officer, is leading the recall effort of the Citizens Empowerment Committee. Meyer serves as treasurer of the committee which is attempting to oust Councilwoman Dottie Greer and Councilman Mark Brown. Photo taken from video tape of Council meeting.
At the City Council meeting Tuesday evening, Mike Kielty, an attorney berated members of the City Council because a police investigation had been opened because of alleged fraud in the collection of signatures in the recall attempt of Councilman Dottie Greer. Dancing around the podium, gesturing towards the council and almost shouting Kielty said, “I’m a criminal defense attorney . And something very strange happened last week. I have handled thousands if not tens of thousands of criminal defense cases and in my entire career, much less one day much less one week, I have never had so many innocent people come to me for representation. And you heard from a few of them. All right. And they’re accountable. They are accountable to their community. They are accountable to this Council . They are accountable to this Mayor. They and I as a member of this community are asking each one of you individually and collectively for the same accountability. To follow the law, cause I know the law and they followed the law. What they didn’t tell you was they just didn’t get their names in the paper. Their kids names weren’t just in the paper. They were interrogated and intimidated by police officers of this community at the request and bequest of citizens of this community in general, and members of this council in particular. Mr. Riddler you employed people under your direct control, at that St. Charles City Police Department as brown shirts and thugs to intimidate. I’m here to say no and I’m here to ask each one of you, as jurors of this community and this council to stand up individually to your constituents, some of whom are here, some of which aren’t, all of which are watching. Mr. Brown stand up. Mr, Riddler stand up. Mr. Gieseke stand up. Mr. Koester stand up. Ms. Greer stand up your jobs on the line. Mr. Riddler your political career is on the line and you know it. This time you crossed the line and we said enough is enough. Good night.”
Kietly was apparently referring to an investigation requested by Council President Rory Riddler into what he believes is fraud in the collection of signatures by the people hired by the Citizens Empowerment Committee headed by Linda Meyer, the wife of a St. Charles Police Officer.
Riddler pointed out that very few residents of Greer’s ward were in the collection of signatures for the recall election. Riddler pointed out that the collectors of signatures were paid $5 per signature and were from Illinois, Rolla, St. Louis, St. Peters, Wright City, Berkeley, Ferguson, Florissant and Kirkwood. Most were hired through a temporary placement agency.
In our October 29th edition we reported on the pending investigation by law enforcement officers.
Prior to the theatrics by Kielty, millionaire developer Tom Hughes addressed the Council. When he made disparaging remarks against Council members he was warned by Councilman Riddler. Hughes then said, “Since the election of April 04 the status quo has been intimidation, retaliation, retribution and revenge. There are many, many citizens who are afraid of you.” When he continued with the remarks he was called out of order by Riddler and was told to sit down. As Hughes went to his seat, Kevin Kast, formerly the head of SSM St. Joseph Health Center prior to his sudden and unexpected retirement, jumped up from an adjoining seat and began applauding, encouraging other members of the Hughes entourage in the audience to also stand up and applaud. After Kast sat down he placed his arm around Hughes and kept it there for some time.
We have been told that a group was being put to together to gather support for Kast in an attempt to be elected Mayor in 2007.
Other speakers attempted to intimidate members of the Council to put the recall election of Greer on the ballot in February instead of April. There is less turnout for February elections and they feel they stand a better chance of recalling her if the voter turnout is low. Later in the meeting the bill to hold the elections in February failed on a five to five vote.
Next week read more details of this story on, firstcapitolnews.blogspot.com.
Bill To Renew City Administrator’s Contract Fails
A bill to renew the contract for City Administrator Allan Williams for another year failed on a five to five vote at Tuesday’s City Council meeting.
Williams, who was hired last December, has vowed to fight.
Although Williams and the Mayor have been saying the City Charter requires eight votes of the City Council or six votes plus the Mayor to fire him, legal experts in the County say Williams is not being fired, his contract is just not being renewed and he does not stand a chance in Court.
Williams has angered many members of the Council over his expense account, what appears to be excessive days off, his refusal to move his family to the City, failure to respond to resident complaints, and what they consider belligerent behavior to citizens and Council members.
Read this story in greater detail later this week on firstcapitolnews.blogspot.com.
Williams, who was hired last December, has vowed to fight.
Although Williams and the Mayor have been saying the City Charter requires eight votes of the City Council or six votes plus the Mayor to fire him, legal experts in the County say Williams is not being fired, his contract is just not being renewed and he does not stand a chance in Court.
Williams has angered many members of the Council over his expense account, what appears to be excessive days off, his refusal to move his family to the City, failure to respond to resident complaints, and what they consider belligerent behavior to citizens and Council members.
Read this story in greater detail later this week on firstcapitolnews.blogspot.com.
THE CITY DESK - City Council President Rory Riddler
Dedication Of Veterans Memorial Helps
Us Recall Those Uniforms In The Attic
If there was ever a perfect day in St. Charles, at least from the standpoint of the weather, it was November 11, 2005 on the occasion of the dedication of the new Veterans Memorial. It was a mild Fall Day, the last of an extended Indian Summer. The skies were blue and the sun was shining on this Veterans Day.
Over two-hundred and fifty people came to Bishop’s Landing on the riverfront to be part of the celebration. Most were Veterans and their families. Some wore the well cared for uniforms of their prior service, others wore the caps and jackets of current memberships in Veterans organizations. Others members of the community came to show their respect or to remember a loved one who had served.
The crowd gathered in a circle around the new monument. It is a simple black marble monolith, pentagonal in shape. It rises approximately ten feet and is topped by a majestic eagle in flight. On each of its sides there is a round bronze plaque, each bearing the seal of a different branch of military service. From its five corners flows water, down into a shallow semispherical pool. The constant trickle of that water provided its own accompaniment to the stirring martial music of the Municipal Band.
First Ward resident Tom Kuypers, who chaired the Mayor’s Veterans Memorial Committee, served admirably as master of ceremonies for the dedication. The presentation of the massed colors, the raising of the flag, laying of the wreath and playing of taps came off with military precision.
On hand to honor our Veterans were Congressman Todd Aiken, Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder, Mayor Patti York, Councilman Bob Kneemiller (whose brother serves as an Army Chaplain and was on hand to offer the opening and closing prayers) and several other of my fellow Councilmen. Councilman Mark Brown was busy at a Veterans celebration across town. He was asked to help officiate at the annual Lake St. Charles Retirement Communities annual salute to Veterans, which drew its own crowd of over two-hundred and other officials including State Senator Chuck Gross.
As President of the City Council, I was asked to make a few appropriate remarks myself. I wanted to share those remarks with readers and they are reproduced as I gave them below.
When I was very young and visiting my grandparents in Pennsylvania, my brother and I found a wonderful trunk in the attic. Inside were some neatly folded uniforms. They were ones my father and uncle had worn when they served during the Second World War. In the same trunk were other things of interest to any boy. There were real swords, bayonets, insignia of rank and a Luger pistol an enemy officer had once carried on a distant field of battle.
For a youngster in the early ‘60s it was like finding a pirate’s chest filled with treasure. Here were the things of real Army men...not just the toys I played with in the backyard or the plastic armies I commanded on our basement floor.
There were also old papers and photos. With so much to discover, I didn’t pay much attention to the photos at the time. That would come later.
Over the years, when I was old enough to both appreciate and handle them, the treasures of that attic were handed down to me. I have the swords, my brother the Luger pistol. The uniforms, the regalia, the trappings of that war found a new home and a new attic.
Looking back, I think exploring that old trunk sparked my love of history and I’ve tried to pass along that appreciation to my children. I also passed along to them the stories, the verbal history if you will, of the service of their grandfather and great uncle. I wanted them to learn that the true treasure I found that day was never in that dusty trunk. It was in the stories and experiences my father and uncle shared with us.
My uncle served with General George Patton and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Among his keepsakes were the old photos, which had escaped the attention of a young boy so many years before. As an adult, I marvel at the pictures he took of General Patton, ivory handled pistols and all.
There were also pictures of a concentration camp they helped to liberate. They are bleak haunting photos. Ones that help remind us why we send America’s sons and daughters off to war.
For the sacrifice of so many generations, for those who left homes and loved ones behind, to forsake their own careers and fortunes, to endure hardships and suffering, many unto death...too many unto death...what monument is fitting?
Today, we are here to dedicate one monument among many. You can find them in every caring community...lasting tributes to those who served our nation. Some are large and some are small. Some of brick and some of stone. Some with heroic statues and some dressed in simple black.
The citizens of St. Charles can be proud of their new Veterans Memorial. They can be proud of the work of this committee, the architect and builders who brought it all together. We have a wonderful Veterans Memorial, in perhaps the most perfect spot anyone could imagine...the mighty Missouri River itself marching in review, the tall cottonwoods of its banks standing silent post.
But in dedicating this monument today, we should remember that it is not the marble which makes this a special place. It is not the fine sculpture or design that makes it a place of reflection. It is not the words cast in bronze or carved in stone that compel us to remember.
What makes this a special place, a place of reflection and of remembrance is in our hearts. It is our being here today, and on every Veterans Day, that makes this a special place of great solemnity, of respect...of honor.
It is by our presence and our words, that all the uniforms in all the attics are remembered...not for what they are, but for those who wore them.
Thank you.
RAMBLING WITH THE EDITOR - Tony Brockmeyer
HAPPY THANKSGIVING
The next edition of the First Capitol News will be on December 3, 2005 due to the Thanksgiving Holiday.
RECALL RECALL
Recall, recall everywhere just because of where the Mayor sits. It appears the Mayor was “miffed” to the point that she has supported and been active in the recall efforts of Dottie Greer and Mark Brown. The reason, Mayor York was not sitting where she wants. You see when the new council was elected one of the first things they did was put the City Clerk who works for them and is an extension of the council on the dais and moved the Mayor to the administrative desk on the floor. It appears most in the City of St. Charles don’t understand the Charter and believe the Mayor is in charge. In reality, and this can be confirmed by reading the Charter, the City of St. Charles has a weak Mayor form of government. St. Peters and O’Fallon have a different set of rules. They work from written state law, not a self rule charter city.
The Charter states the Mayor “may take part in the council meetings” it isn’t required, yet the Mayor and her attack dogs would have you the residents believe that she is in charge and deserves to be at the head of the table. In life there are those who can see past the little things like where I sit, and move forward. I guess the Mayor is someone who can’t. Instead she has created a negative firestorm and divided a city. This is York’s way of politics, her way or I will kick and scream until I get my way.
WATCH COUNCIL RERUNS
If you have an opportunity, watch the reruns of the November 14th City Council meeting on Cable Channel 20. A group of people including, Linda Meyer, Roland Whetzel, Paula Eberhardt, TR Hughes, Tom Hayden, Ed Watkins, Kevin Kast, and the Kielty family were in attendance. They were there to attempt to intimidate the Council into setting a recall election for Councilwoman Greer in February instead of April. They want it in February because there is usually a lower turnout for the February elections as opposed to the April elections. All the while they are accusing Council members of intimidation, they themselves are attempting to intimidate the Council. The show included theatrics by one of the Kielty sons and lies from several other people. What they really want is total control of the City and it appears they will do anything and say anything to achieve their goals. More of this story can be read next week on our web log.
Beginning this week you will be able to read extensive coverage of our stories on our web log; Check it daily,
firstcapitolnews.blogspot.com.
The next edition of the First Capitol News will be on December 3, 2005 due to the Thanksgiving Holiday.
RECALL RECALL
Recall, recall everywhere just because of where the Mayor sits. It appears the Mayor was “miffed” to the point that she has supported and been active in the recall efforts of Dottie Greer and Mark Brown. The reason, Mayor York was not sitting where she wants. You see when the new council was elected one of the first things they did was put the City Clerk who works for them and is an extension of the council on the dais and moved the Mayor to the administrative desk on the floor. It appears most in the City of St. Charles don’t understand the Charter and believe the Mayor is in charge. In reality, and this can be confirmed by reading the Charter, the City of St. Charles has a weak Mayor form of government. St. Peters and O’Fallon have a different set of rules. They work from written state law, not a self rule charter city.
The Charter states the Mayor “may take part in the council meetings” it isn’t required, yet the Mayor and her attack dogs would have you the residents believe that she is in charge and deserves to be at the head of the table. In life there are those who can see past the little things like where I sit, and move forward. I guess the Mayor is someone who can’t. Instead she has created a negative firestorm and divided a city. This is York’s way of politics, her way or I will kick and scream until I get my way.
WATCH COUNCIL RERUNS
If you have an opportunity, watch the reruns of the November 14th City Council meeting on Cable Channel 20. A group of people including, Linda Meyer, Roland Whetzel, Paula Eberhardt, TR Hughes, Tom Hayden, Ed Watkins, Kevin Kast, and the Kielty family were in attendance. They were there to attempt to intimidate the Council into setting a recall election for Councilwoman Greer in February instead of April. They want it in February because there is usually a lower turnout for the February elections as opposed to the April elections. All the while they are accusing Council members of intimidation, they themselves are attempting to intimidate the Council. The show included theatrics by one of the Kielty sons and lies from several other people. What they really want is total control of the City and it appears they will do anything and say anything to achieve their goals. More of this story can be read next week on our web log.
Beginning this week you will be able to read extensive coverage of our stories on our web log; Check it daily,
firstcapitolnews.blogspot.com.
THE PEOPLE SPEAK - Letters To The Editor
Dear Editor,
I would like to share a few words with your readers regarding recall. This seems to be a live topic these days. The views expressed here are my own and not necessarily those of our recall group. Early this year I joined a group circulating a petition to recall Mayor York. Before I share a few thoughts on that subject let me state a few facts.
Our group has no major funding. We don’t need any. We are not inundating the population of St. Charles with hateful literature. We are simply a group of St. Charles City registered voters circulating a petition. Most of us are up in years and we are longtime residents. No one active in the circulation of our petition is pad to do so. I don’t believe citizenship should be hired out.
When I first decided to immerse myself in this activity I had to do some soul searching. I had to ask myself a few questions. What right did I have to attempt to unseat a public official, our top local public official, who had been placed in that position by a majority of the St. Charles citizenry? The Mayor is reported to be a fine Christian woman, a woman active in her church. It is right for one Christian to put themselves against another Christian? What is the morality of a recall action? I thought about these issues.
The legal right to take such an action was no problem. The First Amendment to the United States Constitution speaks “of the right of the people to peaceably assemble, and to petition the government for redress of grievances”. Our City Charter spells out the right of the people to recall a local public official and gives explicit instructions for doing so.
What about the fact that our Mayor was chosen by a majority of the electorate? Is our recall group attempting to subvert the will of the majority? Not at all. We are attempting to determine what is the current will of the majority. Do people feel the same about her, her actions, and the people behind her, as they did when she was first elected? The temperament and preferences of the electorate may have changed. The temperament and actions of the Mayor may have changed. Situations in our City may have changed. I think the electorate has remained fairly constant in their desires and expectations but I think the Mayor and the political scene in our City has changed considerably. A recall petition, and a recall election should things progress that far, are simply a sampling of public opinion to determine whether the public still feels as they did when that official was first elected. If the majority is proven to still support the Mayor, nothing changes, and nothing should change. In our country the majority rules. On the other hand, if the majority is proven to desire change, then we have not only the right but the duty to pursue this recall activity.
What about the morality of a recall action? I had a problem with this. I attempted to find a biblical parallel. I couldn’t find one, or more accurately, I didn’t recognize one. I was discussing this issue with a friend, telling her of my concern. It didn’t take her very long at all. She said, “We are chasing the money changers out of the temple”. I felt she was right on. We are indeed chasing the moneychangers out of the temple of our City government. Moneychangers? Yes! Organizations of home builders and developers have circled the wagons around our Mayor and are now desperately trying to change the composition of our City Council so they can have a City government which will do their bidding; so they can have a free hand in the control of our government; so they can get sweetheart deals from City Hall; so they can build homes and subdivisions outside our boundaries to standards less than our City standards and then expect to bring them into our confines; so they can devise huge projects for our City, with the blessing of the Mayor and the council, which we don’t want, don’t need, and can’t afford. They are indeed moneychangers, changing our money into their money. We need a Mayor who does not answer to these groups. I feel the only way to drive the money changers from the temple is to find a new Mayor – if a majority of the St. Charles electorate agrees.
If you share these views, drop by the library any Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm and add y our name to our petition. The library is not involved in our group or its activities but merely furnishes a place for petitioners to circulate petitions – any duly authorized petition.
Join our fight; help us take back our City.
Glen Dashner
Dear Editor,
During the month of September, probably now the worst time in history to conduct a fundraiser, we at Veterans & Citizens for Truth conducted such an event for wounded Missouri veterans. That particular event we had hoped to raise a lot of money for the wounded but due to a strict enforcement of our contract with the Westin Hotel and a very low turn out, it was a dismal turnout.
I would, however, like to give what little we did collect in the form of $500 aid checks to 8 of the neediest wounded veterans families in the state to help them through the holidays. It is nearly impossible to get information from the Pentagon on the wounded returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and although I personally know of a few, I wanted to ask the papers in the area, if you may have access to information of some of the veterans you may possibly have run stories about or know through other papers. I remember a young man in Festus (I believe) and the story recently run about the young woman paralyzed in a fall. If it is possible to get me that information or to ask them to contact us, it would be greatly appreciated. We promised those who contributed that the money would go directly to those in need and not to a bureaucracy for salaries and such.
I thank you in advance if there is anything you might be able to help us with on this search.
Most Respectfully,
Sandra M. Vago
President, Veterans & Citizens for Truth & Voices of America Coming Together
10241 Tesson Valley Ct.
St. Louis, MO 63123
314-544-5000
Non Profit, Missouri Charter Organization
First Capitol News
I recently read two interesting articles in the St. Charles Journal. That in itself is something unusual because I have remarked for years that the Journal is a waste of good trees. Perhaps they will finally prove me wrong. I hope so. Back to the articles. The first was an article about Eminent Domain, and the second was the growth of Lindenwood. Anyone who knows me or has read my letters to the papers knows I am not a fan of either.
What I really found interesting was Councilman Muench’s comment about the proposed thoroughfare through Powell Terrace, “If the residents of Ward 2 don’t want this road project, it won’t go through.” I don’t remember many people being for the First Capitol re-alignment, but it went through. In fact, I have never spoken to anyone who was for it. To be fair, I have never met Mr Spellmann, whom I’m sure was for it.Nor have I met any city official who has become an “Associate Professor” while if office. I believe it was Councilman Herman Elmore who proposed putting the project to a vote of the residents. But the city council decided we didn’t need that. (I believe Mr. Riddler was for a vote of the residents, but not sure)
I think most residents would agree with me that we don’t want our neighborhoods bulldozed to put in another road. Most subdivisions North of 70 have been there for decades. The roads in these areas have worked for years.I personally think that is what cost Dan Foust the Mayoral race. Many people didn’t like his ideas of widening Kingshighway or running Droste Road through to First Capitol.Many homes would be destroyed. The biggest increase in traffic has come from more students living in Lindenwood owned houses.
The last letter I wrote to the FCN was also forwarded to some of the city council members. Councilman Koester and Councilman Brown both were kind enough to write back and thanked me for sharing my views and urging me to talk to other residents and have them share their opinions. Our council is supposed to work for us. I urge everyone to talk to your councilperson, send an e-mail, or attend a council meeting. Most people have sat back and done nothing for years (Myself included) If we the citizens don’t get involved, we will have another re-alignment and more people forced out of their homes. The First Capitol News is a great place to have your opinions heard.Make the most of it. Let’s all try to do a little to make our city the best for all citizens, not just a select few.
Mike Femmer
To The Editor,
I had a Birkenstock (shoes) booth at the Working Women’s Survival Show and was located on the upper level directly adjacent to the Embassy Suites hotel entrance and witnessed what Rhona Lococo wrote you.
I talked to the gentleman in charge of the facility on the first day of the show and he explained to me for security purposes the doors on the upper level needed to be locked. Also because of the layout of the show, (it was throughout both the 1st floor and Lower Level,) the show patrons needed to enter through the Convention Center entrance on the back of the facility adjacent to the huge parking lot to pay for their admission.
The majority of the parking lot on the upper level is for hotel guests, especially during a big event as the Working Women’s Show. Several of the vendors for the show stayed at the hotel (tax revenue for the City) taking up a majority of the parking spaces on the front parking lot.
I feel the majority cause of the problems was two
fold:
1.) A $5.00 parking fee was being charged for this event, therefore patrons were parking in the commuter lots across the street from the Convention Center and walking across the street trying to gain access through the doors on the first level.
2.) Large signage needs to be installed directing individuals attending events at the Convention Center to around the back of the building.
I would like to know if it’s truly necessary to charge patrons a parking fee if the City of St. Charles owns the facility and the parking lot is part of the facility, is it legal that a parking fee is being charged?
As a vendor I would much rather have free parking for the patrons coming to an event, the fee we pay for our booth should adequately cover parking expenses. From patrons I spoke to the parking fee was their major complaint.
When attending events downtown St. Louis the majority of us know we will be paying for parking, we’re just not used to paying for parking in St. Charles.
I talked to a couple of vendors who were not thoroughly please with this event. Over the years I have had a booth at Fair St. Louis and the Working Women’s Show when it was downtown St. Louis. All of
us need to realize when it is a new facility and the first time for an event this size, there are going to be some challenges. Hopefully, come time for the next Working Women’s Survival Show, lessons will have been learned and improvements made.
I was very pleased with the event, I passed out approximately 700 coupons, talking to many individuals informing them of our business.
All of the employees I talked to from the Convention Center, Embassy Suites Hotel and the staff from the Working Women’s Survival Show were very professional and accommodating as possible.
I feel I cannot close without saying, if you have yet to visit our St. Charles Convention Center/Embassy Suites Hotel, be sure to make it a destination, it’s spectacular! From the wonderful murals on the walls in the Convention Center depicting our city’s history to inside the hotel lobby, where it looks as if you’ve stepped into the French Quarter. There’s a restaurant and a bar and a beautiful waterfall with a flow of
water which winds its way through a seating area in the bar down to the lower level of the hotel. Also, don’t miss taking a walk around the back of the facility, there’s seating and beautiful fountain out there as well.
No, I don’t work for the City of St. Charles, I never have. I have been a resident for 22 years, I’m very excited we have this facility. I still can’t believe it is here in our home town, the beauty of it is
unbelievable! You can view it at:
www.stcharlescity.com then click on St. Charles Convention Center City Website, there’s a place to take a virtual tour.
Best regards,
Mrs. Pat Hamilton
Aaron’s Birkenstock Store & All Brand Shoe Repair St. Peters, MO
Dear Editor,
Sharper than a doubled edge sword. Does everyone know what that means? For those who are ignorant to these words or maybe not sure, let me tell you. This means that God’s word is sharper than a double edge sword. That is TRUTH.
There is more strength in his word than all the big money cronies can come up with to fight against good. Let me tell you something. His word says, “Greater is he that is in me, than he that is in the world.” Very powerful words. There is NO big money or NO special interest groups and NO people from out of our City and no men walking around allowing themselves to be called the Pop or the Godfather and NO people being paid for each signature, NO anonymous hate mail or e-mail. NO books being thrown at anyone, NO BIG Politicians changing laws for special interests, and NO threatening phone calls by our group called NICE to recall the poorest excuse of a Mayor this City has ever voted into office.
There are a number of citizens who would say, “The people voted her in.” (Not by much). The list of recall reasons for the Mayor is not personal. This recall has to do with the abuse of her power and the abuse of our taxpayer’s money. She seems to think this City belongs to her along with our hard earned money. WRONG. Our group is backed by a lot of dedicated taxpayers who are volunteering their time to collect signatures for her recall. History always repeats itself and it is a shame that we do not learn from history.
We should all remember the man who gained his power by placing fear in those around him and gaining control of the police and powerful people. This man had the citizens in fear of retaliation if they dared to question or not agree with him. This of course is only my opinion but if good people would have stood up and taken him out of office before he gained all of his power the holocaust would never have taken place and our young men would not have gone to war.
The civil rights movement would never have taken place without the good men and women who marched without fear of retaliation. Thank God for Martin Luther King and his peaceful way to turn wrong into RIGHT. Good dedicated people, who choose the Freedoms – right over fear, also backed him. The double edge sword has paved the way through history and will continue to clear the way for the good of his people.
Let us not forget the Watergate scandal that brought President Nixon down. It was a few good dedicated reporters who believed the freedom of the press could expose the wrong of a president and let the people know the TRUTH. While this was truly an act of fearless men, they could not have obtained the truth without deep throat. This man also had to walk and talk without fear of retribution to come forward and speak the TRUTH. History has a way of guiding the future if people would only care enough to get involved.
Our group of citizens will continue to search out the TRUTH about what is really taking place in our City Hall. Some people think if no one is watching they can get away with anything, WRONG. We may not be able to watch every move, but we will be watching. Of Course God sees it all. The word and the TRUTH will continue Hebrews 4:12. “The only thing necessary for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing”, Edmond Burke.
Our group will be supporting Dottie Greer and Mark Brown – what have these two good people done to deserve a recall? “Nothing.” Look at the list for the Mayor and see what a real recall is all about.
We all know the Mayor needs to control a couple more seats on the Council to enable her to continue her control over OUR CITY for her special interests. Let me tell you something, I strongly believe there are good citizens who will come forward with the TRUTH and help take back Yorktown to the original owners, OUR CITIZENS.
Thank God for the First Capitol News
GOD BLESS & Speak Out!
Joyce Bredensteiner
First Capitol Capitol New
It is distressing to find that within the short span of only a few weeks there were three instances of unbridled rage directed at citizens of our City who are engaged in the petition drive for the recall of Mayor Patti York. To briefly recap, the first was a threat of physical violence directed at Bob Breidensteiner, the second occurred in the Kathryn Lindemann Library on Elm where an enraged man threw a heavy book accompanied by a stream of obscenities at two people sitting quietly at the table with the recall petition, and the third and most recent an anonymous letter mailed to the parishioners of St. Charles Borromeo Church with accusations primarily directed at Mr. Breidensteiner for his letters to the editor of the of the First Capitol News and at the same time somehow connecting one of the councilmen to Mr. Breidensteiner’s letters.
It would be almost reassuring to think these three instances of out of control rage came from the same person. More likely, several people in our City are so angered and apparently feel so threatened by a small group of taxpayers they feel their response is normal. It is not. A recall petition is a right of the democratic process whether it involves the Mayor or the two council persons. The difference here appears to be the people with the other recall petitions do not inspire the rage Mayor York’s does.
Carol Diller
Dear Editor:
They brought out their big guns at the City Council meeting. It was millionaire TR, Sneaky Clyde, Silent Kevin, Kielty (daddy and boy) along with St. Chuck Tommy. Laughing stock of the midwest. When you throw in Linda Meyer the “re-call know it all”, you really get to chuckling. They were passing around a note among members of their party telling everyone about a victory party to be held after they got little lady Dottie Greer taken care of for not letting the Mayor swear her into office.
As I sat there I just told myself, this isn’t going to happen. You know what? It didn’t happen.
There were nine other people voting on Dottie’s future on the Council and you know what? Eight of them did not get sworn in by the Mayor.
You have lockstep #1 Kneemiller and lockstep #2 Muench from the previous Council. Lockstep #3 Weller, the only one to be sworn in by the Mayor and then you have lockstep #4 Reese known as the school board turncoat and lockstep #5 Mr. “Battlin for the Mayor” Bob Hoepfner.
Ready - now everybody laugh. No victory party last night. TR probably saved a little money and got a restless nights sleep.
Bob Bredenstiner
PS The “Laundry business man Jamboretz” did not show, one of his sidekicks did but did not stay long - he looked lost without Jambi.
Dear Editor:
The Lindenwood Effect is in full force and nobody is going to stop them. Councilman Larry Muench has sold out Ward 2 to the Spellmann forces. Larry has lied and denied that reports and maps existed. Want to know why? Last Tuesday we saw why, Tom Hughes who is a member of the Board of Directors at Lindenwood is actively trying to recall one of the few voices that stands in the way. Councilwomen Greer has held firm on her opposition to Lindenwoods never ending lust for power and public funding. Hughes has bought and paid for this re-call effort and we can all thank Dennis Spellmann for helping.
P. Jackson
I would like to share a few words with your readers regarding recall. This seems to be a live topic these days. The views expressed here are my own and not necessarily those of our recall group. Early this year I joined a group circulating a petition to recall Mayor York. Before I share a few thoughts on that subject let me state a few facts.
Our group has no major funding. We don’t need any. We are not inundating the population of St. Charles with hateful literature. We are simply a group of St. Charles City registered voters circulating a petition. Most of us are up in years and we are longtime residents. No one active in the circulation of our petition is pad to do so. I don’t believe citizenship should be hired out.
When I first decided to immerse myself in this activity I had to do some soul searching. I had to ask myself a few questions. What right did I have to attempt to unseat a public official, our top local public official, who had been placed in that position by a majority of the St. Charles citizenry? The Mayor is reported to be a fine Christian woman, a woman active in her church. It is right for one Christian to put themselves against another Christian? What is the morality of a recall action? I thought about these issues.
The legal right to take such an action was no problem. The First Amendment to the United States Constitution speaks “of the right of the people to peaceably assemble, and to petition the government for redress of grievances”. Our City Charter spells out the right of the people to recall a local public official and gives explicit instructions for doing so.
What about the fact that our Mayor was chosen by a majority of the electorate? Is our recall group attempting to subvert the will of the majority? Not at all. We are attempting to determine what is the current will of the majority. Do people feel the same about her, her actions, and the people behind her, as they did when she was first elected? The temperament and preferences of the electorate may have changed. The temperament and actions of the Mayor may have changed. Situations in our City may have changed. I think the electorate has remained fairly constant in their desires and expectations but I think the Mayor and the political scene in our City has changed considerably. A recall petition, and a recall election should things progress that far, are simply a sampling of public opinion to determine whether the public still feels as they did when that official was first elected. If the majority is proven to still support the Mayor, nothing changes, and nothing should change. In our country the majority rules. On the other hand, if the majority is proven to desire change, then we have not only the right but the duty to pursue this recall activity.
What about the morality of a recall action? I had a problem with this. I attempted to find a biblical parallel. I couldn’t find one, or more accurately, I didn’t recognize one. I was discussing this issue with a friend, telling her of my concern. It didn’t take her very long at all. She said, “We are chasing the money changers out of the temple”. I felt she was right on. We are indeed chasing the moneychangers out of the temple of our City government. Moneychangers? Yes! Organizations of home builders and developers have circled the wagons around our Mayor and are now desperately trying to change the composition of our City Council so they can have a City government which will do their bidding; so they can have a free hand in the control of our government; so they can get sweetheart deals from City Hall; so they can build homes and subdivisions outside our boundaries to standards less than our City standards and then expect to bring them into our confines; so they can devise huge projects for our City, with the blessing of the Mayor and the council, which we don’t want, don’t need, and can’t afford. They are indeed moneychangers, changing our money into their money. We need a Mayor who does not answer to these groups. I feel the only way to drive the money changers from the temple is to find a new Mayor – if a majority of the St. Charles electorate agrees.
If you share these views, drop by the library any Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm and add y our name to our petition. The library is not involved in our group or its activities but merely furnishes a place for petitioners to circulate petitions – any duly authorized petition.
Join our fight; help us take back our City.
Glen Dashner
Dear Editor,
During the month of September, probably now the worst time in history to conduct a fundraiser, we at Veterans & Citizens for Truth conducted such an event for wounded Missouri veterans. That particular event we had hoped to raise a lot of money for the wounded but due to a strict enforcement of our contract with the Westin Hotel and a very low turn out, it was a dismal turnout.
I would, however, like to give what little we did collect in the form of $500 aid checks to 8 of the neediest wounded veterans families in the state to help them through the holidays. It is nearly impossible to get information from the Pentagon on the wounded returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and although I personally know of a few, I wanted to ask the papers in the area, if you may have access to information of some of the veterans you may possibly have run stories about or know through other papers. I remember a young man in Festus (I believe) and the story recently run about the young woman paralyzed in a fall. If it is possible to get me that information or to ask them to contact us, it would be greatly appreciated. We promised those who contributed that the money would go directly to those in need and not to a bureaucracy for salaries and such.
I thank you in advance if there is anything you might be able to help us with on this search.
Most Respectfully,
Sandra M. Vago
President, Veterans & Citizens for Truth & Voices of America Coming Together
10241 Tesson Valley Ct.
St. Louis, MO 63123
314-544-5000
Non Profit, Missouri Charter Organization
First Capitol News
I recently read two interesting articles in the St. Charles Journal. That in itself is something unusual because I have remarked for years that the Journal is a waste of good trees. Perhaps they will finally prove me wrong. I hope so. Back to the articles. The first was an article about Eminent Domain, and the second was the growth of Lindenwood. Anyone who knows me or has read my letters to the papers knows I am not a fan of either.
What I really found interesting was Councilman Muench’s comment about the proposed thoroughfare through Powell Terrace, “If the residents of Ward 2 don’t want this road project, it won’t go through.” I don’t remember many people being for the First Capitol re-alignment, but it went through. In fact, I have never spoken to anyone who was for it. To be fair, I have never met Mr Spellmann, whom I’m sure was for it.Nor have I met any city official who has become an “Associate Professor” while if office. I believe it was Councilman Herman Elmore who proposed putting the project to a vote of the residents. But the city council decided we didn’t need that. (I believe Mr. Riddler was for a vote of the residents, but not sure)
I think most residents would agree with me that we don’t want our neighborhoods bulldozed to put in another road. Most subdivisions North of 70 have been there for decades. The roads in these areas have worked for years.I personally think that is what cost Dan Foust the Mayoral race. Many people didn’t like his ideas of widening Kingshighway or running Droste Road through to First Capitol.Many homes would be destroyed. The biggest increase in traffic has come from more students living in Lindenwood owned houses.
The last letter I wrote to the FCN was also forwarded to some of the city council members. Councilman Koester and Councilman Brown both were kind enough to write back and thanked me for sharing my views and urging me to talk to other residents and have them share their opinions. Our council is supposed to work for us. I urge everyone to talk to your councilperson, send an e-mail, or attend a council meeting. Most people have sat back and done nothing for years (Myself included) If we the citizens don’t get involved, we will have another re-alignment and more people forced out of their homes. The First Capitol News is a great place to have your opinions heard.Make the most of it. Let’s all try to do a little to make our city the best for all citizens, not just a select few.
Mike Femmer
To The Editor,
I had a Birkenstock (shoes) booth at the Working Women’s Survival Show and was located on the upper level directly adjacent to the Embassy Suites hotel entrance and witnessed what Rhona Lococo wrote you.
I talked to the gentleman in charge of the facility on the first day of the show and he explained to me for security purposes the doors on the upper level needed to be locked. Also because of the layout of the show, (it was throughout both the 1st floor and Lower Level,) the show patrons needed to enter through the Convention Center entrance on the back of the facility adjacent to the huge parking lot to pay for their admission.
The majority of the parking lot on the upper level is for hotel guests, especially during a big event as the Working Women’s Show. Several of the vendors for the show stayed at the hotel (tax revenue for the City) taking up a majority of the parking spaces on the front parking lot.
I feel the majority cause of the problems was two
fold:
1.) A $5.00 parking fee was being charged for this event, therefore patrons were parking in the commuter lots across the street from the Convention Center and walking across the street trying to gain access through the doors on the first level.
2.) Large signage needs to be installed directing individuals attending events at the Convention Center to around the back of the building.
I would like to know if it’s truly necessary to charge patrons a parking fee if the City of St. Charles owns the facility and the parking lot is part of the facility, is it legal that a parking fee is being charged?
As a vendor I would much rather have free parking for the patrons coming to an event, the fee we pay for our booth should adequately cover parking expenses. From patrons I spoke to the parking fee was their major complaint.
When attending events downtown St. Louis the majority of us know we will be paying for parking, we’re just not used to paying for parking in St. Charles.
I talked to a couple of vendors who were not thoroughly please with this event. Over the years I have had a booth at Fair St. Louis and the Working Women’s Show when it was downtown St. Louis. All of
us need to realize when it is a new facility and the first time for an event this size, there are going to be some challenges. Hopefully, come time for the next Working Women’s Survival Show, lessons will have been learned and improvements made.
I was very pleased with the event, I passed out approximately 700 coupons, talking to many individuals informing them of our business.
All of the employees I talked to from the Convention Center, Embassy Suites Hotel and the staff from the Working Women’s Survival Show were very professional and accommodating as possible.
I feel I cannot close without saying, if you have yet to visit our St. Charles Convention Center/Embassy Suites Hotel, be sure to make it a destination, it’s spectacular! From the wonderful murals on the walls in the Convention Center depicting our city’s history to inside the hotel lobby, where it looks as if you’ve stepped into the French Quarter. There’s a restaurant and a bar and a beautiful waterfall with a flow of
water which winds its way through a seating area in the bar down to the lower level of the hotel. Also, don’t miss taking a walk around the back of the facility, there’s seating and beautiful fountain out there as well.
No, I don’t work for the City of St. Charles, I never have. I have been a resident for 22 years, I’m very excited we have this facility. I still can’t believe it is here in our home town, the beauty of it is
unbelievable! You can view it at:
www.stcharlescity.com then click on St. Charles Convention Center City Website, there’s a place to take a virtual tour.
Best regards,
Mrs. Pat Hamilton
Aaron’s Birkenstock Store & All Brand Shoe Repair St. Peters, MO
Dear Editor,
Sharper than a doubled edge sword. Does everyone know what that means? For those who are ignorant to these words or maybe not sure, let me tell you. This means that God’s word is sharper than a double edge sword. That is TRUTH.
There is more strength in his word than all the big money cronies can come up with to fight against good. Let me tell you something. His word says, “Greater is he that is in me, than he that is in the world.” Very powerful words. There is NO big money or NO special interest groups and NO people from out of our City and no men walking around allowing themselves to be called the Pop or the Godfather and NO people being paid for each signature, NO anonymous hate mail or e-mail. NO books being thrown at anyone, NO BIG Politicians changing laws for special interests, and NO threatening phone calls by our group called NICE to recall the poorest excuse of a Mayor this City has ever voted into office.
There are a number of citizens who would say, “The people voted her in.” (Not by much). The list of recall reasons for the Mayor is not personal. This recall has to do with the abuse of her power and the abuse of our taxpayer’s money. She seems to think this City belongs to her along with our hard earned money. WRONG. Our group is backed by a lot of dedicated taxpayers who are volunteering their time to collect signatures for her recall. History always repeats itself and it is a shame that we do not learn from history.
We should all remember the man who gained his power by placing fear in those around him and gaining control of the police and powerful people. This man had the citizens in fear of retaliation if they dared to question or not agree with him. This of course is only my opinion but if good people would have stood up and taken him out of office before he gained all of his power the holocaust would never have taken place and our young men would not have gone to war.
The civil rights movement would never have taken place without the good men and women who marched without fear of retaliation. Thank God for Martin Luther King and his peaceful way to turn wrong into RIGHT. Good dedicated people, who choose the Freedoms – right over fear, also backed him. The double edge sword has paved the way through history and will continue to clear the way for the good of his people.
Let us not forget the Watergate scandal that brought President Nixon down. It was a few good dedicated reporters who believed the freedom of the press could expose the wrong of a president and let the people know the TRUTH. While this was truly an act of fearless men, they could not have obtained the truth without deep throat. This man also had to walk and talk without fear of retribution to come forward and speak the TRUTH. History has a way of guiding the future if people would only care enough to get involved.
Our group of citizens will continue to search out the TRUTH about what is really taking place in our City Hall. Some people think if no one is watching they can get away with anything, WRONG. We may not be able to watch every move, but we will be watching. Of Course God sees it all. The word and the TRUTH will continue Hebrews 4:12. “The only thing necessary for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing”, Edmond Burke.
Our group will be supporting Dottie Greer and Mark Brown – what have these two good people done to deserve a recall? “Nothing.” Look at the list for the Mayor and see what a real recall is all about.
We all know the Mayor needs to control a couple more seats on the Council to enable her to continue her control over OUR CITY for her special interests. Let me tell you something, I strongly believe there are good citizens who will come forward with the TRUTH and help take back Yorktown to the original owners, OUR CITIZENS.
Thank God for the First Capitol News
GOD BLESS & Speak Out!
Joyce Bredensteiner
First Capitol Capitol New
It is distressing to find that within the short span of only a few weeks there were three instances of unbridled rage directed at citizens of our City who are engaged in the petition drive for the recall of Mayor Patti York. To briefly recap, the first was a threat of physical violence directed at Bob Breidensteiner, the second occurred in the Kathryn Lindemann Library on Elm where an enraged man threw a heavy book accompanied by a stream of obscenities at two people sitting quietly at the table with the recall petition, and the third and most recent an anonymous letter mailed to the parishioners of St. Charles Borromeo Church with accusations primarily directed at Mr. Breidensteiner for his letters to the editor of the of the First Capitol News and at the same time somehow connecting one of the councilmen to Mr. Breidensteiner’s letters.
It would be almost reassuring to think these three instances of out of control rage came from the same person. More likely, several people in our City are so angered and apparently feel so threatened by a small group of taxpayers they feel their response is normal. It is not. A recall petition is a right of the democratic process whether it involves the Mayor or the two council persons. The difference here appears to be the people with the other recall petitions do not inspire the rage Mayor York’s does.
Carol Diller
Dear Editor:
They brought out their big guns at the City Council meeting. It was millionaire TR, Sneaky Clyde, Silent Kevin, Kielty (daddy and boy) along with St. Chuck Tommy. Laughing stock of the midwest. When you throw in Linda Meyer the “re-call know it all”, you really get to chuckling. They were passing around a note among members of their party telling everyone about a victory party to be held after they got little lady Dottie Greer taken care of for not letting the Mayor swear her into office.
As I sat there I just told myself, this isn’t going to happen. You know what? It didn’t happen.
There were nine other people voting on Dottie’s future on the Council and you know what? Eight of them did not get sworn in by the Mayor.
You have lockstep #1 Kneemiller and lockstep #2 Muench from the previous Council. Lockstep #3 Weller, the only one to be sworn in by the Mayor and then you have lockstep #4 Reese known as the school board turncoat and lockstep #5 Mr. “Battlin for the Mayor” Bob Hoepfner.
Ready - now everybody laugh. No victory party last night. TR probably saved a little money and got a restless nights sleep.
Bob Bredenstiner
PS The “Laundry business man Jamboretz” did not show, one of his sidekicks did but did not stay long - he looked lost without Jambi.
Dear Editor:
The Lindenwood Effect is in full force and nobody is going to stop them. Councilman Larry Muench has sold out Ward 2 to the Spellmann forces. Larry has lied and denied that reports and maps existed. Want to know why? Last Tuesday we saw why, Tom Hughes who is a member of the Board of Directors at Lindenwood is actively trying to recall one of the few voices that stands in the way. Councilwomen Greer has held firm on her opposition to Lindenwoods never ending lust for power and public funding. Hughes has bought and paid for this re-call effort and we can all thank Dennis Spellmann for helping.
P. Jackson
THE CONSERVATIVE FACTOR - Alex Spencer
To run for office, politicians have to raise money from private donors to pay for their signs and glossy mailers. But Missouri campaign finance laws limit local politicians to taking a maximum contribution of $300 from any one donor. The idea is to limit any single rich guy or company from simply buying a local politician.
But St. Peters Mayor Shawn Brown came up with a scheme to get around this law. He started taking in big checks in the $1,500 to $3,000 range from builders who had matters before the City’s Planning and Zoning Commission where Shawn has a vote. (Isn’t it surprising how quickly the builders turn over big checks when their multi-million dollar projects are held up by P&Z?) Because of the contribution limit, Shawn did not have the builders make the checks out to his own campaign committee. Instead, he created a deceptively named committee called Citizens for Fair Government. And he had his wife, Rhonda Brown, sign the committee’s formation paperwork as treasurer.
Strangely, the committee’s contributors included a $1,500 donation by Esteem Homes. A couple months ago, County Prosecutor Jack Banas investigated allegations of a dirty deal between Esteem Homes and the Mayor. Banas closed his investigation saying that he couldn’t find any proof that Esteem Homes gave Shawn or his campaign any money. I guess it depends on how hard you look?
Another bizarre contribution to the committee came from a lady who listed her address as a local trailer park. Normally, you don’t see many political contributions from folks living in trailer parks—particularly for $3,000! So a local reporter did a little digging—turns out the lady is an employee of Tom Johnson Construction, which has a large housing project in St. Peters. Somehow I am guessing she may have gotten a BIG Christmas bonus this year.
By “shaking down” the St. Peters builders (and sometimes their employees), Shawn’s committee quickly raised over $18,000. The committee gave more than $10,000 back to Shawn’s campaign and spent more than $3,000 on his wife’s campaign for school board. The rest of the money was spent on Mark Lafata and the other anti-administration school board candidates running with Rhonda Brown (by the way, they all won as a slate on those funneled funds).
Interestingly, Rhonda didn’t open her own campaign committee for her school board race. Legally, she was required to open a campaign if she was going to spend more than $1,000 on her race. But who needs to go to the trouble of forming a campaign committee to try to raise money at $300 a pop for a school board campaign when a single donation from a lady living in a trailer park can cover your entire campaign?
St. Peters Alderman David Hayes uncovered the whole convoluted flow of dirty money when he discovered that the Mayor was faxing the illegal committee’s paperwork out of the Mayor’s office at City Hall. (It’s hard to claim you’re not running a committee that your wife started and that has your fax header on its paperwork.) Hayes logically turned it all over to the Missouri Ethics Commission.
Like a Federal grand jury, the Ethics Commission investigates complaints to determine if there is probable cause for prosecution. In the case of the allegations against the Mayor, the Ethics Commission voted to move forward with a prosecution and turned it over to Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon. The question is whether Jay Nixon will prosecute the case or sweep it under the rug (reminiscent of Banas’ “insufficient evidence” bit).
While the Mayor is now under the Missouri Ethics Commission’s equivalent of an indictment, he has other problems that would make even Lewis “Scooter” Libby stop and take notice. Shawn “Skippy” Brown’s business venture has hit the skids.
Remember Shawn’s Haunted House of Fraud? Shawn, together with a local convicted thief, Chris Blevins, set up the Haunted House. But Shawn tried to hide that he owned the business by putting down a false address on the company’s formation papers. And then he slipped the project past the City’s Planning and Zoning Commission without telling them that he owned it. When caught, he claimed that he didn’t put down his real address because “nobody needed to know it was the Mayor.”
Well, sometime on Halloween, one of Shawn’s employees took off with $11,000 of stereo equipment. Turns out, the employee was a fugitive from justice with an outstanding warrant for burglary. You’d think Shawn, who had an outstanding warrant for filing a police report when he ran for mayor, or his partner the convicted thief, who still owes $14,000 in restitution, would be more careful of who they hire.
Regardless, the St. Peters police recovered all the stolen equipment for the Mayor. But according to the Mayor, he still lost about $14,000 on his Haunted House. Wait a minute! Isn’t that what Chris Blevins owes in restitution? Maybe the Mayor should check Blevins’ share again. After all, there is no honor among thieves.
But Skippy shouldn’t panic. I doubt he will have to file for bankruptcy, again. Instead, he can always turn back to his personal ATM machine—Citizens for Fair Government.
But Mr. Mayor, a word to the wise, this time keep Rhonda Brown out of it. Because all I know is that if Mrs. Spencer’s picture ended up on the front page in a scandal, I’d be sleeping on the coach for a longtime…
But St. Peters Mayor Shawn Brown came up with a scheme to get around this law. He started taking in big checks in the $1,500 to $3,000 range from builders who had matters before the City’s Planning and Zoning Commission where Shawn has a vote. (Isn’t it surprising how quickly the builders turn over big checks when their multi-million dollar projects are held up by P&Z?) Because of the contribution limit, Shawn did not have the builders make the checks out to his own campaign committee. Instead, he created a deceptively named committee called Citizens for Fair Government. And he had his wife, Rhonda Brown, sign the committee’s formation paperwork as treasurer.
Strangely, the committee’s contributors included a $1,500 donation by Esteem Homes. A couple months ago, County Prosecutor Jack Banas investigated allegations of a dirty deal between Esteem Homes and the Mayor. Banas closed his investigation saying that he couldn’t find any proof that Esteem Homes gave Shawn or his campaign any money. I guess it depends on how hard you look?
Another bizarre contribution to the committee came from a lady who listed her address as a local trailer park. Normally, you don’t see many political contributions from folks living in trailer parks—particularly for $3,000! So a local reporter did a little digging—turns out the lady is an employee of Tom Johnson Construction, which has a large housing project in St. Peters. Somehow I am guessing she may have gotten a BIG Christmas bonus this year.
By “shaking down” the St. Peters builders (and sometimes their employees), Shawn’s committee quickly raised over $18,000. The committee gave more than $10,000 back to Shawn’s campaign and spent more than $3,000 on his wife’s campaign for school board. The rest of the money was spent on Mark Lafata and the other anti-administration school board candidates running with Rhonda Brown (by the way, they all won as a slate on those funneled funds).
Interestingly, Rhonda didn’t open her own campaign committee for her school board race. Legally, she was required to open a campaign if she was going to spend more than $1,000 on her race. But who needs to go to the trouble of forming a campaign committee to try to raise money at $300 a pop for a school board campaign when a single donation from a lady living in a trailer park can cover your entire campaign?
St. Peters Alderman David Hayes uncovered the whole convoluted flow of dirty money when he discovered that the Mayor was faxing the illegal committee’s paperwork out of the Mayor’s office at City Hall. (It’s hard to claim you’re not running a committee that your wife started and that has your fax header on its paperwork.) Hayes logically turned it all over to the Missouri Ethics Commission.
Like a Federal grand jury, the Ethics Commission investigates complaints to determine if there is probable cause for prosecution. In the case of the allegations against the Mayor, the Ethics Commission voted to move forward with a prosecution and turned it over to Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon. The question is whether Jay Nixon will prosecute the case or sweep it under the rug (reminiscent of Banas’ “insufficient evidence” bit).
While the Mayor is now under the Missouri Ethics Commission’s equivalent of an indictment, he has other problems that would make even Lewis “Scooter” Libby stop and take notice. Shawn “Skippy” Brown’s business venture has hit the skids.
Remember Shawn’s Haunted House of Fraud? Shawn, together with a local convicted thief, Chris Blevins, set up the Haunted House. But Shawn tried to hide that he owned the business by putting down a false address on the company’s formation papers. And then he slipped the project past the City’s Planning and Zoning Commission without telling them that he owned it. When caught, he claimed that he didn’t put down his real address because “nobody needed to know it was the Mayor.”
Well, sometime on Halloween, one of Shawn’s employees took off with $11,000 of stereo equipment. Turns out, the employee was a fugitive from justice with an outstanding warrant for burglary. You’d think Shawn, who had an outstanding warrant for filing a police report when he ran for mayor, or his partner the convicted thief, who still owes $14,000 in restitution, would be more careful of who they hire.
Regardless, the St. Peters police recovered all the stolen equipment for the Mayor. But according to the Mayor, he still lost about $14,000 on his Haunted House. Wait a minute! Isn’t that what Chris Blevins owes in restitution? Maybe the Mayor should check Blevins’ share again. After all, there is no honor among thieves.
But Skippy shouldn’t panic. I doubt he will have to file for bankruptcy, again. Instead, he can always turn back to his personal ATM machine—Citizens for Fair Government.
But Mr. Mayor, a word to the wise, this time keep Rhonda Brown out of it. Because all I know is that if Mrs. Spencer’s picture ended up on the front page in a scandal, I’d be sleeping on the coach for a longtime…
CASE IN POINT By Joe Koester, Councilman Ward 9
History in the Remaking
What’s St. Charles got that no other town in the county’s got? A sense of history, architecture, diversity, community and common sense layout of streets (at least in the older parts of town). That which is wrong with suburbia was pointed out by a recent e-mail forwarded on in the council’s weekly pack of information. In the e-mail letter, Mrs. Shannon Walsh states, “I trekked out several times the first few months I moved here looking for neat areas to shop, walk, get a feel for the neighborhood — plug in. I found only one — downtown St. Charles. The rest of Saint Charles County is just as so many had described. A cluttered jungle of ugly, scattershot, out of control development, strip malls, with no hint of neighborhood or character. I got lost every time I went out because it all looked exactly the same!”
Welcome to “community” as imagined by most developers who are not directed by government (rare to nonexistent in our county) to imagine something beyond plastic-skinned houses lining the pleasant sounding curvilinear streets named after that which they have annihilated! For fun, think up a pastoral sounding street name such as, “Sunny Meadow” and then look in the local street guide. If you make it “Pleasantville” sounding enough, you will be sure to find it somewhere in our county. Next, take a drive to the street and you will not see a Meadow but a beige or white sided house stuck on a cul-de-sac where a through street could have very easily connected to the next development and maybe even led you by foot to a grocery store!
Ms. Walsh is, of course, correct in her assessment of what she sees and in her letter she continues (emphasis added is hers), “I don’t really LIVE in St. Charles...I sleep in St. Charles County but that’s it.”
Early on, many of us had a vague notion of what disturbed us about the way developers were allowed to build but it wasn’t articulated as such. We knew that commutes were getting longer and longer and that left-hand turns onto some streets were increasingly difficult and life threatening. We knew that the greenspace that was sought was disappearing and in its place a carbon copied strip center was built. For many the “local” place to get “good” food became a franchised restaurant surrounded by a sea of asphalt. Housing developments are waxing while community is waning.
What does the current expansion format cost us? Have you ever thought about the price tag that comes along with the way that we build? Consider the following:
increased cost of maintaining massive infrastructure for low density development
increased cost of transportation due to the curvilinear layout of streets
increased commute time that costs us leisure time with family and friends
increased health costs created from an automobile-mastered society that promotes sedentary existence
Those are a few of the real monetary costs, but the thing that has cost us just as greatly and that which Ms. Walsh is lamenting in her letter is loss of community, loss of meaningful space, loss of connection to her surroundings. Meaningful space is exactly what draws thousands of us to Main Street over and over again. Main Street has many individual private owners but yet we still feel like we all own the whole space! Main Street is an eclectic use-of-space mix — boutiques, parks, homes, businesses, large buildings, small buildings, old buildings and new buildings alike help define this special space!
We here in Saint Charles have a head start on other communities and have some promising things planned. For example, I have mentioned before that I feel St. Charles City is a rivertown with little relationship to its great river but the Mayor and Council have common ground working for fruition of the riverfront development plan that will make the Missouri more than the muddy water you cross over to drive to work or to the baseball games.
We have a trails plan developed and will work towards connecting all parts of our City via bike/pedestrian paths. The whole community has embraced new urbanism in New Town. The ca. 750 acres of New Town under development will house far more residents than a Levittown-style development would have and offers far more desirable space in which to LIVE! The population growth here is creating demand for retail! Furthermore, this development saves greenspace and infrastructure costs!
We are rebuilding our older neighborhoods and offer financial assistance for home improvements to help out in this area. Our City is taking some steps in the right direction.
Truly, our community will do well to understand that ignoring the problems of suburbia may end up costing us dearly when young professionals choose another place that offers them something more than a Wal-mart Supercenter. St. Charles is in a good position to demonstrate to the rest of the county how community is made meaningful by mixed use, public space, and pedestrian friendly developments.
I know you wrote that you plan to move back to St. Louis County Ms. Walsh, but you may want to consider coming home to Saint Charles City!
"MONEY TALKS" Kevin Daniels Main Street Financial
KEVIN DANIELS - Main Stret Financial
Hitting Home Runs
If I were writing this column about baseball, I would only have another few sentences before I would have revealed all I know about baseball. None-the-less, I am sure of this: there are very few Mark McGuires in this city. I’m sure there are some that were never discovered for various reasons. But, compared to the general population, there are few home run hitters like “Mac”. By all means if you can hit financial home runs, press on! But for most of us we have to admit, we do not hit like Mr. McGuire.
My advice would be to not focus on hitting financial home runs. Yet nearly every week I will have a client that wants to try. Better yet, they expect to knock it out of the park every time they step up to the plate, of course with my help. I raise my eyebrows and say, “you are not a home run hitter and neither am I.” Furthermore, a consistent home run King has no need for your few hundred thousand when they have millionaires already standing in line. I then explain that my goal is NOT to make 47% on the star fund pick. These clients have unrealistic expectations and unless they begin to abandon the home-run-every-time syndrome, I will not be able to help them.
My goal with finance is to get a base hit, consistently. We all have been taught that the turtle wins the race but our pride would be better fed TRYING to be the hare. The crowd sure cheers louder for the hare! But this can quickly lead to all flash and no cash! Ouch! My mom used to call this “Big hat, no cattle.” It is very hard to make money when you are striking out while trying to hit a home run.
Try this at home. Use boring, methodical, routine, consistent plans to build wealth. Bunting is allowed! I suggest you not be in too big of a hurry either, it usually takes time to build anything of value. Using a go-slow approach will not give you a very exciting story to tell at the lunch table tomorrow, but it will likely help you buy the lunch table someday. Everyone has to pick a strategy. Even not picking any strategy ends up being a strategy in and of itself. So my advice is be reasonable and avoid trying to go over the fence with investment performance. I believe with that “home-run” strategy, you may indeed strike out, or even worse, not have another opportunity to bat for a long while! Kevin Daniels is securities licensed through Investacorp, Inc. a registered broker dealer, member NASD, SIPC.
FIRST CAPITOL Counseling Connection - Dr Howard Rosenthal
First Capitol Counseling Connection
Dr. Howard Rosenthal
What In The World Is This New Brief Mental Health Treatment?
Dear Dr. Rosenthal,
My best friend told me that she solved her personal problems in just a few sessions by seeing a brief therapist. I personally went to therapy years ago and I attended sessions for several years. I’m experiencing difficulties again and was wondering if brief therapy might work for me. What in the world is brief therapy? - Lisa
Dear Lisa,
Brief therapy – which also goes under the names of brief solution oriented therapy, brief strategic therapy, solution focused brief therapy (SFBT), an offshoot, dubbed as narrative therapy, and possibility therapy – is extremely popular right now. Many textbooks and graduate schools are pushing this model to the hilt. In addition, I’ve received a number of questions about this approach since I began writing this column.
One advantage to brief therapy is that . . . well, it’s brief . . . and generally takes less time to complete than traditional psychotherapy and counseling. Insurance companies, HMOs and managed care programs often prefer this model since it helps keep treatment costs down. There is not an insurance company on the face of the earth (at least that I’m aware of one, nor or other the experts I’ve consulted with) that will pay the whole bill for you to see a classical Freudian analyst for five days a week for approximately three or four years. Simply put: In most cases an insurance company would prefer short- term treatment to a long-term approach.
I can’t truly do justice to this form of intervention in this short article; however, here are a few insights into this paradigm. In brief solution oriented therapy, the emphasis (just like the name implies) is on the solution, not the problem. Hint: Your therapist won’t allow you 30 sessions to talk about your childhood or the fact that your mother liked your sister best! (They always do you know.)
The therapist will help you focus on exceptions to your problem. For example, if you are depressed, are there ever times when you are not depressed? If you can’t get along with your teen-age daughter, are there ever times when you do get along with her?
By focusing on what occurs during these rare periods, the therapist can often help you behave in a more productive manner. Therapists of this ilk often give homework assignments for you to perform after each session.
If you are looking for a therapist to build a long-term therapeutic relationship with or a helper to analyze the nuances of your childhood, let me state forthrightly that this isn’t the treatment of choice for you.
On the other hand, if the aforementioned factors are not an issue why not give brief therapy a whirl and see if it does the trick? Many, though not all, of the people who have tried this approach have given it thumbs up. Remember that no model of treatment works in every case.
Dr. Howard Rosenthal, is professor and program coordinator of Human Services at St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley. He is the recipient of several clinical and teaching awards and the author of the Encyclopedia of Counseling and the Human Services Dictionary. His website is www.howardrosenthal.com.
LOCAL NEWS NOTES
Christmas Tree Lot Opens Nov. 26 –
First Capitol Lions
The First Capitol Lions Club will be selling Christmas Trees beginning on Saturday, November 26, 2005. The finest pines from Nova Scotia, Canada will be available in sizes from 4 feet to 9 feet and include Douglas and Frasier Firs, Balsams and Scotch pines. The club will also sell pine roping, grave mats and wreaths. Free delivery of Christmas trees is available to St. Charles City residents.
The lot will be open from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays, and from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sundays through December 19th. The tree lot is located in the parking lot of Lyon’s Frozen Custard at the corner of Elm Street and Duchesne in St. Charles.
FIRST BANKS, INC. ANNOUNCES COMPLETION ACQUISITION
OF NORTHWAY STATE BANK
First Banks, Inc. (“First Banks”) and Northway State Bank (“Northway”) jointly announce completion today of the previously announced acquisition of Northway by First Banks.
Allen H. Blake, President and Chief Executive Officer of First Banks, said, “We are delighted to welcome the customers and employees of Northway to First Banks and are committed to continuing Northway’s dedication to providing the highest level of financial services to its customers.” Mr. Blake added, “Northway is located in Lake County, a growing and dynamic area that leads in business expansions and relocations. This acquisition provides an exciting enhancement to our growing Chicago franchise, which now totals 26 banking offices throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. Our new customers will benefit from an expanded branch banking and ATM network that offers a broad array of financial products and services.”
Terrance M. McCarthy, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of First Banks, said, “First Banks offers the customers of Northway an extensive menu of consumer and commercial loan and deposit product lines in addition to other financial services, including telephone and internet banking, debit cards, mortgage banking, small business lending, brokerage services, trust, private banking and institutional money management services.” Mr. McCarthy added, “We look forward to serving our new customers and further expanding our activities within the local communities.”
Joseph F. Tomasello, President of Northway, said, “Our affiliation with First Banks provides our customers with greater convenience through an expanded branch and ATM network, in addition to enhanced financial products and services that are available through a larger financial institution.”
Mr. Tomasello added, “First Banks will continue to build on the strong foundation that Northway’s directors, management and employees have established as they continue to serve the customers and businesses in our community.”
Northway, an Illinois state chartered bank, is headquartered in Grayslake, Illinois, and operates one banking office in the northern Chicago metropolitan area. At September 30, 2005, Northway reported assets of $50.4 million, loans, net of unearned discount, of $41.9 million, deposits of $44.8 million and stockholders’ equity of $5.2 million.
At September 30, 2005, First Banks reported assets of $9.01 billion, loans, net of unearned discount, of $6.63 billion, deposits of $7.38 billion and stockholders’ equity of $665.1 million. Following completion of the acquisition, First Banks will operate 177 branch banking offices in Missouri, Illinois, California and Texas.
CRESCENDO CONCERT SERIES RECEIVES MAAA GRANTS FOR THREE CONCERTS
The Crescendo Concert Series has announced that it was among a select group of Midwest presenters chosen to receive three Mid-America Arts Alliance grants in support of its 2005-2006 concert season. These awards will support upcoming performances of the Manhattan Brass Quintet on January 26, 2006 at St. Charles Presbyterian Church, Chanson (a male vocal sextet) on March 19, 2006 at the Academy of the Sacred Heart, and cellist Andres Diaz on May 21, 2006 at First United Methodist Church. These concerts begin at 3:00 p.m. and are all in St. Charles.
These presentations are supported by the Mid-America Arts Alliance with generous underwriting by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Missouri Arts Council, and foundations, corporations, and individuals throughout Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas. The Alliance enables individuals and families throughout America’s heartland to share in and enjoy the arts and culture of our region and the world.
Mary Kennedy McCabe, Mid America Arts Alliance Executive Director said, “The Crescendo Concert Series is to be commended for its community service with these distinctive events. Audiences in St. Charles and St. Charles County will have the opportunity to hear the exciting work of the Manhattan Brass Quintet, Chanson, and Andres Diaz, many for the first time, and Mid-America Arts Alliance is proud to help support this work and the Crescendo Concert Series.”
These three performances are part of Crescendo Concert Series’ seventh season. Before each event Nancy Rubenstein, Ph.D. will provide an instructive introduction to the music of the concert at 2:30 p.m.
For further information call board spokesman Herb Pundmann at 636-724-2507 or visit the Web site at http://crescendoconcerts.org/. For further information on Mid-America Arts Alliance call their staff at 816-421-1388.
FIRST BANK’S MEREDITH KELLY NAMED CO-CHAIR OF 17TH ANNUAL CHARITY BENEFIT
Community Women Against Hardship (CWAH) event to be held Sunday, November 13
Meredith Kelly, community affairs officer at First Bank and vice president of the Community Women Against Hardship (CWAH) board, has been selected as auction co-chair at the CWAH 17th Annual Charity Event, scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 13 at the Sheldon Concert Hall (3648 Washington Blvd).
Kelly has co-chaired this CWAH annual event for the past four years. In addition to serving on the CWAH board, Kelly is a board member of Vision for Children at Risk and Union West Community Corp. She serves on the advisory boards for Beaumont Academy of Finance, Gateway to Financial Fitness, St. Louis Coalition to Promote Reputable Lending, and Get Checking. Kelly sits on the steering committee for the Habitat for Humanity Friends Group as well.
Community Women Against Hardship is a nonprofit community organization that feeds, clothes, teaches and houses families undergoing hardship in the St. Louis metropolitan area.
First Bank is one of the largest privately owned banks in the country with more than $9 billion in assets and over 175 locations in Missouri, Illinois, Texas and California.
First Capitol Lions
The First Capitol Lions Club will be selling Christmas Trees beginning on Saturday, November 26, 2005. The finest pines from Nova Scotia, Canada will be available in sizes from 4 feet to 9 feet and include Douglas and Frasier Firs, Balsams and Scotch pines. The club will also sell pine roping, grave mats and wreaths. Free delivery of Christmas trees is available to St. Charles City residents.
The lot will be open from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays, and from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sundays through December 19th. The tree lot is located in the parking lot of Lyon’s Frozen Custard at the corner of Elm Street and Duchesne in St. Charles.
FIRST BANKS, INC. ANNOUNCES COMPLETION ACQUISITION
OF NORTHWAY STATE BANK
First Banks, Inc. (“First Banks”) and Northway State Bank (“Northway”) jointly announce completion today of the previously announced acquisition of Northway by First Banks.
Allen H. Blake, President and Chief Executive Officer of First Banks, said, “We are delighted to welcome the customers and employees of Northway to First Banks and are committed to continuing Northway’s dedication to providing the highest level of financial services to its customers.” Mr. Blake added, “Northway is located in Lake County, a growing and dynamic area that leads in business expansions and relocations. This acquisition provides an exciting enhancement to our growing Chicago franchise, which now totals 26 banking offices throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. Our new customers will benefit from an expanded branch banking and ATM network that offers a broad array of financial products and services.”
Terrance M. McCarthy, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of First Banks, said, “First Banks offers the customers of Northway an extensive menu of consumer and commercial loan and deposit product lines in addition to other financial services, including telephone and internet banking, debit cards, mortgage banking, small business lending, brokerage services, trust, private banking and institutional money management services.” Mr. McCarthy added, “We look forward to serving our new customers and further expanding our activities within the local communities.”
Joseph F. Tomasello, President of Northway, said, “Our affiliation with First Banks provides our customers with greater convenience through an expanded branch and ATM network, in addition to enhanced financial products and services that are available through a larger financial institution.”
Mr. Tomasello added, “First Banks will continue to build on the strong foundation that Northway’s directors, management and employees have established as they continue to serve the customers and businesses in our community.”
Northway, an Illinois state chartered bank, is headquartered in Grayslake, Illinois, and operates one banking office in the northern Chicago metropolitan area. At September 30, 2005, Northway reported assets of $50.4 million, loans, net of unearned discount, of $41.9 million, deposits of $44.8 million and stockholders’ equity of $5.2 million.
At September 30, 2005, First Banks reported assets of $9.01 billion, loans, net of unearned discount, of $6.63 billion, deposits of $7.38 billion and stockholders’ equity of $665.1 million. Following completion of the acquisition, First Banks will operate 177 branch banking offices in Missouri, Illinois, California and Texas.
CRESCENDO CONCERT SERIES RECEIVES MAAA GRANTS FOR THREE CONCERTS
The Crescendo Concert Series has announced that it was among a select group of Midwest presenters chosen to receive three Mid-America Arts Alliance grants in support of its 2005-2006 concert season. These awards will support upcoming performances of the Manhattan Brass Quintet on January 26, 2006 at St. Charles Presbyterian Church, Chanson (a male vocal sextet) on March 19, 2006 at the Academy of the Sacred Heart, and cellist Andres Diaz on May 21, 2006 at First United Methodist Church. These concerts begin at 3:00 p.m. and are all in St. Charles.
These presentations are supported by the Mid-America Arts Alliance with generous underwriting by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Missouri Arts Council, and foundations, corporations, and individuals throughout Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas. The Alliance enables individuals and families throughout America’s heartland to share in and enjoy the arts and culture of our region and the world.
Mary Kennedy McCabe, Mid America Arts Alliance Executive Director said, “The Crescendo Concert Series is to be commended for its community service with these distinctive events. Audiences in St. Charles and St. Charles County will have the opportunity to hear the exciting work of the Manhattan Brass Quintet, Chanson, and Andres Diaz, many for the first time, and Mid-America Arts Alliance is proud to help support this work and the Crescendo Concert Series.”
These three performances are part of Crescendo Concert Series’ seventh season. Before each event Nancy Rubenstein, Ph.D. will provide an instructive introduction to the music of the concert at 2:30 p.m.
For further information call board spokesman Herb Pundmann at 636-724-2507 or visit the Web site at http://crescendoconcerts.org/. For further information on Mid-America Arts Alliance call their staff at 816-421-1388.
FIRST BANK’S MEREDITH KELLY NAMED CO-CHAIR OF 17TH ANNUAL CHARITY BENEFIT
Community Women Against Hardship (CWAH) event to be held Sunday, November 13
Meredith Kelly, community affairs officer at First Bank and vice president of the Community Women Against Hardship (CWAH) board, has been selected as auction co-chair at the CWAH 17th Annual Charity Event, scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 13 at the Sheldon Concert Hall (3648 Washington Blvd).
Kelly has co-chaired this CWAH annual event for the past four years. In addition to serving on the CWAH board, Kelly is a board member of Vision for Children at Risk and Union West Community Corp. She serves on the advisory boards for Beaumont Academy of Finance, Gateway to Financial Fitness, St. Louis Coalition to Promote Reputable Lending, and Get Checking. Kelly sits on the steering committee for the Habitat for Humanity Friends Group as well.
Community Women Against Hardship is a nonprofit community organization that feeds, clothes, teaches and houses families undergoing hardship in the St. Louis metropolitan area.
First Bank is one of the largest privately owned banks in the country with more than $9 billion in assets and over 175 locations in Missouri, Illinois, Texas and California.
FIRST CAPITOL NEWS SPORTS - Mike McMurran Editor
MY COLUMN - Mike McMurran, Sports Editor
Never have I claimed to be a journalist, nor a columnist – rather I am simply a lowly, certified 7-12 English teacher. During my years of studying to be a teacher I was required to take more literature and grammar courses than I would ever need. You see I am what most would call an “old school” teacher – I know the content, grammar, literary analysis and such, as that is what they taught us. Today’s educators focus more on “how to teach,” how to address different learning styles, how to create an environment conducive to learning. Though professional development old school teachers, like yours truly, are schooled on how to address the different learning styles, etc. Why do I mention this? There are a couple of reasons: 1. I love to write, both formally and informally. When the opportunity presented itself to write for Tony and Phyllis I jumped on it. 2. I love high school sports – nothing pleasures me more than attending a competitive high school contest, and 3. I love my family. Yeah sure, everyone loves their family, but for the longest time I was not sure that I would have a family. I was 41 years old when Margo, my oldest was born.
It seems the correspondence I receive is equally divided between “stick to sports” and “I love reading about your family.” How do I keep everyone happy? Its kinda like dealing with my wife: damned if I do, damned if I don’t. Lets not forget to factor in I occasionally enjoy sharing my political point of view.
It has been one year now since I have been writing this column, and I have learned a few things. I like my narratives to be as “fresh” as possible. My deadline for submitting articles is noon, or so, on Tuesday. No matter how hard I try I cannot bring myself to sitting down and writing until Tuesday morning (presently it is 9 a.m.). This week I had a column written as early as last Thursday – but I threw it away this morning. The “freshness” I speak of is currently throwing me for a loop. You see, I must submit my articles by noon on Tuesday, but at the same time the U. S. Mail doesn’t bother to deliver my FCN until several days latter. This throws my clock off, significantly. Kindly hang in there with me as I become more tuned in with the new schedule.
The column I originally planned on submitting dealt primarily with the Fort Zumwalt School District’s drug and alcohol policy – and how I admired and respected Dr. Bernie DuBray for standing up for what is clearly best for the student athletes. My clandestine informants tell me there is a star athlete from a Class 6 football semifinalist team facing drug charges. It seems the court proceedings are being put off until the conclusion of the season – “he’s innocent until proven guilty – therefore he keeps his eligibility,” I am told. Something tells me this wouldn’t happen in the Zumwalt District.
Speaking of football semifinalists, Charlie Elmendorf’s Duchesne Pioneers are one win away from a date at the Edward Jones Dome and the Show Me Bowl. Since we do not publish next week due to Thanksgiving, we will not be covering the Pioneer’s semifinal game with Affton. Rest assured ladies and gentlemen, should the Pioneers make it to the Dome, Bob and I will be there. Here’s a trivia question: Since the MSHSAA started football playoffs in 1968, Duchesne has made it to the final four, 4 times (82, 83, 99 and this year). Who is the only Gateway Athletic Conference representative to win a football state championship? (answer at the end of column)
Since we do not publish next week, I would like to share what I am most thankful for with you this week. This Thanksgiving, November 24th, will mark the 21st Thanksgiving I have spent with my wife, Lynn. Remember how I earlier said there was a time in my life when I was not sure if I would ever have a family? Well, on Thanksgiving Day in 1985, my first with Lynn and her family, I knew that she was the person I wanted to raise a family with. I also knew that the holiday environment I was experiencing was one I would someday love for my children to experience. You see, cousins in Lynn’s family are closer than many brothers and sisters I have met. This Thanksgiving, Margo, Joe and Dee will share Thanksgiving with at least 7 of their cousins: Phillip, Stevie (his wife Sarah), Tasha, Meghan (home from Rockhurst), Brad, Paige and Mason. Others may pop in from Tennessee and Texas, we never know, but you can be certain those 10 will be at Lynn’s brother Dave’s (and Debby) house on Thursday. I am thankful for the past 20 Thanksgivings with Lynn, 10 of which we have had a family of our own. Here’s to my wife Lynn, I love you and hope the next 20 Thanksgivings are as special as the past 20.
In November of 1982, head coach Jim Williams’ St. Charles Pirates defeated O’Hara 10-3 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, for the Class 4A state football title.
RAGE By Mike Thompson
FALL LEAGUE MEETINGS BRING AWARDS TO RAGE, EXPANSION TO NIFL
By Mike Thompson
By the end of the evening Thursday at the Adam’s Mark Hotel, after the annual NIFL Fall Banquet had been cleared away, I sat with Rage owners Tye Elliott and Scott Wilson, who were seated between Rage Head Football Coach Mike Wyatt. It was hard for me to determine which of the three looked more like the Cheshire Cat who had suddenly swiped the canary out of mid-flight and gulped it down before grinning from ear to ear. I knew how hard everyone had worked in the past two weeks to put together the three most important days in the current off-season, so I had to ask the question, but ask it I did.
‘Well, was it worth all the planning, catering, all the shuttling to and from the airport, all the t-r-o-u-b-l-e to get this baby up and running?” Rolling his eyes, sighing, and with a half-laugh, Tye summed it up. “Hey, I can finally quit holding my breath, and I probably need to be re-introduced to my wife and kids, but yeah, four awards, it was worth every minute.” Then all heads at the table nodded in agreement when he exclaimed, “but I sure wouldn’t want to have to do it again next month!”
A full agenda, a hectic array of meetings, new owners, new teams, plenty of growth for the league fast becoming the biggest in indoor football, and it’s helmets held high to the RiverCity Rage and the City of St. Louis. If I may be allowed to say so myself, we did the NIFL and the best sports city in the USA quite proud! The annual get-together was a success, and League President Carolyn Shiver left on Friday morning with new reason to be excited about the NIFL in 2006. “Expansion was the key focus of these meetings, and we leave St. Louis with eleven new teams ready to excite football fans in their respective cities. Not only does this type of growth help the league and it’s image, but also it will geographically design our divisions to help reduce travel cost while keeping a national footprint in the sports community. It’s the best of both worlds for the NIFL.”
And the world is getting bigger.... or smaller...larger, of course in terms or more teams, more divisions, more fans drawn to the indoor game. Smaller, when you consider the travel between cities will become less. The idea is to align each respective division and conference with teams in relative proximity to each other, so as to reduce the travel costs in the coming year.
So, introducing the new teams and cities ready to step up and be part of the National Indoor Football League in 2006...
Fort Collins, Colorado
Rapid City, South Dakota
San Antonio, Texas
Katy, Texas
Lafayette, Louisiana
Monroe, Louisiana
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Charlotte, North Carolina
Greensboro, North Carolina
Jacksonville, Florida
West Palm Beach, Florida
The 2006 home and away schedule has yet to be finalized for The Rage and the league, but one or more of those teams could be coming to Savvis Center next season. And lest one think expansion weakens the product, remember this....two expansion teams battled for the NIFL Title last year!
RAGE AWARDS
It was a big night for the RiverCity Rage on Thursday when the ‘Maggie’ (management and entertainment awards) trophies were presented. The home team walked away with four of the more prestigious awards up for grabs. Rage Head Football Coach Mike Wyatt was presented the award for Coach of the Year, although he shared that award, and it was thus labeled Co-Coach of the year. Regardless, Wyatt says it’s really a thrill to be honored by one’s peers and the league owners. “To be in the league for two years and to be honored both times (Wyatt was the Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year in 2004) is really exciting. It’s a great feeling to be that well thought of, but it’s also an award, really, for our entire coaching staff. I’ve got top-notch help in every department, and that makes my job a bit easier.”
Wyatt shared the next award with no one as I had the honor to present to him at the podium the trophy for Atlantic Division General Manager of the Year! And again, Coach gave credit to others in the organization in accepting the award. “It’s an honor that is certainly reflective on everyone at the office, a lot of the credit goes to a very active management team, especially Morris Groves, our Director of Operations. He and I work together in making decisions and implementing those directives for the success of the team in regards to ticket sales, marketing and community outreach. For me, it’s an accent, if you would, to doing what I really enjoy best, and that’s coaching football and working towards putting a quality product on the field for our fans. But, hey, this is sweet!”
The Rage also brought home awards for two of the more celebrated ‘game-day’ type awards.....Best Game Day Presentation and the trophy for having the Most Fun Organization.
Rage Operations Manager Morris Groves normally puts in a 12 to 14 hour day at Rage home games, and the hard work is shared by many others, a fact that doesn’t go unnoticed by him.
“From paid personnel, to volunteer’s, to interns, it’s a joint effort to give the fans the exciting pre-game, halftime and post-game presentations that we’ve been honored for. From the moment we get here (usually 4 to 5 hours before a home game) to the time we leave late at night, everyone knows their job, does their job and really puts heart and soul into making a night at Rage football an all-around fun night for fans of all ages.”
Soooo, a huge THANK YOU to......
Kathy Martinez....who handles the script for the game, including everything from the ‘reads’ (PA announcer), to all the promotions, the cheerleaders, lights and music. Kudos to her husband Steve, who assists.
Don Adams, Jr....The Rage photographer
Diane Burkholder...who also assists Kathy Martinez
Jeff Vossenkemper.... our top-notch audio man
Alicia, Lauren and Anna Hollenbeck.... who handle the Rage merchandise table
Ferd Fetch.... our media co-coordinator
Mark Juen and his wife Denise...Rage game-day radio spotters
John Moberly...with help, here, there, and everywhere
Chris Procasky and Mike Kadillac.... otherwise known as ‘Raggie’ (team mascot)
Rodney Gerdes and David Solomon...Stat crew
Kyle Wilkinson.... Video
KFAV Radio’s Brian Richardson.... Rage PA Announcer
T.L. Ricks.... on-field announcer
And finally, a grateful Rage team salutes our Rage Cheerleaders, our Bellboys and Ball girls, and our interns Casy Moran, Emmalee Steiger, Travis Cooper and Mark Luebbert, and anyone else who contributed to the success of the team in 2005...see ya next year!!
FOOTBALL/CLASS 4 QUARTERFINAL
Duchesne tops defending State Champs
By: Mike McMurran Sports Editor
One of the oldest cliches in sports goes something like this: the game was much closer than the score indicated. The opposite might be said in reference to Duchesne’s 7 – 0 Class 4 quarterfinal win at Concordia Seminary over defending Class 4 state champions, Clayton.
“We put the defense in a tough spot, failing to get in the end zone more, but the defense stepped up,” said head coach Charlie Elmendorf. “At the same time you have to give their defense credit,” as they stopped the Pioneers twice inside the 5-yard line.
Even though the winning margin could have been much larger, the outcome was not finalized until the final play of the game. With less than three minutes remaining in the game, and Clayton driving to the end zone, Duchesne defensive end Matt Dalton did what he does best; he sacked the quarterback. “We were nervous, no doubt,” Dalton said. Clayton’s defense had just stopped Duchesne at the 1-yard line, and were putting together one of their best offensive drives of the game. They drove 67 yards to the Duchesne 26-yard line. That’s when the Pioneer’s defense stepped up and took control of the game.
Following Dalton’s sack, the ‘Hounds faced a third and long. Clayton’s quarterback Carter Sapp tried to throw a screen pass, only to have the Pioneer defense smother it. With less than two minutes remaining, facing a 4th and 20, Sapp’s pass was intercepted by Jeremy Elmendorf. “That’s the biggest play I’ve ever made in my life,” Elmendorf said. “I made the interception, but the play was made by the pressure put on the quarterback by the D-line.”
Most of the first half was a game of field position. Slowly, the Pioneers, though a series of punt exchanges, managed to gain some yardage. With just under two minutes remaining in the first half, Mitch Kohnen galloped 37 of his 105 yards to the Clayton 1-yard line. On the next snap Kohnen gave the Pioneers a 7-0 lead with 50 seconds remaining in the half.
Duchesne moved the ball, almost at will in the second half, as the Duchesne offensive line took control of the game. “The O-line did their job, no doubt about it,” said the senior Elmendorf. “We moved the ball up and down the field, but couldn’t get it in the end zone.” Clayton stopped the Pioneers inside the red zone on three separate occasions. “We should have gone up 10-0 on the second to last drive,” said Elmendorf. “I should have gone for the field goal, which would have required Clayton to score twice.” Instead, Collin Magilligan was stopped at the one-yard line.
Duchesne travels to South County to take on the Suburban East tri-champions Affton Cougars Saturday for a 1:30 p.m. kick off. The winner of Saturdays game will play at the Edward Jones Dome on Friday, November 25, at 3 p.m. for the Class 4 state title.
United Hockey League
River Otters Still
Need Consistency
Players Turn to Violence When Frustrated
Finally get their first win at Fort Wayne
By Louis J. Launer
“They’ve got to get this monkey off their backs,” River Otter fan Colleen Cooke said after the team recorded its eighth consecutive loss at Family Arena.
The River Otters did get their first win at Fort Wayne last week, a 4-1 victory, thanks to a new acquired forward Scott Horvath, who got a goal and two assists in the game. Goaltender Kevin Reiter stopped 33 shots and appeared back in what he was last season during the playoffs, ironically against Fort Wayne. It’s only one win, but there are still problems with the team.
The Missouri River Otters are a cellar dweller in the Western Division standings. Fans and sportswriters notice a lack of consistency in every position this season. The River Otter defensive unit has been lackluster and allows the opponent to cross the blue line untouched and appear in the middle in front of the goaltender ready to dump the puck in. The offense can’t control the puck and constantly has the puck knocked away by the opponents’ defense. The team itself cannot play three periods of consistent hockey.
Long-time River Otters fan Nik Woodward noticed a little consistency in the first game of November at Family Arena compared to the previous month.
“If Reiter had gotten the defense that [Cuthbert] got today, we’d win every game,” he said. “I think the problem has just been a lack of cohesion. But we’re getting there now.”
Woodward still has concern about the Otters’ forwards and their lack of making the play. “[Damian] Surma needs to pass more than he did today. He’s a center for [goodness] sake.”
Released this month from the River Otters are center Dan Carney, right winger Bret Peppler and defenseman Jared Newman. J.P. Beilstein was reactivated after being released a week earlier. Dimitri Toupikov is now on the active playing roster. Brad Church has been out of the lineup for three weeks with a very bad bone bruise on his ankle. Church was struck hard in the foot by a slap shot puck in early November.
Players are starting to express frustration over the problems. The River Otters traveled to Kalamazoo, Michigan to open the first weekend of November. In that game in the first period alone, the K-Wings had 20 shots on goal, compared to the Otters’ 6, enroute to an 8-1 loss. Unnecessary penalties also hurt the River Otters. In the first period, left winger Jimmy Callahan became frustrated with the immediate stoppage of play by the officials that he expressed his displeasure. Callahan was given an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, along with a 10-minute misconduct. That set of penalties cost the Otters two goals by the K-Wings and most likely took the momentum away from the River Otters including a chance for their first win.
Another costly penalty for the River Otters that put the game out of reach (including starting a 4-goal third period by the K-Wings) was Brian Heckendorn’s blatant slash of Kalamazoo’s Joe Seroski, who assisted on the first K-Wing goal in the third period. The referee interpreted it as a cheap shot and gave Heckendorn a 5-minute major for slashing. Heckendorn continued to retaliate and argue with the referee and was given an additional 10-minute misconduct for “abuse of officials.”
When the team returned to Family Arena the next evening, there were questions as to what is really wrong with the River Otters. Some River Otter fans are putting the blame right square at General Manager Frank Buonomo for not getting Head Coach Kevin Kaminski the players needed to win UHL games.
It is also frustrating to welcome 60 Rockford IceHog fans who arrive at Family Arena and find the place much better than their MetroCentre located in downtown Rockford. IceHog fans have reason to celebrate and travel this autumn with their team. The team remained undefeated in the first six weeks of the season—never achieved before since the franchise existed. IceHog fans dream of having an arena like Family Arena in their hometown. But they also appreciate the hospitality of River Otter fans, who are considered the best sportsmanlike of all UHL teams. It’s quite complementary to River Otter fans. But a losing record and positive compliments on the arena really don’t mix well.
Playing Rockford several times during the first five weeks of the regular season could be exciting or devastating. This year, it was the latter. The November 5 game against the IceHogs started as a dull game in the first period, with Rockford scoring two quick goals. Fans and sportswriters had a feeling inside of their heads of “here we go again.”
River Otter retaliation started at 17:19 of the second period when Lars Pettersen stick slapped Rockford defenseman Evgue Nourislamov in the face. The referee saw the entire incident as he skated right next to both of them. Pettersen received a five-minute major plus a game misconduct. Pettersen was finished for the night and took any potential opportunity for the River Otters with him.
River Otter players continued their frustrated rage. At 19:26 of the second period, right winter Frank Littlejohn started a fight with Jason Noterman, where Littlejohn threw continuous right hands at the Rockford left winger. Both linesmen and the referee had to pull them apart and try to restore order. But once Littlejohn skated by the Rockford bench on the way off the ice, Rockford’s Corey Hessler high sticked Littlejohn while sitting on the bench. Littlejohn approached the bench in fighting mode and both benches almost cleared.
At 3:47 of the third period, defenseman Tim O’Connell scored on a Dave Stewart pass, cutting Rockford’s lead in half. The River Otters had a chance to tie and turn around their woes. But unnecessary penalties by Tyler Butler, Mark Lindsay, Jim Murphy and Brad MacMillan put the River Otters two men short for six minutes—at a time when Rockford regrouped and returned their rested players to the ice. The River Otters lack of simple passing, the inability to pick up loose pucks and further inconsistency got the River Otters nowhere.
Late in the game at 18:49, the River Otters pulled goaltender Kevin Reiter for an additional attacker. Rockford’s Evgue Noruslamov cleared a loose puck intended for Dave Stewart. Noruslamov slapped the puck away and it went 125 feet directly into the empty net. That gave Rockford a 3-1 lead and eventually the victory. After that score, the River Otters decided to go all-out on the violence.
At 19:50, Rockford’s Oliver Proulx and Missouri’s Damian Surma roughed up each other along the boards behind the Rockford goal. Both received roughing minors. After the horn sounded ending the game, Rockford’s Robin Big Snake decided to retaliate again, just like what he did two weeks before. This time, Big Snake stick slapped Missouri’s Damian Surma and again drew blood.
Three days after the game, the UHL League Office in Lake Saint Louis announced four players were punished for their actions after the game at Family Arena. Rockford defenseman Corey Hessler was suspended for one game after receiving a match penalty for high sticking. Rockford’s Robin Big Snake was given a three game suspension, which included another game against Missouri in Rockford. The three-game suspension was for being an instigator in the last five minutes of a game and also making contact with the referee.
River Otter players Brad MacMillan and Frank Littlejohn were given one game suspensions by the league office. MacMillan was another instigator in the final five minutes of the game and Littlejohn engaged the Rockford team bench.
Without MacMillan and Littlejohn, the River Otters continued their losing ways, losing to Port Huron, 4-1. By mid-November, the River Otters remain the UHL’s only winless team. Head Coach Kevin Kaminski said scoring is a problem.
“It’s hard to win, too, when you’re only scoring one goal a game,” Kaminski said. “When you score 12 goals in nine games, you won’t win many.”
Fans and the front office are discovering that it is going to be a long season. Being more of a consistent team is a first start to salvaging the season.
First Capitol News High School Athlete of the Week
Logan McGuire, Junior, Duchesne High School
By: Mike McMurran
Sports Editor
Duchesne High Junior football player Logan McGuire has been a busy fellow the past six days. All he has done is lead the Duchesne Pioneers into semifinal action of the Missouri Class 4 football tournament.
McGuire seldom leaves the field as he starts at both inside linebacker and running back. All he did against Gateway Athletic Conference – North Division rival Timberland was open the scoring with a 2-yard run, make 5 unassisted tackles on defense, and run the ball 24 times for 88 yards in leading the Pioneers to a 14-6 sectional win.
As the old Bachman, Turner Overdrive song suggested: “You ain’t seen nothing yet.” In Wednesday night’s 7-0 quarterfinal win over defending state champion Clayton, McGuire led the Pioneers with 105 yards rushing in 17attempts. A day’s work for most, but not McGuire, as he also led the defense in tackles with 11 unassisted and 5 assisted.
For his accomplishments on the football field, Logan has been selected the First Capitol News High School Athlete of the Week.
Never have I claimed to be a journalist, nor a columnist – rather I am simply a lowly, certified 7-12 English teacher. During my years of studying to be a teacher I was required to take more literature and grammar courses than I would ever need. You see I am what most would call an “old school” teacher – I know the content, grammar, literary analysis and such, as that is what they taught us. Today’s educators focus more on “how to teach,” how to address different learning styles, how to create an environment conducive to learning. Though professional development old school teachers, like yours truly, are schooled on how to address the different learning styles, etc. Why do I mention this? There are a couple of reasons: 1. I love to write, both formally and informally. When the opportunity presented itself to write for Tony and Phyllis I jumped on it. 2. I love high school sports – nothing pleasures me more than attending a competitive high school contest, and 3. I love my family. Yeah sure, everyone loves their family, but for the longest time I was not sure that I would have a family. I was 41 years old when Margo, my oldest was born.
It seems the correspondence I receive is equally divided between “stick to sports” and “I love reading about your family.” How do I keep everyone happy? Its kinda like dealing with my wife: damned if I do, damned if I don’t. Lets not forget to factor in I occasionally enjoy sharing my political point of view.
It has been one year now since I have been writing this column, and I have learned a few things. I like my narratives to be as “fresh” as possible. My deadline for submitting articles is noon, or so, on Tuesday. No matter how hard I try I cannot bring myself to sitting down and writing until Tuesday morning (presently it is 9 a.m.). This week I had a column written as early as last Thursday – but I threw it away this morning. The “freshness” I speak of is currently throwing me for a loop. You see, I must submit my articles by noon on Tuesday, but at the same time the U. S. Mail doesn’t bother to deliver my FCN until several days latter. This throws my clock off, significantly. Kindly hang in there with me as I become more tuned in with the new schedule.
The column I originally planned on submitting dealt primarily with the Fort Zumwalt School District’s drug and alcohol policy – and how I admired and respected Dr. Bernie DuBray for standing up for what is clearly best for the student athletes. My clandestine informants tell me there is a star athlete from a Class 6 football semifinalist team facing drug charges. It seems the court proceedings are being put off until the conclusion of the season – “he’s innocent until proven guilty – therefore he keeps his eligibility,” I am told. Something tells me this wouldn’t happen in the Zumwalt District.
Speaking of football semifinalists, Charlie Elmendorf’s Duchesne Pioneers are one win away from a date at the Edward Jones Dome and the Show Me Bowl. Since we do not publish next week due to Thanksgiving, we will not be covering the Pioneer’s semifinal game with Affton. Rest assured ladies and gentlemen, should the Pioneers make it to the Dome, Bob and I will be there. Here’s a trivia question: Since the MSHSAA started football playoffs in 1968, Duchesne has made it to the final four, 4 times (82, 83, 99 and this year). Who is the only Gateway Athletic Conference representative to win a football state championship? (answer at the end of column)
Since we do not publish next week, I would like to share what I am most thankful for with you this week. This Thanksgiving, November 24th, will mark the 21st Thanksgiving I have spent with my wife, Lynn. Remember how I earlier said there was a time in my life when I was not sure if I would ever have a family? Well, on Thanksgiving Day in 1985, my first with Lynn and her family, I knew that she was the person I wanted to raise a family with. I also knew that the holiday environment I was experiencing was one I would someday love for my children to experience. You see, cousins in Lynn’s family are closer than many brothers and sisters I have met. This Thanksgiving, Margo, Joe and Dee will share Thanksgiving with at least 7 of their cousins: Phillip, Stevie (his wife Sarah), Tasha, Meghan (home from Rockhurst), Brad, Paige and Mason. Others may pop in from Tennessee and Texas, we never know, but you can be certain those 10 will be at Lynn’s brother Dave’s (and Debby) house on Thursday. I am thankful for the past 20 Thanksgivings with Lynn, 10 of which we have had a family of our own. Here’s to my wife Lynn, I love you and hope the next 20 Thanksgivings are as special as the past 20.
In November of 1982, head coach Jim Williams’ St. Charles Pirates defeated O’Hara 10-3 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, for the Class 4A state football title.
RAGE By Mike Thompson
FALL LEAGUE MEETINGS BRING AWARDS TO RAGE, EXPANSION TO NIFL
By Mike Thompson
By the end of the evening Thursday at the Adam’s Mark Hotel, after the annual NIFL Fall Banquet had been cleared away, I sat with Rage owners Tye Elliott and Scott Wilson, who were seated between Rage Head Football Coach Mike Wyatt. It was hard for me to determine which of the three looked more like the Cheshire Cat who had suddenly swiped the canary out of mid-flight and gulped it down before grinning from ear to ear. I knew how hard everyone had worked in the past two weeks to put together the three most important days in the current off-season, so I had to ask the question, but ask it I did.
‘Well, was it worth all the planning, catering, all the shuttling to and from the airport, all the t-r-o-u-b-l-e to get this baby up and running?” Rolling his eyes, sighing, and with a half-laugh, Tye summed it up. “Hey, I can finally quit holding my breath, and I probably need to be re-introduced to my wife and kids, but yeah, four awards, it was worth every minute.” Then all heads at the table nodded in agreement when he exclaimed, “but I sure wouldn’t want to have to do it again next month!”
A full agenda, a hectic array of meetings, new owners, new teams, plenty of growth for the league fast becoming the biggest in indoor football, and it’s helmets held high to the RiverCity Rage and the City of St. Louis. If I may be allowed to say so myself, we did the NIFL and the best sports city in the USA quite proud! The annual get-together was a success, and League President Carolyn Shiver left on Friday morning with new reason to be excited about the NIFL in 2006. “Expansion was the key focus of these meetings, and we leave St. Louis with eleven new teams ready to excite football fans in their respective cities. Not only does this type of growth help the league and it’s image, but also it will geographically design our divisions to help reduce travel cost while keeping a national footprint in the sports community. It’s the best of both worlds for the NIFL.”
And the world is getting bigger.... or smaller...larger, of course in terms or more teams, more divisions, more fans drawn to the indoor game. Smaller, when you consider the travel between cities will become less. The idea is to align each respective division and conference with teams in relative proximity to each other, so as to reduce the travel costs in the coming year.
So, introducing the new teams and cities ready to step up and be part of the National Indoor Football League in 2006...
Fort Collins, Colorado
Rapid City, South Dakota
San Antonio, Texas
Katy, Texas
Lafayette, Louisiana
Monroe, Louisiana
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Charlotte, North Carolina
Greensboro, North Carolina
Jacksonville, Florida
West Palm Beach, Florida
The 2006 home and away schedule has yet to be finalized for The Rage and the league, but one or more of those teams could be coming to Savvis Center next season. And lest one think expansion weakens the product, remember this....two expansion teams battled for the NIFL Title last year!
RAGE AWARDS
It was a big night for the RiverCity Rage on Thursday when the ‘Maggie’ (management and entertainment awards) trophies were presented. The home team walked away with four of the more prestigious awards up for grabs. Rage Head Football Coach Mike Wyatt was presented the award for Coach of the Year, although he shared that award, and it was thus labeled Co-Coach of the year. Regardless, Wyatt says it’s really a thrill to be honored by one’s peers and the league owners. “To be in the league for two years and to be honored both times (Wyatt was the Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year in 2004) is really exciting. It’s a great feeling to be that well thought of, but it’s also an award, really, for our entire coaching staff. I’ve got top-notch help in every department, and that makes my job a bit easier.”
Wyatt shared the next award with no one as I had the honor to present to him at the podium the trophy for Atlantic Division General Manager of the Year! And again, Coach gave credit to others in the organization in accepting the award. “It’s an honor that is certainly reflective on everyone at the office, a lot of the credit goes to a very active management team, especially Morris Groves, our Director of Operations. He and I work together in making decisions and implementing those directives for the success of the team in regards to ticket sales, marketing and community outreach. For me, it’s an accent, if you would, to doing what I really enjoy best, and that’s coaching football and working towards putting a quality product on the field for our fans. But, hey, this is sweet!”
The Rage also brought home awards for two of the more celebrated ‘game-day’ type awards.....Best Game Day Presentation and the trophy for having the Most Fun Organization.
Rage Operations Manager Morris Groves normally puts in a 12 to 14 hour day at Rage home games, and the hard work is shared by many others, a fact that doesn’t go unnoticed by him.
“From paid personnel, to volunteer’s, to interns, it’s a joint effort to give the fans the exciting pre-game, halftime and post-game presentations that we’ve been honored for. From the moment we get here (usually 4 to 5 hours before a home game) to the time we leave late at night, everyone knows their job, does their job and really puts heart and soul into making a night at Rage football an all-around fun night for fans of all ages.”
Soooo, a huge THANK YOU to......
Kathy Martinez....who handles the script for the game, including everything from the ‘reads’ (PA announcer), to all the promotions, the cheerleaders, lights and music. Kudos to her husband Steve, who assists.
Don Adams, Jr....The Rage photographer
Diane Burkholder...who also assists Kathy Martinez
Jeff Vossenkemper.... our top-notch audio man
Alicia, Lauren and Anna Hollenbeck.... who handle the Rage merchandise table
Ferd Fetch.... our media co-coordinator
Mark Juen and his wife Denise...Rage game-day radio spotters
John Moberly...with help, here, there, and everywhere
Chris Procasky and Mike Kadillac.... otherwise known as ‘Raggie’ (team mascot)
Rodney Gerdes and David Solomon...Stat crew
Kyle Wilkinson.... Video
KFAV Radio’s Brian Richardson.... Rage PA Announcer
T.L. Ricks.... on-field announcer
And finally, a grateful Rage team salutes our Rage Cheerleaders, our Bellboys and Ball girls, and our interns Casy Moran, Emmalee Steiger, Travis Cooper and Mark Luebbert, and anyone else who contributed to the success of the team in 2005...see ya next year!!
FOOTBALL/CLASS 4 QUARTERFINAL
Duchesne tops defending State Champs
By: Mike McMurran Sports Editor
One of the oldest cliches in sports goes something like this: the game was much closer than the score indicated. The opposite might be said in reference to Duchesne’s 7 – 0 Class 4 quarterfinal win at Concordia Seminary over defending Class 4 state champions, Clayton.
“We put the defense in a tough spot, failing to get in the end zone more, but the defense stepped up,” said head coach Charlie Elmendorf. “At the same time you have to give their defense credit,” as they stopped the Pioneers twice inside the 5-yard line.
Even though the winning margin could have been much larger, the outcome was not finalized until the final play of the game. With less than three minutes remaining in the game, and Clayton driving to the end zone, Duchesne defensive end Matt Dalton did what he does best; he sacked the quarterback. “We were nervous, no doubt,” Dalton said. Clayton’s defense had just stopped Duchesne at the 1-yard line, and were putting together one of their best offensive drives of the game. They drove 67 yards to the Duchesne 26-yard line. That’s when the Pioneer’s defense stepped up and took control of the game.
Following Dalton’s sack, the ‘Hounds faced a third and long. Clayton’s quarterback Carter Sapp tried to throw a screen pass, only to have the Pioneer defense smother it. With less than two minutes remaining, facing a 4th and 20, Sapp’s pass was intercepted by Jeremy Elmendorf. “That’s the biggest play I’ve ever made in my life,” Elmendorf said. “I made the interception, but the play was made by the pressure put on the quarterback by the D-line.”
Most of the first half was a game of field position. Slowly, the Pioneers, though a series of punt exchanges, managed to gain some yardage. With just under two minutes remaining in the first half, Mitch Kohnen galloped 37 of his 105 yards to the Clayton 1-yard line. On the next snap Kohnen gave the Pioneers a 7-0 lead with 50 seconds remaining in the half.
Duchesne moved the ball, almost at will in the second half, as the Duchesne offensive line took control of the game. “The O-line did their job, no doubt about it,” said the senior Elmendorf. “We moved the ball up and down the field, but couldn’t get it in the end zone.” Clayton stopped the Pioneers inside the red zone on three separate occasions. “We should have gone up 10-0 on the second to last drive,” said Elmendorf. “I should have gone for the field goal, which would have required Clayton to score twice.” Instead, Collin Magilligan was stopped at the one-yard line.
Duchesne travels to South County to take on the Suburban East tri-champions Affton Cougars Saturday for a 1:30 p.m. kick off. The winner of Saturdays game will play at the Edward Jones Dome on Friday, November 25, at 3 p.m. for the Class 4 state title.
United Hockey League
River Otters Still
Need Consistency
Players Turn to Violence When Frustrated
Finally get their first win at Fort Wayne
By Louis J. Launer
“They’ve got to get this monkey off their backs,” River Otter fan Colleen Cooke said after the team recorded its eighth consecutive loss at Family Arena.
The River Otters did get their first win at Fort Wayne last week, a 4-1 victory, thanks to a new acquired forward Scott Horvath, who got a goal and two assists in the game. Goaltender Kevin Reiter stopped 33 shots and appeared back in what he was last season during the playoffs, ironically against Fort Wayne. It’s only one win, but there are still problems with the team.
The Missouri River Otters are a cellar dweller in the Western Division standings. Fans and sportswriters notice a lack of consistency in every position this season. The River Otter defensive unit has been lackluster and allows the opponent to cross the blue line untouched and appear in the middle in front of the goaltender ready to dump the puck in. The offense can’t control the puck and constantly has the puck knocked away by the opponents’ defense. The team itself cannot play three periods of consistent hockey.
Long-time River Otters fan Nik Woodward noticed a little consistency in the first game of November at Family Arena compared to the previous month.
“If Reiter had gotten the defense that [Cuthbert] got today, we’d win every game,” he said. “I think the problem has just been a lack of cohesion. But we’re getting there now.”
Woodward still has concern about the Otters’ forwards and their lack of making the play. “[Damian] Surma needs to pass more than he did today. He’s a center for [goodness] sake.”
Released this month from the River Otters are center Dan Carney, right winger Bret Peppler and defenseman Jared Newman. J.P. Beilstein was reactivated after being released a week earlier. Dimitri Toupikov is now on the active playing roster. Brad Church has been out of the lineup for three weeks with a very bad bone bruise on his ankle. Church was struck hard in the foot by a slap shot puck in early November.
Players are starting to express frustration over the problems. The River Otters traveled to Kalamazoo, Michigan to open the first weekend of November. In that game in the first period alone, the K-Wings had 20 shots on goal, compared to the Otters’ 6, enroute to an 8-1 loss. Unnecessary penalties also hurt the River Otters. In the first period, left winger Jimmy Callahan became frustrated with the immediate stoppage of play by the officials that he expressed his displeasure. Callahan was given an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, along with a 10-minute misconduct. That set of penalties cost the Otters two goals by the K-Wings and most likely took the momentum away from the River Otters including a chance for their first win.
Another costly penalty for the River Otters that put the game out of reach (including starting a 4-goal third period by the K-Wings) was Brian Heckendorn’s blatant slash of Kalamazoo’s Joe Seroski, who assisted on the first K-Wing goal in the third period. The referee interpreted it as a cheap shot and gave Heckendorn a 5-minute major for slashing. Heckendorn continued to retaliate and argue with the referee and was given an additional 10-minute misconduct for “abuse of officials.”
When the team returned to Family Arena the next evening, there were questions as to what is really wrong with the River Otters. Some River Otter fans are putting the blame right square at General Manager Frank Buonomo for not getting Head Coach Kevin Kaminski the players needed to win UHL games.
It is also frustrating to welcome 60 Rockford IceHog fans who arrive at Family Arena and find the place much better than their MetroCentre located in downtown Rockford. IceHog fans have reason to celebrate and travel this autumn with their team. The team remained undefeated in the first six weeks of the season—never achieved before since the franchise existed. IceHog fans dream of having an arena like Family Arena in their hometown. But they also appreciate the hospitality of River Otter fans, who are considered the best sportsmanlike of all UHL teams. It’s quite complementary to River Otter fans. But a losing record and positive compliments on the arena really don’t mix well.
Playing Rockford several times during the first five weeks of the regular season could be exciting or devastating. This year, it was the latter. The November 5 game against the IceHogs started as a dull game in the first period, with Rockford scoring two quick goals. Fans and sportswriters had a feeling inside of their heads of “here we go again.”
River Otter retaliation started at 17:19 of the second period when Lars Pettersen stick slapped Rockford defenseman Evgue Nourislamov in the face. The referee saw the entire incident as he skated right next to both of them. Pettersen received a five-minute major plus a game misconduct. Pettersen was finished for the night and took any potential opportunity for the River Otters with him.
River Otter players continued their frustrated rage. At 19:26 of the second period, right winter Frank Littlejohn started a fight with Jason Noterman, where Littlejohn threw continuous right hands at the Rockford left winger. Both linesmen and the referee had to pull them apart and try to restore order. But once Littlejohn skated by the Rockford bench on the way off the ice, Rockford’s Corey Hessler high sticked Littlejohn while sitting on the bench. Littlejohn approached the bench in fighting mode and both benches almost cleared.
At 3:47 of the third period, defenseman Tim O’Connell scored on a Dave Stewart pass, cutting Rockford’s lead in half. The River Otters had a chance to tie and turn around their woes. But unnecessary penalties by Tyler Butler, Mark Lindsay, Jim Murphy and Brad MacMillan put the River Otters two men short for six minutes—at a time when Rockford regrouped and returned their rested players to the ice. The River Otters lack of simple passing, the inability to pick up loose pucks and further inconsistency got the River Otters nowhere.
Late in the game at 18:49, the River Otters pulled goaltender Kevin Reiter for an additional attacker. Rockford’s Evgue Noruslamov cleared a loose puck intended for Dave Stewart. Noruslamov slapped the puck away and it went 125 feet directly into the empty net. That gave Rockford a 3-1 lead and eventually the victory. After that score, the River Otters decided to go all-out on the violence.
At 19:50, Rockford’s Oliver Proulx and Missouri’s Damian Surma roughed up each other along the boards behind the Rockford goal. Both received roughing minors. After the horn sounded ending the game, Rockford’s Robin Big Snake decided to retaliate again, just like what he did two weeks before. This time, Big Snake stick slapped Missouri’s Damian Surma and again drew blood.
Three days after the game, the UHL League Office in Lake Saint Louis announced four players were punished for their actions after the game at Family Arena. Rockford defenseman Corey Hessler was suspended for one game after receiving a match penalty for high sticking. Rockford’s Robin Big Snake was given a three game suspension, which included another game against Missouri in Rockford. The three-game suspension was for being an instigator in the last five minutes of a game and also making contact with the referee.
River Otter players Brad MacMillan and Frank Littlejohn were given one game suspensions by the league office. MacMillan was another instigator in the final five minutes of the game and Littlejohn engaged the Rockford team bench.
Without MacMillan and Littlejohn, the River Otters continued their losing ways, losing to Port Huron, 4-1. By mid-November, the River Otters remain the UHL’s only winless team. Head Coach Kevin Kaminski said scoring is a problem.
“It’s hard to win, too, when you’re only scoring one goal a game,” Kaminski said. “When you score 12 goals in nine games, you won’t win many.”
Fans and the front office are discovering that it is going to be a long season. Being more of a consistent team is a first start to salvaging the season.
First Capitol News High School Athlete of the Week
Logan McGuire, Junior, Duchesne High School
By: Mike McMurran
Sports Editor
Duchesne High Junior football player Logan McGuire has been a busy fellow the past six days. All he has done is lead the Duchesne Pioneers into semifinal action of the Missouri Class 4 football tournament.
McGuire seldom leaves the field as he starts at both inside linebacker and running back. All he did against Gateway Athletic Conference – North Division rival Timberland was open the scoring with a 2-yard run, make 5 unassisted tackles on defense, and run the ball 24 times for 88 yards in leading the Pioneers to a 14-6 sectional win.
As the old Bachman, Turner Overdrive song suggested: “You ain’t seen nothing yet.” In Wednesday night’s 7-0 quarterfinal win over defending state champion Clayton, McGuire led the Pioneers with 105 yards rushing in 17attempts. A day’s work for most, but not McGuire, as he also led the defense in tackles with 11 unassisted and 5 assisted.
For his accomplishments on the football field, Logan has been selected the First Capitol News High School Athlete of the Week.
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