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Saturday, October 21, 2006
FRONT PAGE FIRST CAPITOL NEWS - October 21, 2006
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Millionaire Club Headed By Hughes Funnels $213,000 To Committees & Business Controlled By Dempsey’s Aide, Thomas Smith
By Phyllis Schaltenbrand
& Tony Brockmeyer
While researching campaign-spending records with the state of Missouri for our ongoing series on the influence of big money in the campaign of State Representative Tom Dempsey, the First Capitol News uncovered new evidence of the possible corrupt influence of funds being floated through yet another front committee. The Regional St. Charles County Leadership Fund, newly formed in March of 2006 by TR Hughes and employees of his, held a massive fund raising dinner on the evening of the 7th of April at the Columns Banquet Center an establishment owned and operated by the Dempsey family.
The gala event quietly raised $213,000 that evening. Expenses for the event totaled $29,116.45 paid to the Dempsey’s Columns Banquet Center. Records with the state indicate that employees of TR Hughes control the fund. All monies collected by the fund, however, were later transferred to Committees and a business under the control of Thomas W. Smith, a state employee working for and allied with State Representative Tom Dempsey (R) 18 District.
Dempsey had previously rushed special-interest legislation into law that enabled TR Hughes to have sewer connections for homes in one of his developments. Hughes was in a bind because the private sewer company, East Central Missouri, had no valid contract with the City of St. Charles to continue to treat their sewerage. While the two parties were negotiating this dispute, the City of St. Charles told East Central Missouri that they could no longer hook up additional customers to their private sewer system and expect the City to handle the extra capacity. This meant Hughes could not hook up any more of the homes he was building in the County.
The legislation, sponsored by Dempsey, forced the City of St. Charles to have to treat the sewage of this private company despite not having a valid contract with them. Further, the legislation was written so one-sided, that the citizens of St. Charles were required to pay to maintain the private sewer line in order to keep treating the sewage even if the private line collapsed. These lines and the development by Hughes on the site of the old St. Andrews Golf Course are outside of the corporate city limits of St. Charles and outside of the 18th State Representative District, which Dempsey represents.
The legislation helped Hughes directly to be able to continue to build new homes in this development. It also placed an additional burden on City taxpayers and sewer users who will have to pay for expanding and upgrading the Mississippi River Treatment Plant to handle this and other growth. It is likely the City of St. Charles will be raising sewer rates in the near future to pay for such upgrades.
This special legislation, sponsored by Dempsey, was rushed through the legislature due to Dempsey’s leadership position as Majority Floor Leader. It was passed last year and was widely criticized by St. Charles City officials, the Mayor, and City Administrator.
The fundraiser this year appears to have been a thinly veiled attempt to disguise TR Hughes funneling money to help Tom Dempsey. Hughes was active in financing and promoting the recall attempts to have Councilwoman Dottie Greer and Councilman Mark Brown removed from office. Those attempts were plagued with fraud and forgeries and in which individuals were charged with crimes and others are being investigated. Hughes, himself, donated $9,600 and was joined by numerous other developers and noteworthy individuals including:
Cole and Associates $9,600 (A company controlled by former St. Charles Councilman Kevin Riggs)
Grace Harmon, $12,000
Wm. Randolph Weber $2,400
Keith Hazelwood $3,600
Mary West $1,200 (Former St. Charles Councilwoman)
Kevin Kast $2,400 (former head of SSM St. Joseph Health Center who resigned suddenly and was active in promoting and financing the recall attempts on Councilwoman Dottie Greer and Councilman Mark Brown. Recall attempts that were plagued with fraud and forgeries and in which individuals were charged with crimes and others are being investigated)
Missouri Health Care Association $12,000
Environmental Operations, Inc. $9,600
McBride & Son Management Co. $12,000
Enterprise Financial $5,000
Foresight Development Group $9,600
Quilogy $12,000
CSM & Associates $4,800 (A company controlled by Mike Sellenschuetter who was active in promoting and financing the recall attempts on Councilwoman Dottie Greer and Councilman Mark Brown. Recall attempts that were plagued with fraud and forgeries and in which individuals were charged with crimes and others are being investigated)
Henry Clever $100
A complete list of the contributors can be found at firstcapitolnews.blogspot.com
The fundraiser, held at the Dempsey’s Columns Banquet Center, was held while the legislature was still in session. Incumbent candidates are forbidden from accepting money from lobbyists during the five months of the legislative session, which runs January through May. The April 7th fundraiser was well within the time period that other incumbent state representatives were prohibited from raising money. Hughes, Smith, and Dempsey circumvented this restriction by creating this third party committee, The Regional St. Charles County Leadership Fund. They then later channeled the money directly into the committees controlled by Dempsey’s aide, Thomas W. Smith.
Dempsey’s opponent in the November 7th election, City Councilman Joe Koester, stated previously that he was motivated to run for office because of the special interest legislation Dempsey had passed for Tom Hughes. “It made me angry that the interests of average citizens and the people he was sworn to represent, were taking a back seat to the private profit motives of a millionaire developer. I could not believe how the interests of the public had been so blatantly and willfully surrendered to special interests.”
Learning of the findings of our investigation, Councilman Koester had this to add, “I hope the public can now see that their interests were not sold cheaply but were surrendered for $213,000 from a millionaires club.”
SEE RELATED ARTICLE "CASINOS BET HEAVILY ON INFLUENCE OF DEMPSEY. Scroll down to read that story.
& Tony Brockmeyer
While researching campaign-spending records with the state of Missouri for our ongoing series on the influence of big money in the campaign of State Representative Tom Dempsey, the First Capitol News uncovered new evidence of the possible corrupt influence of funds being floated through yet another front committee. The Regional St. Charles County Leadership Fund, newly formed in March of 2006 by TR Hughes and employees of his, held a massive fund raising dinner on the evening of the 7th of April at the Columns Banquet Center an establishment owned and operated by the Dempsey family.
The gala event quietly raised $213,000 that evening. Expenses for the event totaled $29,116.45 paid to the Dempsey’s Columns Banquet Center. Records with the state indicate that employees of TR Hughes control the fund. All monies collected by the fund, however, were later transferred to Committees and a business under the control of Thomas W. Smith, a state employee working for and allied with State Representative Tom Dempsey (R) 18 District.
Dempsey had previously rushed special-interest legislation into law that enabled TR Hughes to have sewer connections for homes in one of his developments. Hughes was in a bind because the private sewer company, East Central Missouri, had no valid contract with the City of St. Charles to continue to treat their sewerage. While the two parties were negotiating this dispute, the City of St. Charles told East Central Missouri that they could no longer hook up additional customers to their private sewer system and expect the City to handle the extra capacity. This meant Hughes could not hook up any more of the homes he was building in the County.
The legislation, sponsored by Dempsey, forced the City of St. Charles to have to treat the sewage of this private company despite not having a valid contract with them. Further, the legislation was written so one-sided, that the citizens of St. Charles were required to pay to maintain the private sewer line in order to keep treating the sewage even if the private line collapsed. These lines and the development by Hughes on the site of the old St. Andrews Golf Course are outside of the corporate city limits of St. Charles and outside of the 18th State Representative District, which Dempsey represents.
The legislation helped Hughes directly to be able to continue to build new homes in this development. It also placed an additional burden on City taxpayers and sewer users who will have to pay for expanding and upgrading the Mississippi River Treatment Plant to handle this and other growth. It is likely the City of St. Charles will be raising sewer rates in the near future to pay for such upgrades.
This special legislation, sponsored by Dempsey, was rushed through the legislature due to Dempsey’s leadership position as Majority Floor Leader. It was passed last year and was widely criticized by St. Charles City officials, the Mayor, and City Administrator.
The fundraiser this year appears to have been a thinly veiled attempt to disguise TR Hughes funneling money to help Tom Dempsey. Hughes was active in financing and promoting the recall attempts to have Councilwoman Dottie Greer and Councilman Mark Brown removed from office. Those attempts were plagued with fraud and forgeries and in which individuals were charged with crimes and others are being investigated. Hughes, himself, donated $9,600 and was joined by numerous other developers and noteworthy individuals including:
Cole and Associates $9,600 (A company controlled by former St. Charles Councilman Kevin Riggs)
Grace Harmon, $12,000
Wm. Randolph Weber $2,400
Keith Hazelwood $3,600
Mary West $1,200 (Former St. Charles Councilwoman)
Kevin Kast $2,400 (former head of SSM St. Joseph Health Center who resigned suddenly and was active in promoting and financing the recall attempts on Councilwoman Dottie Greer and Councilman Mark Brown. Recall attempts that were plagued with fraud and forgeries and in which individuals were charged with crimes and others are being investigated)
Missouri Health Care Association $12,000
Environmental Operations, Inc. $9,600
McBride & Son Management Co. $12,000
Enterprise Financial $5,000
Foresight Development Group $9,600
Quilogy $12,000
CSM & Associates $4,800 (A company controlled by Mike Sellenschuetter who was active in promoting and financing the recall attempts on Councilwoman Dottie Greer and Councilman Mark Brown. Recall attempts that were plagued with fraud and forgeries and in which individuals were charged with crimes and others are being investigated)
Henry Clever $100
A complete list of the contributors can be found at firstcapitolnews.blogspot.com
The fundraiser, held at the Dempsey’s Columns Banquet Center, was held while the legislature was still in session. Incumbent candidates are forbidden from accepting money from lobbyists during the five months of the legislative session, which runs January through May. The April 7th fundraiser was well within the time period that other incumbent state representatives were prohibited from raising money. Hughes, Smith, and Dempsey circumvented this restriction by creating this third party committee, The Regional St. Charles County Leadership Fund. They then later channeled the money directly into the committees controlled by Dempsey’s aide, Thomas W. Smith.
Dempsey’s opponent in the November 7th election, City Councilman Joe Koester, stated previously that he was motivated to run for office because of the special interest legislation Dempsey had passed for Tom Hughes. “It made me angry that the interests of average citizens and the people he was sworn to represent, were taking a back seat to the private profit motives of a millionaire developer. I could not believe how the interests of the public had been so blatantly and willfully surrendered to special interests.”
Learning of the findings of our investigation, Councilman Koester had this to add, “I hope the public can now see that their interests were not sold cheaply but were surrendered for $213,000 from a millionaires club.”
SEE RELATED ARTICLE "CASINOS BET HEAVILY ON INFLUENCE OF DEMPSEY. Scroll down to read that story.
THE REGIONAL ST CHARLES COUNTY LEADERSHIP FUND CONTRIBUTORS AND EXPENSES
Click on images to enlarge. The first two images are the contributors to the Regional St. Charles County Leadership Fund and the third image is the expense report. These reports were obtained from the Missouri Ethics Commission and can be found on their web site.
Dempsey’s Aide Puts Out Negative Mailing Against Tom Green
By Phyllis Schaltenbrand
Thomas W. Smith of 320 Monroe in St. Charles, Tom Dempsey’s aide, is apparently responsible for a negative mailing against former State Representative Tom Green. Green is attempting to regain his seat from Sally Faith who won the seat in the last election after several negative mailings, which were found to be false, were sent out by the state Republican Party.
Green has a lawsuit pending against the state Republican Party because of the negative mailings that he believes cost him the election. The suit is being heard in St. Charles County Circuit Court with a January 23rd trial date.
A motion by the Republican Party to dismiss the lawsuit was denied by Judge Cunningham who set the matter for trial.
Printing on the mailing, received by residents of the district on Wednesday, said it was paid for by the Gateway to Victory Fund, Thomas W. Smith, treasurer. Both the fund, and Dempsey’s aide Smith, were subjects of the First Capitol News Investigative series, “Money Laundering or Smart Politics, the People Have a right to Know.” (The series can be found in our archives on the internet at firstcapitolnews.blogspot.com in the search area enter, Money Laundering).
In it’s most recent filing with the Missouri Ethics Commission, the Gateway Victory Fund with Smith as the treasurer and being operated from 320 Monroe Street in St. Charles listed only about $600 on hand. Filings by the Sally faith Committee listed a payment of $5,000 in September to Survey St. Louis. Survey St. Louis is a company controlled by Smith, Dempsey’s aide, with the same address, 320 Monroe. When we last checked there is no city business license for Survey St. Louis nor approval for a home occupation.
Survey St. Louis was also active in the recent recall attempts against Councilman Mark Brown and Councilwoman Dottie Greer. Both recall attempts were plagued with forgeries and fraud. One subject has been charged by the Prosecuting Attorney’s office and police sources believe more individuals who participated in the recall will be charged. The recall efforts were mostly funded by developers T.R. Hughes and Michael Sellenschuetter and former head of SSM St. Joseph Health Center, Kevin Kast. Additional information in our archives at firstcapitolnews.blogspot.com.
Sources familiar with political mailings estimate the cost of the negative mailing made by Dempsey’s aide against Tom Green at about $5,000.
Tom Green told the First Capitol News, “I can’t believe they are putting out negative mailings against me again. You would think after the last election when it was proven they put out lies they would have learned their lesson. I would not have thought my opponent would stoop to this type of dirty tricks but I guess I was wrong. I plan on campaigning on the issues and on the record. I don’t believe I should make any further comments because of the pending lawsuit.
According to Tom Green, the state Republican Party admitted the information they mailed out about him was not true.
ttt
Thomas W. Smith of 320 Monroe in St. Charles, Tom Dempsey’s aide, is apparently responsible for a negative mailing against former State Representative Tom Green. Green is attempting to regain his seat from Sally Faith who won the seat in the last election after several negative mailings, which were found to be false, were sent out by the state Republican Party.
Green has a lawsuit pending against the state Republican Party because of the negative mailings that he believes cost him the election. The suit is being heard in St. Charles County Circuit Court with a January 23rd trial date.
A motion by the Republican Party to dismiss the lawsuit was denied by Judge Cunningham who set the matter for trial.
Printing on the mailing, received by residents of the district on Wednesday, said it was paid for by the Gateway to Victory Fund, Thomas W. Smith, treasurer. Both the fund, and Dempsey’s aide Smith, were subjects of the First Capitol News Investigative series, “Money Laundering or Smart Politics, the People Have a right to Know.” (The series can be found in our archives on the internet at firstcapitolnews.blogspot.com in the search area enter, Money Laundering).
In it’s most recent filing with the Missouri Ethics Commission, the Gateway Victory Fund with Smith as the treasurer and being operated from 320 Monroe Street in St. Charles listed only about $600 on hand. Filings by the Sally faith Committee listed a payment of $5,000 in September to Survey St. Louis. Survey St. Louis is a company controlled by Smith, Dempsey’s aide, with the same address, 320 Monroe. When we last checked there is no city business license for Survey St. Louis nor approval for a home occupation.
Survey St. Louis was also active in the recent recall attempts against Councilman Mark Brown and Councilwoman Dottie Greer. Both recall attempts were plagued with forgeries and fraud. One subject has been charged by the Prosecuting Attorney’s office and police sources believe more individuals who participated in the recall will be charged. The recall efforts were mostly funded by developers T.R. Hughes and Michael Sellenschuetter and former head of SSM St. Joseph Health Center, Kevin Kast. Additional information in our archives at firstcapitolnews.blogspot.com.
Sources familiar with political mailings estimate the cost of the negative mailing made by Dempsey’s aide against Tom Green at about $5,000.
Tom Green told the First Capitol News, “I can’t believe they are putting out negative mailings against me again. You would think after the last election when it was proven they put out lies they would have learned their lesson. I would not have thought my opponent would stoop to this type of dirty tricks but I guess I was wrong. I plan on campaigning on the issues and on the record. I don’t believe I should make any further comments because of the pending lawsuit.
According to Tom Green, the state Republican Party admitted the information they mailed out about him was not true.
ttt
RAMBLING WITH THE EDITOR - Tony Brockmeyer
If you have been watching the City Council meetings on Channel 20 recently you might have seen the temper tantrums thrown by Councilmen Bob Hoepfner and Mike Weller. They professed their indignation about an informational brochure the administration had contracted for regarding the vote for a Community Center that will be on the November 7th ballot. They professed their dislike for a location next to Blanchette Park where the Boys and Girls Club is currently located. This location is listed on the brochure as the front-runner for the location of the Center. They professed no knowledge of this being the preferred location despite the fact that it was mentioned in the 2005 Spring City Newsletter that goes to each Council person for approval nor when it appeared often in the minutes of the Community Center Committee that were sent to them.
If the truth were known their dislike is not so much to the location but more likely their hatred for Councilman Rory Riddler who has been working on a Community Center for many years. Maybe if they would give Hoepfner the plumbing work and Weller the cabling contract they would be more receptive to a Community Center for the residents.
Weller, whom I believe holds the record for missing Council meetings, has vowed to fight the Community Center. If he spends as much time doing that as he has spent on his Council duties it should have no significant impact.
Hoepfner made several statements regarding the center that need to be corrected.
1. Bob said Community Center cost estimate didn’t include inflation. In fact inflation was taken into account in preparing the estimate.
2. Bob said Park Board opposed Community Center when in fact; they have supported the idea all along.
3. Bob said the Council didn’t have knowledge of the sites being considered. In fact he voted for the minutes approving it, and the City Council’s article in the Spring 2005 City Newsletter, which Councilman Hoepfner approved talks all about it.
4. Bob said that Lindenwood University would “give” the City free land to build a Community Center. When the City Administrator checked with Lindenwood they found out that wasn’t true.
5. Bob said the architect cost the City “over a million dollars” when in fact the bills to date are $155,000.
Gee Bob, would it hurt so much to perhaps read the material you are given every week. Someone who doesn’t know you might actually believe the things you say every week.
If the truth were known their dislike is not so much to the location but more likely their hatred for Councilman Rory Riddler who has been working on a Community Center for many years. Maybe if they would give Hoepfner the plumbing work and Weller the cabling contract they would be more receptive to a Community Center for the residents.
Weller, whom I believe holds the record for missing Council meetings, has vowed to fight the Community Center. If he spends as much time doing that as he has spent on his Council duties it should have no significant impact.
Hoepfner made several statements regarding the center that need to be corrected.
1. Bob said Community Center cost estimate didn’t include inflation. In fact inflation was taken into account in preparing the estimate.
2. Bob said Park Board opposed Community Center when in fact; they have supported the idea all along.
3. Bob said the Council didn’t have knowledge of the sites being considered. In fact he voted for the minutes approving it, and the City Council’s article in the Spring 2005 City Newsletter, which Councilman Hoepfner approved talks all about it.
4. Bob said that Lindenwood University would “give” the City free land to build a Community Center. When the City Administrator checked with Lindenwood they found out that wasn’t true.
5. Bob said the architect cost the City “over a million dollars” when in fact the bills to date are $155,000.
Gee Bob, would it hurt so much to perhaps read the material you are given every week. Someone who doesn’t know you might actually believe the things you say every week.
Editorial St. Charles Community Center: An Idea Whose Time Has Come
Editorial
St. Charles Community Center:
An Idea Whose Time Has Come
The First Capitol News urges everyone to vote for Proposition A on Tuesday November 7th. Passage of this NO TAX INCREASE bond issue is critical to helping fulfill the dream, of St. Charles having a first-class Community Center.
Two separate Parks Department Surveys show that upwards of 72% of the public would like to see the City build and operate a Community Center. St. Peters has it’s Rec-Plex, O’Fallon the Spirit Center, Florissant the Eagan Center and JFK Center, Fenton, Maryland Heights, Bridgeton, Kirkwood and Clayton and the list goes on and on...all offer their residents the benefits of a Community Center.
Why operate a Parks & Recreation Department just six or eight months out of the year? A year-round Community Center would offer an aquatic’s center you could enjoy in the dead of winter. Exhaustive studies have shown the need for more multi-purpose gyms and surveys have shown great interest among seniors for an indoor climate controlled walking track.
Our community has also heard for years about how we need to provide something for our young people to do and teenage obesity is of growing concern. Here is an idea that addresses both issues. Aerobics areas, meeting rooms, a theater, child care area and food service area will round out the facility and insure something for everyone is always going on.
To its credit, the City Council has done its homework on this issue; now Council President Bob Kneemiller having headed up an early citizens committee before serving on the Council and Councilman Rory Riddler chairing the current Council Community Center Committee and setting aside the money in the Capital Budget Plan necessary to make this a no tax increase issue the City can finally afford.
Voting YES on PROPOSITION A, will allow the City to issue bonds at a cheaper rate of interest. The time is right to turn this dream into a reality for people of all ages.
St. Charles Community Center:
An Idea Whose Time Has Come
The First Capitol News urges everyone to vote for Proposition A on Tuesday November 7th. Passage of this NO TAX INCREASE bond issue is critical to helping fulfill the dream, of St. Charles having a first-class Community Center.
Two separate Parks Department Surveys show that upwards of 72% of the public would like to see the City build and operate a Community Center. St. Peters has it’s Rec-Plex, O’Fallon the Spirit Center, Florissant the Eagan Center and JFK Center, Fenton, Maryland Heights, Bridgeton, Kirkwood and Clayton and the list goes on and on...all offer their residents the benefits of a Community Center.
Why operate a Parks & Recreation Department just six or eight months out of the year? A year-round Community Center would offer an aquatic’s center you could enjoy in the dead of winter. Exhaustive studies have shown the need for more multi-purpose gyms and surveys have shown great interest among seniors for an indoor climate controlled walking track.
Our community has also heard for years about how we need to provide something for our young people to do and teenage obesity is of growing concern. Here is an idea that addresses both issues. Aerobics areas, meeting rooms, a theater, child care area and food service area will round out the facility and insure something for everyone is always going on.
To its credit, the City Council has done its homework on this issue; now Council President Bob Kneemiller having headed up an early citizens committee before serving on the Council and Councilman Rory Riddler chairing the current Council Community Center Committee and setting aside the money in the Capital Budget Plan necessary to make this a no tax increase issue the City can finally afford.
Voting YES on PROPOSITION A, will allow the City to issue bonds at a cheaper rate of interest. The time is right to turn this dream into a reality for people of all ages.
THE CITY DESK - Rory Riddler, Councilman Ward 1
Fifth Street Opening Was One
Of Those Picture Perfect Days
It is a well-kept secret that Missouri does experience the occasional day when the weather is just right. Neither too hot, too cold, too windy or too wet, too humid or too hazy and with just enough clouds in the sky to make it interesting. When a few such days occur this time of year, people still call it Indian summer. I’m not sure why this deference to Native Americans, but so far no one has complained.
We aren’t allowed too many of these perfect days or else we would have nothing in common to talk about. It makes you pity the poor people forced to live in the Sun Belt. I’ve often thought that one of the most boring jobs in the world is to be a weatherman in Phoenix. That doesn’t mean we don’t appreciate a nice day when it comes along, just that we find it odd.
God graced us with one of those days October 6, 2006, for the dedication of the much-anticipated North Fifth Street extension. To mark the occasion, the Public Works Department had arranged a dedication ceremony and ribbon cutting held on the new overpass across 370.
Special guests for the day were Mel Wetter, his wife Bea and their extended family. The extension is designated the Mel Wetter Parkway in honor of the former Mayor. On hand to provide martial music befitting the ceremony was the Orchard Farm High School Band. Yellow and blue balloons, festooned on the decorative light poles across the overpass, bobbed in the breeze. Whether on cue, or as luck would have it, there was even a fly-by of military jets. A large crowd of neighbors, city employees and those who worked on the project were on hand to be a part of a historic moment.
Mayor York, Mel Wetter and I were asked to make some remarks and I wanted to share with you those I made:
“For more than a decade we have envisioned this connection, a way for our citizens, North and South, to commute with greater ease and efficiency. Today is a proud day for all of us, but I am particularly proud to have been here at the beginning and to have helped see this grand plan through to such an auspicious conclusion.”
“I think we can all truly agree that this is the finest road connection in our community, if not all of St. Charles County. Once known only to the railroad workers and young people who played in these woods, now some of the scenic beauty of our little hills is here for all to enjoy. That natural beauty will need to be protected through time, and whatever developments may come to adjoining property should take the preservation of these wonderful trees and woods into account.”
“I want to take just a moment to thank Kuhlman Design Group for their thoughtful approach to this project. Thanks too and a job well done to our own public Works staff headed by Mahesh Sharma and Debbie Aylsworth as well as Allan Williams who was here near the start and came back for the completion of this grand project. Thank you to the men and women who helped build this overpass and road connection ahead of schedule.”
“Thanks also to the patience of the residents of the First Ward, especially to the residents of St. Charles Heights, who put up with the normal disruption that comes from such a major construction project.”
“Heartfelt congratulations also to former Mayor Mel Wetter, for whom we have named this beautiful Parkway. A man whose family was an important part of Frenchtown and who has exemplified the words community service.”
“The Southern end of this connection, near where the Wabash Station once overlooked St. Charles and the Missouri River, will soon see a rebirth as voters hopefully approve the bonds this November 7th for a St. Charles Community Center. So too a new Boy’s and Girl’s Club will soon bring prominence to the Fifth and Olive intersection.”
“Blanchette Park,
the crown jewel and oldest park in St. Charles, will see a rebirth as citizens North of 370 will now find it close and inviting. New life will come to Bum’s Hollow, which I hope, never looses its original name. Plans for a permanent stage will return live entertainment to this natural amphitheater. And this wonderful and wide hiking and biking path will soon connect through Frenchtown to the Katy Trail and someday to New Town, to add a wonderful recreational element and pedestrian access to this scenic area.”
“Finally, the attractive bridge across 370 has already brought a new sense of pride and arrival to the North End of St. Charles. We are becoming the kind of place we all knew this could be…and, with the continued help of Providence, our future is just beginning. Thank you.”
Following our remarks and a formal ribbon cutting, dignitaries climbed aboard the St. Charles Trolley for an inaugural ride along the parkway. As we approached Bum’s Hollow a deer stepped out of the trees as we rode slowly past. Kids rode by on bicycles. People were out walking their dogs. It was a picture perfect day.
For this special occasion, my wife Sue was there and our daughter Kathleen was able to get some time away from St. Charles High. We remembered taking her and her brother (now at college) to the dedication of the Hawk’s Nest overpass when they were younger. And I carried my son Justin on my shoulders so he could see the opening of the 370 Bridge years before that.
Someone offered to take our picture with Mel Wetter. It’s a great photo, but I couldn’t help thinking it didn’t tell the whole story. Not even the cable television coverage could capture the whole story. Time stood still that day for a few hours. You could feel it in the air and see it in the clouds. It was a picture perfect day.
Case In Point By Joe Koester, Councilman Ward 9
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
Earl Wilson
Tonight was Meet-the-Candidate Night at Sts. Joachim and Ann. Most all the candidates showed up to shake a few hands. Certainly, the baseball game kept some people away. Sharon Boerding brought a radio so those interested could pop over to her table and ask the score.
I enjoyed the event – it was a chance for everyone to come together and walk around chatting informally about similarities and sometimes just about, “How things are with you.” In this setting, the candidates are face-to-face and civil. Each person even encourages one another in spite of partisan differences.
I had a few people come to my table and I enjoyed being able to talk more in depth about the issues that prompted my decision to run.
I spoke to a couple of candidates about my 2000 race against Joe Ortwerth. The race was fun, the race was civil, and the race was about some basic differences that I had with the county executive. I have no bad feelings towards Joe and believe he has no bad feelings towards me. I even attended his first open public church service.
From council, I voted for the cessation of the $300,000 payment to the county for the Family Arena since they had failed to have enough ticketed events as required by contract. Mr. Ortwerth has withheld road funds, so an agreement was met that we would pay last year’s bill, but not the current bill. Each side could walk away from the table having won a victory – it was compromise.
When ideas are discussed, when policy is the focus of a campaign, oftentimes the competition alone can bring positive change by redirecting each candidate’s focus.
It seems that recent elections have had hot-button issues included on the ballot. These issues typically create quite an emotional stir. The issues have tended to be those that bring out the conservative base but have little to do with cleaning up government or about policy that helps people.
It’s not easy to step out into the public arena and take a position on issues. I try to give honest opinions based upon my observations and reason. The last Case in Point addressed the corruption that plagues the GOP – someone was kind enough to send a letter about their disagreement but apparently he was not confident enough about his positions to actually have a return address or to sign the letter. Please, send letters if you want, but have the courage to sign the words you put onto paper. I don’t even mind if you use hotel stationary again – but a return address is appreciated so that I might have an opportunity to send a respectful response.
Tuesday night’s council meeting went rather quickly. One gentleman in the audience was there with a campaign or committee to take some photographs, surely to use in a piece of literature. I was upset that he chose that particular night because I really needed a haircut and I had come to city hall straight from running around and putting up some signs. Otherwise it was pretty quiet and the Cardinal game called for a swift meeting.
At our district, first quarter ends tomorrow and there is a lot of grading yet to do, so I will have to keep this Case In Point short.
Oh, and if you see a local politician coming to your door, give him or her a break; take a minute or two to chat and keep an open mind. Civility begets civility.
The VIEW FROM THE CHEAP SEATS By Jerry Haferkamp
THE VIEW FROM THE CHEAP SEATS
By Jerry Haferkamp
Has anyone noticed that although our Charter has been changed to make the mayor responsible for running the everyday business of the city, the requirements to run for the position haven’t changed? We no longer will have a trained professional at the helm of operations. It seems that the only requirements are that you have drawn a certain number of breaths and that you drew a certain number of them in St. Charles. Since there is no requirement that you know what you are doing, it is no wonder Patti wants the job.
When her campaign starts, I wonder if we will all receive some of those glossy mailings filled with mis-information from that group of interloping outsiders that mailed them in her last election. You see, here’s how it works. The candidate “donates” a little over $2000 to a political action group. They then do a mailing that costs a little over $2000 supporting the candidate, but bears their name as the supporter. It would read, in small print at the bottom, Paid for by Non Citizen Responsible for Stirring up Trouble and Keeping Low Income People Out of My Neighborhood. This last part is known as “smart growth” development.
While this activity of “donating” and being repaid with a like amount spent in mailings is known in most states as money laundering, it is apparently O.K. in our area. In Texas, activities like this cost Tom DeLay his congressional seat and maybe more. If the candidate here has a permanent smiley face and a soft voice, no one seems to care.
There is a void of knowledge about the proposed embryonic stem cell initiative. One faction says it opens the door to human cloning. The other side says it prohibits human cloning. What it actually does is allow research in Missouri so long as that research complies with Federal law. It then adds additional restrictions in Missouri, so our Amendment is even stricter than what is allowed in other states. It does NOT allow human cloning. It expressly forbids it with penalties of up to 15 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000 for anyone who attempts human cloning. It also expressly prohibits the selling of eggs for stem cell research. There is a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and up to $100,000 fine for selling eggs. For those of you with computers, Google search “Missouri Amendment 2” to read the amendment.
I wouldn’t begin to tell you how to vote. That’s your decision, but read the amendment before you vote. You aren’t getting the truth from the ads.
And as always, that’s just the view from the cheap seats.
By Jerry Haferkamp
Has anyone noticed that although our Charter has been changed to make the mayor responsible for running the everyday business of the city, the requirements to run for the position haven’t changed? We no longer will have a trained professional at the helm of operations. It seems that the only requirements are that you have drawn a certain number of breaths and that you drew a certain number of them in St. Charles. Since there is no requirement that you know what you are doing, it is no wonder Patti wants the job.
When her campaign starts, I wonder if we will all receive some of those glossy mailings filled with mis-information from that group of interloping outsiders that mailed them in her last election. You see, here’s how it works. The candidate “donates” a little over $2000 to a political action group. They then do a mailing that costs a little over $2000 supporting the candidate, but bears their name as the supporter. It would read, in small print at the bottom, Paid for by Non Citizen Responsible for Stirring up Trouble and Keeping Low Income People Out of My Neighborhood. This last part is known as “smart growth” development.
While this activity of “donating” and being repaid with a like amount spent in mailings is known in most states as money laundering, it is apparently O.K. in our area. In Texas, activities like this cost Tom DeLay his congressional seat and maybe more. If the candidate here has a permanent smiley face and a soft voice, no one seems to care.
There is a void of knowledge about the proposed embryonic stem cell initiative. One faction says it opens the door to human cloning. The other side says it prohibits human cloning. What it actually does is allow research in Missouri so long as that research complies with Federal law. It then adds additional restrictions in Missouri, so our Amendment is even stricter than what is allowed in other states. It does NOT allow human cloning. It expressly forbids it with penalties of up to 15 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000 for anyone who attempts human cloning. It also expressly prohibits the selling of eggs for stem cell research. There is a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and up to $100,000 fine for selling eggs. For those of you with computers, Google search “Missouri Amendment 2” to read the amendment.
I wouldn’t begin to tell you how to vote. That’s your decision, but read the amendment before you vote. You aren’t getting the truth from the ads.
And as always, that’s just the view from the cheap seats.
The Conservative Factor - Alex Spencer
I can’t believe it’s almost Halloween, and in an even numbered year, that means we are going to the polls soon. There’s quite a bit at stake as Missouri seems to be drawing a lot of national attention due to the Senate race, as well as the stem cell debate. Interestingly, it looks like the two may be linked together. Well, that is what I would recommend to those political strategists on the other side of the aisle, but hey, they seem to have some trouble with winning. It’s like they don’t even show up to try.
I find it rather amazing that the McCaskill camp has her out and about touting her issues with the War in Iraq. Will they never learn? I cannot imagine a less popular issue with the voters in Missouri. Missourians are a rather patriotic bunch, and we always support the troops. Always. The Democratic strategy of separating the war from the soldiers is a fairly transparent political ploy cooked up by a bunch of draft dodgers who can’t comprehend service to one’s country, courage and sacrifice. We cannot in good conscience send our troops to war while we dicker among ourselves about the reasons. For this reason alone, the Democrats will be in trouble come November 7th, and I for one could not be any happier.
It would seem that the Democratic Party would do so much better to make this election about stem cell research. As I have said before, I fear that stem cell research will come to affect the Republican Party the way the same sex marriage fractured the Democratic Party two short years ago. Why o why must we always draw a line in the sand when it comes to such emotionally charged social issues? I was troubled last Sunday while I was leaving mass when there were folks distributing campaign signs, bumper stickers and information encouraging me to vote against Amendment 2. Now, I’m a pro-life, God-fearing, churchgoing soul, but I was troubled. It just didn’t seem appropriate. That being said, I think that it will be interesting to see how the entire drama unfolds within our own party. The grassroots base is stacked against Amendment 2 as some sort of gateway to abortion on demand. The money folks in our party want to turn Missouri into some kind of biotech corridor. Like many of my friends, I am personally conflicted. I have a good friend afflicted with Multiple Sclerosis. As most of you are aware, MS is a debilitating disease. When my friend looked me in the eye and asked me to help her pass out information supporting Amendment 2, which might lead to a cure for MS, I really didn’t know what to say.
Our own junior Senator has flip-flopped on the issue of stem cell research, and I’m not sure people are all that impressed when politicians refuse to take a principled stand, whatever that stand might be. All in all, I think Talent will be re-elected without too much trouble. I’m not sure how that plays into the national scene, but that will probably be decided in states that are east of the Mississippi.
A little bit closer to home and a little bit down ticket, the Rupp-Henke re-match is certainly becoming heated. It is worth noting that this is a “re-election” battle for Senator Rupp. Yet again, most of Rupp’s trouble is coming from within the party. You’ve still got RINO and sore loser Joe Brazil and his merry band of idiots complaining about the race. Some say they are playing footsies with Henke and the Dems in order teach the Republican establishment a lesson. Now, that is certainly not a surprise. It’s always the ones that claim to be good Republicans that are less than loyal to the cause. Malcontent MacNab and his wife may never recover from Brazil’s loss, it was their single shot at glory in the party. At this point, I’m pretty sure that if the party could toss them, they would. Problem is, even the Dems wouldn’t want them. Hey, at least we might all be spared one of MacNab’s boring and incorrect lectures on Middle Eastern politics if he stops showing up at Republican functions…bonus. All in all, Senator Rupp will probably retain his seat and continue his hard work. Go Rupp!
Then, we move on down to some fairly uninteresting races for State Representative. I’m not sure that any of the incumbents are in a whole lot of trouble, but there are a few races of note. The Sally Faith – Tom Green match will prove to be the most realistic pick-up for our Democratic brethren. Tom Green still cries foul about some last-minute mail pieces dropped into his district by none other than John Hancock and the Republican party machine in the waning days of the last campaign. You’d think they’d learn their lesson about interfering with the St. Charles County races. For goodness sake, Hancock lost a perfectly safe County Council seat to the Dems last year on the heels of his illustrious mail drop against Green. It should probably be okay and Sally Faith has done a nice job of keeping her constituents up on the happenings in Jeff City.
Joe Koester is mounting as much of a contest as possible against fundraising juggernaut Tom Dempsey. Even with his Chief of Staff in a bit of campaign finance hot water, Tom is still pretty tough to beat. It’s interesting to see that the Dems are coming up with viable candidates, though, and that may make things much more interesting in the future. Sure as I point out the viable candidacy of Joe Koester, I remember the Ed Applebaum signs I saw around St. Charles this weekend. Now, he’s a great example of why the Dems will never make any significant inroads in the County. Granted, the Republican incumbent, Carl Bearden would be awfully tough to beat, but you’d think the Democratic party elders could do better than St. Peters resident curmudgeon Ed Applebaum. Again, I’m pretty sure the State House won’t be welcoming any new Democratic members from St. Charles County.
I think I might think over some of these local races. Things are starting to get interesting. It remains to be seen how much trickle-down effect some of these issues will have on our County races. I think the Republicans will permanently lose the County Council seat currently held by Cheryl Hibbeler. Other than that, I guess we’ll find out soon enough. I suspect that it will be business as usual in beautiful St. Charles County.
Note to My Readers: Yes, by the time you read my column, Shawn Brown will have said good-bye to his career in politics. The crook will have been run out of town, and we may or may not know what the justice system chooses to do to him. Gotta say, this isn’t the best time to go down on public corruption charges. We go to press before Friday, so I’ll be sure to share my thoughts in my next column when I eulogize Shawn’s flash-in-the-pan political career. My, my, my…who’d have thunk it? Federal bribery charges. I guess the old saying is true…where there’s smoke, there must be a fire. Seems that our own County Prosecutor Jack Banas wanted to ignore the smoke, but the Feds found the fire. I guess it will be an interesting couple weeks in St. Peters, and I look forward to sharing my thoughts with you next time.
I find it rather amazing that the McCaskill camp has her out and about touting her issues with the War in Iraq. Will they never learn? I cannot imagine a less popular issue with the voters in Missouri. Missourians are a rather patriotic bunch, and we always support the troops. Always. The Democratic strategy of separating the war from the soldiers is a fairly transparent political ploy cooked up by a bunch of draft dodgers who can’t comprehend service to one’s country, courage and sacrifice. We cannot in good conscience send our troops to war while we dicker among ourselves about the reasons. For this reason alone, the Democrats will be in trouble come November 7th, and I for one could not be any happier.
It would seem that the Democratic Party would do so much better to make this election about stem cell research. As I have said before, I fear that stem cell research will come to affect the Republican Party the way the same sex marriage fractured the Democratic Party two short years ago. Why o why must we always draw a line in the sand when it comes to such emotionally charged social issues? I was troubled last Sunday while I was leaving mass when there were folks distributing campaign signs, bumper stickers and information encouraging me to vote against Amendment 2. Now, I’m a pro-life, God-fearing, churchgoing soul, but I was troubled. It just didn’t seem appropriate. That being said, I think that it will be interesting to see how the entire drama unfolds within our own party. The grassroots base is stacked against Amendment 2 as some sort of gateway to abortion on demand. The money folks in our party want to turn Missouri into some kind of biotech corridor. Like many of my friends, I am personally conflicted. I have a good friend afflicted with Multiple Sclerosis. As most of you are aware, MS is a debilitating disease. When my friend looked me in the eye and asked me to help her pass out information supporting Amendment 2, which might lead to a cure for MS, I really didn’t know what to say.
Our own junior Senator has flip-flopped on the issue of stem cell research, and I’m not sure people are all that impressed when politicians refuse to take a principled stand, whatever that stand might be. All in all, I think Talent will be re-elected without too much trouble. I’m not sure how that plays into the national scene, but that will probably be decided in states that are east of the Mississippi.
A little bit closer to home and a little bit down ticket, the Rupp-Henke re-match is certainly becoming heated. It is worth noting that this is a “re-election” battle for Senator Rupp. Yet again, most of Rupp’s trouble is coming from within the party. You’ve still got RINO and sore loser Joe Brazil and his merry band of idiots complaining about the race. Some say they are playing footsies with Henke and the Dems in order teach the Republican establishment a lesson. Now, that is certainly not a surprise. It’s always the ones that claim to be good Republicans that are less than loyal to the cause. Malcontent MacNab and his wife may never recover from Brazil’s loss, it was their single shot at glory in the party. At this point, I’m pretty sure that if the party could toss them, they would. Problem is, even the Dems wouldn’t want them. Hey, at least we might all be spared one of MacNab’s boring and incorrect lectures on Middle Eastern politics if he stops showing up at Republican functions…bonus. All in all, Senator Rupp will probably retain his seat and continue his hard work. Go Rupp!
Then, we move on down to some fairly uninteresting races for State Representative. I’m not sure that any of the incumbents are in a whole lot of trouble, but there are a few races of note. The Sally Faith – Tom Green match will prove to be the most realistic pick-up for our Democratic brethren. Tom Green still cries foul about some last-minute mail pieces dropped into his district by none other than John Hancock and the Republican party machine in the waning days of the last campaign. You’d think they’d learn their lesson about interfering with the St. Charles County races. For goodness sake, Hancock lost a perfectly safe County Council seat to the Dems last year on the heels of his illustrious mail drop against Green. It should probably be okay and Sally Faith has done a nice job of keeping her constituents up on the happenings in Jeff City.
Joe Koester is mounting as much of a contest as possible against fundraising juggernaut Tom Dempsey. Even with his Chief of Staff in a bit of campaign finance hot water, Tom is still pretty tough to beat. It’s interesting to see that the Dems are coming up with viable candidates, though, and that may make things much more interesting in the future. Sure as I point out the viable candidacy of Joe Koester, I remember the Ed Applebaum signs I saw around St. Charles this weekend. Now, he’s a great example of why the Dems will never make any significant inroads in the County. Granted, the Republican incumbent, Carl Bearden would be awfully tough to beat, but you’d think the Democratic party elders could do better than St. Peters resident curmudgeon Ed Applebaum. Again, I’m pretty sure the State House won’t be welcoming any new Democratic members from St. Charles County.
I think I might think over some of these local races. Things are starting to get interesting. It remains to be seen how much trickle-down effect some of these issues will have on our County races. I think the Republicans will permanently lose the County Council seat currently held by Cheryl Hibbeler. Other than that, I guess we’ll find out soon enough. I suspect that it will be business as usual in beautiful St. Charles County.
Note to My Readers: Yes, by the time you read my column, Shawn Brown will have said good-bye to his career in politics. The crook will have been run out of town, and we may or may not know what the justice system chooses to do to him. Gotta say, this isn’t the best time to go down on public corruption charges. We go to press before Friday, so I’ll be sure to share my thoughts in my next column when I eulogize Shawn’s flash-in-the-pan political career. My, my, my…who’d have thunk it? Federal bribery charges. I guess the old saying is true…where there’s smoke, there must be a fire. Seems that our own County Prosecutor Jack Banas wanted to ignore the smoke, but the Feds found the fire. I guess it will be an interesting couple weeks in St. Peters, and I look forward to sharing my thoughts with you next time.
A “Mostly Volunteer” Position with Benefits For Thomas W. Smith
A “Mostly Volunteer” Position with Benefits
Thomas Smith, an aide to Tom Dempsey, told a local paper that his job as treasurer of more than a dozen political committees used to avoid campaign finance laws was mostly a “volunteer position” but he occasionally charged a fee if a large amount of time was spent on a matter. Besides earning $53,000 from the State, Smith also earned around $80,000 more from committee work and other payments related to various committees and unlicensed businesses run from his home at 320 Monroe Street.
Smith may have used some of his volunteer earnings to make the June 2, 2004, purchase of a 2,430 square foot home at 330 Monroe Street. Smith paid $79,417 in 2004 and thirteen months later on July 7, 2005 Smith sold the same home for $309,000.
When housing prices were hitting their peaks, Smith was very fortunate to locate a St. Charles home selling for just over $79,000, but perhaps more fortunate to sell a year later making a profit of about $230,000 according to records in the office of the St. Charles County Assessor.
Thomas Smith, an aide to Tom Dempsey, told a local paper that his job as treasurer of more than a dozen political committees used to avoid campaign finance laws was mostly a “volunteer position” but he occasionally charged a fee if a large amount of time was spent on a matter. Besides earning $53,000 from the State, Smith also earned around $80,000 more from committee work and other payments related to various committees and unlicensed businesses run from his home at 320 Monroe Street.
Smith may have used some of his volunteer earnings to make the June 2, 2004, purchase of a 2,430 square foot home at 330 Monroe Street. Smith paid $79,417 in 2004 and thirteen months later on July 7, 2005 Smith sold the same home for $309,000.
When housing prices were hitting their peaks, Smith was very fortunate to locate a St. Charles home selling for just over $79,000, but perhaps more fortunate to sell a year later making a profit of about $230,000 according to records in the office of the St. Charles County Assessor.
St Charles County Residents Should Receive Tax Bills
St Charles County Residents Should Receive Tax Bills
The St. Charles County Collector of Revenue released more than 280,000 tax bills the week of October 12, 2006. These bills call for the collection of nearly $67 million in personal property taxes and more than $362 million in real estate taxes.
Citizens are reminded that under Missouri state statute the property owner is responsible for ensuring the real estate tax bill is paid. If a homeowner escrows taxes through a bank or mortgage company, the bill may be provided directly to that company. If a homeowner receives a bill in the mail and is escrowing taxes through a bank or mortgage company, the homeowner should forward the bill to the appropriate company. Landowners who pay the tax directly to the County Collector should contact the Collector’s Office for the amount due if a bill is not received by November 1.
Anyone not receiving a personal property tax bill by November 1 that resided in St. Charles County on January 1, 2006 and owned personal property on that date should contact the County Assessor’s Office at 636-949-7420 to make sure a 2006 Personal Property Tax Declaration Form was received and processed.
All individuals and businesses should verify the accuracy of their personal property tax bills before making payment. Make sure the year, make and model of each vehicle is correctly stated. If any of the line item details are incorrect, contact the County Assessor’s office at 636-949-7420. Only the Assessor’s Office may make a correction to an assessment. The assessment data is used to calculate tax bills. Corrections should be requested as soon as possible to allow timely payment of the correct amount.
The St. Charles County Collector of Revenue is located in the County Administration Building at 201 North Second Street in St. Charles, Missouri. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm. The Collector of Revenue and the County Assessor will also be open to the public on three Saturdays: December 2, 9 and 16, 2006 from 9 am until noon.
For the convenience of taxpayers, there is a drop box located along the street in front of the County Administration Building. No postage is needed when payments are submitted via the drop box. Only check or money order payments should be placed in the box. Paid receipts will be mailed to taxpayers using the drop box within 10 working days.
Taxpayers may elect to pay their property taxes by credit card via a toll free telephone number or the world-wide-web. This service is provided by Official Payments Corporation (OPC). OPC does charge a convenience fee which the company retains as payment for the service. To take advantage of this payment option, dial 1-800-2PAY-TAX (1-800-272-9829) or visit mylocalgov.com/mcca. Enter Jurisdiction Code 3513 for St. Charles County.
Taxpayers with vehicle license plates expiring in January of 2007 are strongly encouraged to pay their tax bill early to ensure timely issuance of a paid personal property tax receipt needed for renewal.
Payments must be received in the drop box before midnight on December 31, 2006 or be postmarked at a U.S. Post Office by December 31, 2006 to avoid interest and a late payment penalty. Both the Collector and the post office will be closed on December 31. Please make sure your payment is received by the Collector on or before December 31, 2006.
Call 636-949-7470 or 1-800-822-4012, ext 7470 for any additional information.
The St. Charles County Collector of Revenue released more than 280,000 tax bills the week of October 12, 2006. These bills call for the collection of nearly $67 million in personal property taxes and more than $362 million in real estate taxes.
Citizens are reminded that under Missouri state statute the property owner is responsible for ensuring the real estate tax bill is paid. If a homeowner escrows taxes through a bank or mortgage company, the bill may be provided directly to that company. If a homeowner receives a bill in the mail and is escrowing taxes through a bank or mortgage company, the homeowner should forward the bill to the appropriate company. Landowners who pay the tax directly to the County Collector should contact the Collector’s Office for the amount due if a bill is not received by November 1.
Anyone not receiving a personal property tax bill by November 1 that resided in St. Charles County on January 1, 2006 and owned personal property on that date should contact the County Assessor’s Office at 636-949-7420 to make sure a 2006 Personal Property Tax Declaration Form was received and processed.
All individuals and businesses should verify the accuracy of their personal property tax bills before making payment. Make sure the year, make and model of each vehicle is correctly stated. If any of the line item details are incorrect, contact the County Assessor’s office at 636-949-7420. Only the Assessor’s Office may make a correction to an assessment. The assessment data is used to calculate tax bills. Corrections should be requested as soon as possible to allow timely payment of the correct amount.
The St. Charles County Collector of Revenue is located in the County Administration Building at 201 North Second Street in St. Charles, Missouri. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm. The Collector of Revenue and the County Assessor will also be open to the public on three Saturdays: December 2, 9 and 16, 2006 from 9 am until noon.
For the convenience of taxpayers, there is a drop box located along the street in front of the County Administration Building. No postage is needed when payments are submitted via the drop box. Only check or money order payments should be placed in the box. Paid receipts will be mailed to taxpayers using the drop box within 10 working days.
Taxpayers may elect to pay their property taxes by credit card via a toll free telephone number or the world-wide-web. This service is provided by Official Payments Corporation (OPC). OPC does charge a convenience fee which the company retains as payment for the service. To take advantage of this payment option, dial 1-800-2PAY-TAX (1-800-272-9829) or visit mylocalgov.com/mcca. Enter Jurisdiction Code 3513 for St. Charles County.
Taxpayers with vehicle license plates expiring in January of 2007 are strongly encouraged to pay their tax bill early to ensure timely issuance of a paid personal property tax receipt needed for renewal.
Payments must be received in the drop box before midnight on December 31, 2006 or be postmarked at a U.S. Post Office by December 31, 2006 to avoid interest and a late payment penalty. Both the Collector and the post office will be closed on December 31. Please make sure your payment is received by the Collector on or before December 31, 2006.
Call 636-949-7470 or 1-800-822-4012, ext 7470 for any additional information.
George Denninger The Artist
By Lynndi Lockenour
The room is dim. Among the diffused light are the piercing images of nature in George Denninger’s art gallery. Simple bulbs illuminate the works as the colors spring forth from the paper, bold and true. It is a place to think about the images surrounding everyone- the tree on the hill we pass five times a day and the “weeds” in the front yard.
Denninger opened his art gallery, located at 115 North Main Street in St. Charles, unofficially last November, though most people didn’t begin visiting until his grand opening during the art walk last April.
Denninger’s artistic revelations began to materialize some twenty years ago while attending an exhibition of living artists at New York’s Museum of Modern Art. Despite his appreciation for the eminent works, he was bothered by the overall negative undertone throughout the exhibit. “I began focusing less on the pieces themselves, and more on the reactions of the people looking at them,” he said. “To me that was more interesting.”
Thus began Denninger’s fascination with the mental-visual connection. “I started thinking about how everyone’s reactions to the art might have been different if it were all positive, rather than negative,” he said.
To test this theory, Denninger began collecting art and conducted his own art show. All images included carried a positive message, though no titles or nametags accompanied the works. Denninger said he watched as people began looking at the art. The differences between the reactions he said he witnessed that night and the night at the museum were dramatic. “People were so much happier,” he said. “Nearly all of the people mentioned the word ‘God’ afterward when I spoke with them.”
It took Denninger three years to make his lifelong dream of opening a gallery into a reality. He said he wanted his gallery to illustrate a response, not just a reaction. “This gallery is my response to the world and the things I’m living,” he said.
Trained as a mechanical engineer, with a Masters Degree from Stanford University, Denninger said he has always been interested in art. After approaching his parents about wanting to pursue his dream in the art world, he was discouraged from doing so. “My parents said artists were poor,” he said, “And they wanted me to do something else.”
Denninger moved to the St. Louis area in 1982 where he landed a job designing tradeshows. In 1992, while attending one of these tradeshows, he saw an introduction on the first computers capable of rendering 3-D images. “That moment changed my life I think,” he said.
Soon after, Denninger got a job designing 3-D images for the tradeshows. “During all of this time I was making art in my free time,” he said. At one point he traveled out west to have his art appraised and see if it would actually sell. It did.
Denninger creates art through a variety of mediums, including digital paintings, art furniture and sculpture. The gallery is primarily filled with inspirational digital paintings he creates through a process of laying, using Photoshop and other such digital imaging programs. Also on display is a piano sculpture Denninger created in 1977. The piano was exhibited at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Smithsonian’s Renwick Gallery in Washington D.C. Three of these pianos are part of the Metropolitan’s permanent collection.
Denninger first began creating digital art some four years ago. In addition to the original creations themselves being for sell, he has created a line of note cards using the same images. “The digital aspect allows me to share things, yet keep them at the same time,” he said. “You can’t do that with an oil painting.”
Each original work is accompanied by it’s own unique, hand-painted frame, constructed specifically to accompany that particular piece. “This is not a factory just because I use a digital medium,” Denninger said. “It is just that I am now able to share my art more than I ever did when I was working with oils.”
Seeing the space more as a studio than a gallery, Denninger said he eventually wants it to be more of showroom. “I want people to see the art I’ve already created,” he said. “Then at the same time, maybe they’ll be a space of creation area for me where everything people see isn’t quit finished yet.”
Thinking, said Denninger, is what draws people to his studio. “Looking at the pictures forces people to think,” he said. “If only for a few moments.” It is this thinking process that has so inspired Denninger for years. “I wondered what makes people look at art and say it’s beautiful,” he said.
Until opening the gallery and watching others observe his work, Denninger said he, along with most other people, never really think about thinking. “Now I want to cultivate that awareness of the thought process,” he said. “What you think about translates into what you do.”
With this in mind, Denninger creates digital positive representations of nature, using flowers, trees, birds, streams, and lakes to convey a spiritual energy. “I discovered that it’s about positive imagery,” he said. “There is hope, joy and goodness in the world and all of these things need to extend beyond visual representations.”
Each work Denninger creates is designed with one overarching message. To help create this, he adds the complexity of the English language to the mix; including a small message printed on white note cards with each image. Because all the elements are there – the visual and the verbal, Denninger said it makes for a clearer, more pure experience. “I wanted to share the verbal message with the visual,” he said. “It adds something that the image alone would not encompass.”
Anticipating expansion in the future, Denninger said his art form may change, but he will always be around. “I feel as though I’m just getting started and this is the beginning of everything,” he said.
**For more information on George Denninger and his artwork, or for information about his art gallery please visit www.georgedenninger.com or call 636-256-6555.
St. Louis Has One Airport - St. Charles Has Two
Story & Photos
By Lynndi Lockenour
Airplanes have been in the news again recently after the potential terror plot to use commercial airliners as missiles and fly them into the United States. All this attention causes most Americans when considering airplanes, to think of large, commercial jets used to transport passengers long distances, often overseas. On the contrary, there is an entirely different type of airplane - and airport for that matter - operating right here in St. Charles County.
The two main airports in St. Charles County are the St. Charles County Smartt Airport, located 12 miles north of downtown near Highway 94 East and the St. Charles Flying Service, located at 3001 New Town Blvd. Between the two airports, years of service have provided the county with a unique and historical background of aviation.
The older of the two, St. Charles County Smartt Airport - also known as Smartt Field – began prior to World War II. Named after Ensign Joseph G. Smartt who died in service at Pearl Harbor, the site was previously used as a naval training base and was later converted into an airport.
Smartt Field houses several different organizations. These include the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) – chapter 32, The Commemorative Air force (CAF), Skylink Aviation and Boeing. The EEA is most known for the free airplane rides they offer for children ages 10-17. The CAF sponsors an air force museum, located in one of the original buildings dating back to the naval training days at Smartt Field. The museum is open Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Admission is $1 for adults and children under 10 years of age are free.
Airplane owners can also rent one of Smartt Field’s 72 hangers to store their aircraft. At a cost of $160-$200 per hanger, per month the hangers provide beneficial protection from the weather when the planes are not in use.
Smartt Field has two runways, the primary one being 3801 feet long. Home base for more than 100 aircraft, Smartt Field averages 55,000 take-offs or landings every year. Creating 49 jobs, with a payroll of $1.3 million and generating $3.7 million in output, Smartt Field adds to the economy of the county. Airport Director Tracy Smith said the airport provides great benefits to St. Charles. “This is a wonderful facility,” he said. “St. Charles is lucky to have it.”
Offering a different type of service is the county’s second airport, St. Charles Flying Service. Organized in 1968, the airport offers many services including certified air taxi service, Sport Pilot training, Part 141 flight school, a full service maintenance shop, aircraft sales and purchasing and aerial advertising.
President and general manager Dennis Bampton said small airports like the Flying Service do a lot for the community. The airport operates seven days a week and often has flights leaving in the middle of the night.
One of the Service’s many business operations is providing transport for a laboratory testing facility known as LabCorp. Often when people visit the doctor they are required to give samples of various bodily fluids to be tested for disease. The tests are sometimes conducted states away and the results then sent back here to the St. Louis area. Airplanes provide the quick transportation needed to make this happen. “Most people don’t think about small airplanes being used for this type of work,” Bampton said. “But we have plans leaving here with samples every night.”
The Flying Service generates $1 million in business from this type of freight hauling service. “When it is critical that the freight get there in a timely manor, we are the ones to call,” he said. “After all, for many businesses, time is money.”
In addition to this type of hauling, the airport also offers charter flights to specific cities within a 400-mile radius of the St. Louis area. Bampton said businesses often use this service as opposed to the commercial airlines. He estimates that around 1000 charter flights come through the airport every year. “We can get them there and have them back the same night,” he said. “That saves time and money in the long run.”
Many people visit the airport from out-of-state hoping to acquire their airline transport rating. In order to operate a commercial airliner, a pilot must first obtain the rating by attending a series of classes. Bampton estimates that the airport gives ratings to nearly 400 pilots every year.
A newer program at the airport is the Sport Pilot Training Facility. A special license, different from a regular pilot’s license allows pilots to man and operate a sport plane. Smaller and lighter than other planes, the Sport planes are a new popular attraction among retired men. “It’s faster than getting a private pilot’s license, but it still fulfills that desire to fly,” Bampton said.
The Flying Service employs 43 people full and part-time and just like Smartt Field, it is a great asset to the community. “Our service generates a lot of money for the county,” he said. “We are happy to be here and to provide the unique services we do.”
For more information on Smartt Field contact Tracy Smith at (636) 250-3200. For questions concerning the Commemorative Air force or their aerial museum, call (636) 250-4515. To reach the St. Charles Flying Service call (636) 946-6066.
Friday, October 20, 2006
SPORTS - First Capitol News - Mike McMurran Sports Editor
One of my all-time favorite sayings is “Never get into a ‘urinating’ contest with a skunk.” Those familiar with the words of advice know I had to modify one word in order not to offend the family readers of this fine weekly. Even though, I must take exception with a recently published column in a local daily that went on and on how it is not a good idea to coach one’s own children in youth sports. I couldn’t disagree more.
Regular readers of this column know I am (1) my eight year-old son’s head baseball coach and assistant football coach, (b) my six year-old son’s head fall soccer coach (he plays nine months of the year), (c) and starting in December, or so, will become my 11 year-old daughter’s head basketball coach. Why do I do it? I suspect because I do a decent job at it, and as in most human endeavors, we continue doing what we do best.
You see, I have been a teacher longer than I have been a parent. One of the first lessons I learned as a classroom teacher was this: Parents cannot and are not objective when dealing with their own children. What makes me different is that I know I cannot be objective – and knowing it is about 90% of the battle. Whenever making a decision, a coaching decision about one of my own kids, I always get as much input from the other coaches as I can. I am a normal American parent, and see my kids as perfect little angels – usually. I think I know my kids pretty well, their strengths and their weaknesses. During games I am known for yelling, but as most everyone associated with my teams know, I am yelling because I am deaf and assume the rest of the world is deaf. I am not yelling at the kids out of anger, I simply wish to insure they hear what I want them to hear.
What I do ask of my players is commitment – if you are going to be a member of the team, please make every effort to make practice and games. I will go so far as to ask that it be made a priority. On every level that I coach, the hierarchy goes something like this: God, family, school, and then the sport. That makes it easy. For example, a player cannot make it to a game because he or she has been invited to a birthday party. I will ask whose party is it. If it is a friend’s party, then the contest supercedes the party. If it is their cousin’s party, then family wins out. If someone comes to me and suggests that their son is playing on a select soccer team, and that takes priority over my baseball team, I tell them up front – that doesn’t cut it with me and you probably won’t want to play for me. Because if you miss practice to attend a soccer related function, your son’s playing time will be reduced. That very situation has in fact presented itself, and both times the parents decided to adhere to my rules, and baseball won out.
I treat the field of competition with the same sacred respect that I do the classroom. Mistakes are expected. It is my job, as a teacher and a coach, to help the kids from repeating the same mistakes. Isn’t that really what we do as parents, or what we should be doing? It is not an easy task, but a task parents have been successfully overcoming for generations.
Not coaching your own kid? C’mon! After a game, on the ride home, Dee and I will talk about the game, or Joe and I will discuss what went right or wrong – we’re talking some world-class father/son or daughter bonding. It doesn’t get much better, believe me.
“To each their own,” I always say, and from my perspective, coaching my kids might just be some of the most precious time there is. That being said, both of my sons have asked if they could join Boy Scouts, and I told them it was their decision. However, I quickly added, I will not camp out, hike, or anything of the sort. I told them I would coach their baseball and soccer teams, but I was not the “Boy Scout” kind of dad. Both then decided if their dad wasn’t going to do it, they weren’t either. That doesn’t mean I am going to tell all dads not to be involved in Boy Scouts.
And finally, we have only 18 days until we get to vote Sally Unfaithful out of office. I’ve said it here before, but it certainly bears repeating: Sally and her State Republican friends stole the election from Tom Green two years ago. Tom was the two time incumbent state rep from the 15th district and was openly and blatantly lied about in a district-wide mailing campaign. The thieving liars were smart enough to wait until just prior to the election so Tom would have no time to respond. All Tom could do was go to the courts and ask them to stop the fabrications from being spread. They did, but it was too little, too late. Now is the time to pay Sally back for what she did. What was her take on the entire debacle? She had no idea the false mailings were being distributed – no idea in the world! Is that the type of person you want representing you in Jefferson City. I think not!
Regular readers of this column know I am (1) my eight year-old son’s head baseball coach and assistant football coach, (b) my six year-old son’s head fall soccer coach (he plays nine months of the year), (c) and starting in December, or so, will become my 11 year-old daughter’s head basketball coach. Why do I do it? I suspect because I do a decent job at it, and as in most human endeavors, we continue doing what we do best.
You see, I have been a teacher longer than I have been a parent. One of the first lessons I learned as a classroom teacher was this: Parents cannot and are not objective when dealing with their own children. What makes me different is that I know I cannot be objective – and knowing it is about 90% of the battle. Whenever making a decision, a coaching decision about one of my own kids, I always get as much input from the other coaches as I can. I am a normal American parent, and see my kids as perfect little angels – usually. I think I know my kids pretty well, their strengths and their weaknesses. During games I am known for yelling, but as most everyone associated with my teams know, I am yelling because I am deaf and assume the rest of the world is deaf. I am not yelling at the kids out of anger, I simply wish to insure they hear what I want them to hear.
What I do ask of my players is commitment – if you are going to be a member of the team, please make every effort to make practice and games. I will go so far as to ask that it be made a priority. On every level that I coach, the hierarchy goes something like this: God, family, school, and then the sport. That makes it easy. For example, a player cannot make it to a game because he or she has been invited to a birthday party. I will ask whose party is it. If it is a friend’s party, then the contest supercedes the party. If it is their cousin’s party, then family wins out. If someone comes to me and suggests that their son is playing on a select soccer team, and that takes priority over my baseball team, I tell them up front – that doesn’t cut it with me and you probably won’t want to play for me. Because if you miss practice to attend a soccer related function, your son’s playing time will be reduced. That very situation has in fact presented itself, and both times the parents decided to adhere to my rules, and baseball won out.
I treat the field of competition with the same sacred respect that I do the classroom. Mistakes are expected. It is my job, as a teacher and a coach, to help the kids from repeating the same mistakes. Isn’t that really what we do as parents, or what we should be doing? It is not an easy task, but a task parents have been successfully overcoming for generations.
Not coaching your own kid? C’mon! After a game, on the ride home, Dee and I will talk about the game, or Joe and I will discuss what went right or wrong – we’re talking some world-class father/son or daughter bonding. It doesn’t get much better, believe me.
“To each their own,” I always say, and from my perspective, coaching my kids might just be some of the most precious time there is. That being said, both of my sons have asked if they could join Boy Scouts, and I told them it was their decision. However, I quickly added, I will not camp out, hike, or anything of the sort. I told them I would coach their baseball and soccer teams, but I was not the “Boy Scout” kind of dad. Both then decided if their dad wasn’t going to do it, they weren’t either. That doesn’t mean I am going to tell all dads not to be involved in Boy Scouts.
And finally, we have only 18 days until we get to vote Sally Unfaithful out of office. I’ve said it here before, but it certainly bears repeating: Sally and her State Republican friends stole the election from Tom Green two years ago. Tom was the two time incumbent state rep from the 15th district and was openly and blatantly lied about in a district-wide mailing campaign. The thieving liars were smart enough to wait until just prior to the election so Tom would have no time to respond. All Tom could do was go to the courts and ask them to stop the fabrications from being spread. They did, but it was too little, too late. Now is the time to pay Sally back for what she did. What was her take on the entire debacle? She had no idea the false mailings were being distributed – no idea in the world! Is that the type of person you want representing you in Jefferson City. I think not!
Area Casinos Bet Heavily On Influence Of Dempsey
Area Casinos Bet Heavily
On Influence Of Dempsey
Gambling Industry Donates over $32,775 To Dempsey’s Reelection
One of the many third party committees, controlled by Tom Smith, a State employee and political aide for State Representative Tom Dempsey, is the Republican 18th Legislative District Committee. The sole purpose of an 18th District Committee would seem to be to help Tom Dempsey in his reelection within the 18th.
The Missouri Gaming industry has contributed heavily to this committee. Their contributions this election cycle alone total $32,775. Here is a list of the checks and the dates they were given to this committee.
As Majority Floor Leader for the Republicans in the Missouri House, Representative Dempsey is in a position to greatly influence the course of all legislation. Attempts to raise the fees of the State’s casinos have failed. Money from casino fees is supposed to go to benefit Missouri’s public schools. Fees assessed against Missouri casinos are among the lowest in the country.
Ameristar Casino Kansas City $2,800.00 1/02/2003
Ameristar Casino Kansas City $2,800.00 12/31/2003
Ameristar Casino Kansas City $300.00 9 /13/2004
Ameristar Casino Kansas City $1,050.00 10/13/2004
Ameristar Casino Kansas City $1,350.00 10/21/2004
Ameristar Casino Kansas City. $1,250.00 3/14/2005
Ameristar Casino Kansas City Inc. $1,250.00 3/14/2005
Ameristar Casino KC Inc. $8,750.00 3/13/2006
Ameristar Casino St. Charles $2,500.00 12/31/2003
Ameristar Casino St. Charles $300.00 9/23/2004
Ameristar Casino St. Charles $1,050.00 10/13/2004
Ameristar Casino St. Charles $1,350.00 10/21/2004
Ameristar Casino St. Charles $1,250.00 3/14/2005
Ameristar Casino St. Charles $1,250.00 3/14/2005
Ameristar Casino St. Charles $8,750.00 12/30/2005
Harrah’s Casino $5,000.00 10/28/2004
Harrah’s Casino $5,000.00 10/28/2004
Harrah’s Maryland Heights Inc. $1,200.00 10/17/2005
Harrah’s Operating Company $2,500.00 10/29/2003
Penn National Gaming Inc. $2,500.00 2/7/2006
The Missouri Gaming Company $2,500.00 10/14/2003
The Missouri Gaming Company $3,500.00 6/10/2004
The MO Gaming Company $2,500.00 10/7/2005
Ameristar Casino St. Charles $1,375.00 8/14/2006
Ameristar Casino Kansas City $1,375.00 8/1420/06
Ameristar Casino St. Charles $175.00 8/15/2006
Ameristar Casino Kansas City $175.00 8/15/2006
Ameristar Casino Kansas City $325.00 8/3/2006
Isle of Capri Casinos Biloxi, MS $325.00 8/15/2006
Ameristar Casino St. Charles $325.00 8/1520/06
On Influence Of Dempsey
Gambling Industry Donates over $32,775 To Dempsey’s Reelection
One of the many third party committees, controlled by Tom Smith, a State employee and political aide for State Representative Tom Dempsey, is the Republican 18th Legislative District Committee. The sole purpose of an 18th District Committee would seem to be to help Tom Dempsey in his reelection within the 18th.
The Missouri Gaming industry has contributed heavily to this committee. Their contributions this election cycle alone total $32,775. Here is a list of the checks and the dates they were given to this committee.
As Majority Floor Leader for the Republicans in the Missouri House, Representative Dempsey is in a position to greatly influence the course of all legislation. Attempts to raise the fees of the State’s casinos have failed. Money from casino fees is supposed to go to benefit Missouri’s public schools. Fees assessed against Missouri casinos are among the lowest in the country.
Ameristar Casino Kansas City $2,800.00 1/02/2003
Ameristar Casino Kansas City $2,800.00 12/31/2003
Ameristar Casino Kansas City $300.00 9 /13/2004
Ameristar Casino Kansas City $1,050.00 10/13/2004
Ameristar Casino Kansas City $1,350.00 10/21/2004
Ameristar Casino Kansas City. $1,250.00 3/14/2005
Ameristar Casino Kansas City Inc. $1,250.00 3/14/2005
Ameristar Casino KC Inc. $8,750.00 3/13/2006
Ameristar Casino St. Charles $2,500.00 12/31/2003
Ameristar Casino St. Charles $300.00 9/23/2004
Ameristar Casino St. Charles $1,050.00 10/13/2004
Ameristar Casino St. Charles $1,350.00 10/21/2004
Ameristar Casino St. Charles $1,250.00 3/14/2005
Ameristar Casino St. Charles $1,250.00 3/14/2005
Ameristar Casino St. Charles $8,750.00 12/30/2005
Harrah’s Casino $5,000.00 10/28/2004
Harrah’s Casino $5,000.00 10/28/2004
Harrah’s Maryland Heights Inc. $1,200.00 10/17/2005
Harrah’s Operating Company $2,500.00 10/29/2003
Penn National Gaming Inc. $2,500.00 2/7/2006
The Missouri Gaming Company $2,500.00 10/14/2003
The Missouri Gaming Company $3,500.00 6/10/2004
The MO Gaming Company $2,500.00 10/7/2005
Ameristar Casino St. Charles $1,375.00 8/14/2006
Ameristar Casino Kansas City $1,375.00 8/1420/06
Ameristar Casino St. Charles $175.00 8/15/2006
Ameristar Casino Kansas City $175.00 8/15/2006
Ameristar Casino Kansas City $325.00 8/3/2006
Isle of Capri Casinos Biloxi, MS $325.00 8/15/2006
Ameristar Casino St. Charles $325.00 8/1520/06
Police Hunt Armed Robbery Suspect
St. Charles Police are looking for a subject who committed an Armed Robbery at the Convenient Food Mart located at 3401 Harry S. Truman in St. Charles. On 10-18-06 at approximately 9:45pm a subject described as: White/male, late 20's, 6', 180lbs., long dark hair with moustache and goatee wearing glasses and a baseball cap, bluejean jacket, displayed a handgun and threatened the clerk. The suspect took a small amount of currency and was last seen fleeing on foot in a southwest direction.
Any information regarding this incident, please call the St. Charles Police Dept. at 636-949-3320 or the tips hotline at 636-949-3333.
Saturday, October 07, 2006
FRONT PAGE - FIRST CAPITOL NEWS , October 7, 2006
(Click on image to enlarge) Scroll down to read entire edition.
Casino Property Taxes Can Be Lowered By Gaming Commission
By Phyllis Schaltenbrand
At the September 26th joint meeting of the City Council and St. Charles School Board, matters concerning both the district and the City at large were discussed. Several council members including Councilman Riddler and Koester as well as, Councilwoman Greer expressed frustration that local grade schools are slated for shuttering after the 2006-2007 school year.
According to school board members, Missouri ranks 46th in state funding of K-12 education. State legislators failed to pass a school-funding formula that would better fund local schools resulting in the financial burden being transferred to local homeowners by way of property taxes.
Most St. Charles residents believed that placing a riverboat gaming casino here would help guarantee local schools’ financial stability, however, the school board also pointed out that the casinos can appeal their local assessment to the State Gaming Commission. The Gaming Commission can vote to assess the casino property at a lower level, thereby, cutting the casino’s property taxes that are most beneficial to our local schools. It could be argued that the St. Charles School District has lost thousands of dollars yearly due to such low, inaccurate assessments of casino property.
Contributing further to frustration by both council and school board alike is the inequity of state funding on the local level. If the St. Charles School District would simply receive the same funding amounts per student as Francis Howell and Fort Zumwalt School Districts, $3 Million more would flow into our city school district annually.
School board member, Wayne Oetting stated that the State of Missouri considers the St. Charles School District a “wealthy” district, which has resulted in lower funding levels. In fact, if the district were not a hold-harmless district, Oetting pointed out that school-funding levels would be lower still. Oetting commented that he never felt that St. Charles was a wealthy district, but rather an average district. Apparently, the state disagrees.
The St. Charles City R-VI School District plans on moving its main offices to Benton after the current school year. Benton is the oldest operational school in St. Charles and has been educating our youth since 1896. Its closing means that school children in the northern parts of the City will have greater distance between their homes and their “local” school.
Councilwoman Greer voiced her opinion that closing schools was premature because our city is aging and in the coming years many young families will be buying homes previously occupied by older residents. Councilman Riddler pointed out that entry-level priced homes in the county are right here in St. Charles and that young families will turn to St. Charles City for their first home if we can provide neighborhood schools that offer smaller class sizes close to home.
Councilman Koester commented to the First Capitol News, “Missourians were first told that the lottery would save our schools. Then casinos would be such a great boon. In reality, every gaming dollar that came into the front door for our schools was taken out through the back door by state legislators.”
At the September 26th joint meeting of the City Council and St. Charles School Board, matters concerning both the district and the City at large were discussed. Several council members including Councilman Riddler and Koester as well as, Councilwoman Greer expressed frustration that local grade schools are slated for shuttering after the 2006-2007 school year.
According to school board members, Missouri ranks 46th in state funding of K-12 education. State legislators failed to pass a school-funding formula that would better fund local schools resulting in the financial burden being transferred to local homeowners by way of property taxes.
Most St. Charles residents believed that placing a riverboat gaming casino here would help guarantee local schools’ financial stability, however, the school board also pointed out that the casinos can appeal their local assessment to the State Gaming Commission. The Gaming Commission can vote to assess the casino property at a lower level, thereby, cutting the casino’s property taxes that are most beneficial to our local schools. It could be argued that the St. Charles School District has lost thousands of dollars yearly due to such low, inaccurate assessments of casino property.
Contributing further to frustration by both council and school board alike is the inequity of state funding on the local level. If the St. Charles School District would simply receive the same funding amounts per student as Francis Howell and Fort Zumwalt School Districts, $3 Million more would flow into our city school district annually.
School board member, Wayne Oetting stated that the State of Missouri considers the St. Charles School District a “wealthy” district, which has resulted in lower funding levels. In fact, if the district were not a hold-harmless district, Oetting pointed out that school-funding levels would be lower still. Oetting commented that he never felt that St. Charles was a wealthy district, but rather an average district. Apparently, the state disagrees.
The St. Charles City R-VI School District plans on moving its main offices to Benton after the current school year. Benton is the oldest operational school in St. Charles and has been educating our youth since 1896. Its closing means that school children in the northern parts of the City will have greater distance between their homes and their “local” school.
Councilwoman Greer voiced her opinion that closing schools was premature because our city is aging and in the coming years many young families will be buying homes previously occupied by older residents. Councilman Riddler pointed out that entry-level priced homes in the county are right here in St. Charles and that young families will turn to St. Charles City for their first home if we can provide neighborhood schools that offer smaller class sizes close to home.
Councilman Koester commented to the First Capitol News, “Missourians were first told that the lottery would save our schools. Then casinos would be such a great boon. In reality, every gaming dollar that came into the front door for our schools was taken out through the back door by state legislators.”
Nomination Forms Available To File For Mayor of St. Charles
By Tony Brockmeyer
Have you ever wanted to be Mayor of St. Charles? If that is something you have been wanting to do Certificate of Nomination forms are available to any person desiring to be nominated for the office of Mayor at the City Clerk’s office in City Hall at 200 North Second Street. Not less than 100 signatures of qualified registered voters of the City of St Charles are required on the nomination petitions in ordo to have your name placed on the ballot. Once you have obtained the signatures filing for the office will be open from 8:00 a.m., Tuesday November 14, 2006 until 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 21, 2006.
To qualify to run for Mayor you must be a registered voter of the City of St. Charles; A resident of the City for the two years immediately preceding the election; and at least 30 years of age at the time the mayor assumes office.
SPECULATION ABOUNDS ON CANDIDATES FOR THE OFFICE
When the winner of the Mayoral election in April of 2007 takes office a new day will dawn in St. Charles. A charter amendment passed by the voters last year does away with the City Administrator and gives all the power to the Mayor. Up to that point the Mayor is more or less a figure head. No one knows for sure who the candidates will be until they file,. A primary election will be held on February 6, 2007. The two candidates with the highest number of votes will face off against each other in the April 3, 2007 municipal elections. All ten council seats are also up in the April election.
SENATOR CHUCK GROSS
Senator Gross’s name has been mentioned as a candidate. Gross could make the race and if he lost would still have two years left on his term in the senate. Some say, that although he has not filed for the position, he is already acting like he is the Mayor. He recently passed a bill in the senate restricting the authority of the St. Charles City Council’s use of gaming funds. St. Charles is the only City in Missouri to face such restrictions. Other senators with casinos in their districts refused to allow their cities to be handicapped by such a law.
Those in the know seem to think that once Steve Ehlmann is elected County Executive, Gross will move into Ehlmann's old office, that of County Administrator.
ST. CHARLES COUNTY
COUNCILMAN DAN FOUST
Dan Foust is a perennial candidate. In the last mayoral election he was able to beat Councilman Bob Hoepfner and Councilman Rory Riddler in the primary to face Patti York in the municipal elections. Some say he lost the election to York because he would not debate her. Dan says he was told by his advisors not to debate her because he was too tall. There is also the possibility Dan can move into the position of Chairman of the County Council. Dan says if the salary is high enough he will probably be a candidate but is not yet ready to commit.
COUNCILMAN JOHN GIESEKE
There appears to be a movement afoot to draft St. Charles Ward 8 Councilman John Gieseke to run for the office of mayor. John says he is considering all his options but has not made a decision. John is completing his second term as a councilman. If he decides to run for Mayor he will be giving up his chance to run for a third term as councilman. John’s ward has grown tremendously during his tenure. The New town at St. Charles is in his ward and is projected to have 5,700 new homes. A large number of new retail businesses and industrial companies have opened in John’s ward. At a recent ground breaking for a retail center in Ward 8, Tim Sansone of the Sansone Company remarked,”We would not be building in st. Charles if not for the efforts and hard work of Councilman John Gieseke.” those behind the draft Gieseke movement believe he has shown great vision and leadership and that he is the type of leader St. Charles has been lacking.
PATTI YORK
Mayor York has already announced her intentions to try for a third term. Prior to being elected Mayor she served as a councilwoman. Although she is carrying a lot of baggage she evidently believes she can mount a stiff challenge. Some of her baggage includes; The sale of the old police headquarters at less than value; the apparent illegal signing of a contract with Express Scripts who are now making demands for $200,000 to the city; Her letters of recommendation for her “Top Cop” while he had a $101 million dollar law suit pending against the City, City Administrator and Council; Her high profile involvement in the recall efforts to remove Councilwoman Dottie Greer and Councilman Mark Brown from office and her alleged use of taxpayer dollars to fund the recall attempts which were plagued with fraud and forgeries; Her appointment of people to city boards and commissions who are not even residents of the city, just to mention a few.
OTHER CANDIDATES?
Other possible candidates include Kevin Kast and Rory Riddler. Kast headed SSM St. Joseph Health Center until his sudden resignation. It was reported he wanted to retire. He then got involved in the recall attempts to oust Councilwoman Dottie Greer and Councilman Mark Brown. Both recall attempts were filled with fraud, forgeries and misinformation. The recall attempts were funded by Kast and TR Hughes. After the recalls failed Kast went to work for a hospital in Decatur, Illinois and he and Hughes are building a senior development in O’Fallon.
Don’t count out Councilman Rory Riddler. Riddler is also a perennial candidate. Although he says he is not running for the office of mayor he is a very smart politician. You never know what he is going to do.
Who would you like to see as mayor? let us know at firstcapitolnews@aol.com or write us 336 A S. Main St. 63301.
Have you ever wanted to be Mayor of St. Charles? If that is something you have been wanting to do Certificate of Nomination forms are available to any person desiring to be nominated for the office of Mayor at the City Clerk’s office in City Hall at 200 North Second Street. Not less than 100 signatures of qualified registered voters of the City of St Charles are required on the nomination petitions in ordo to have your name placed on the ballot. Once you have obtained the signatures filing for the office will be open from 8:00 a.m., Tuesday November 14, 2006 until 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 21, 2006.
To qualify to run for Mayor you must be a registered voter of the City of St. Charles; A resident of the City for the two years immediately preceding the election; and at least 30 years of age at the time the mayor assumes office.
SPECULATION ABOUNDS ON CANDIDATES FOR THE OFFICE
When the winner of the Mayoral election in April of 2007 takes office a new day will dawn in St. Charles. A charter amendment passed by the voters last year does away with the City Administrator and gives all the power to the Mayor. Up to that point the Mayor is more or less a figure head. No one knows for sure who the candidates will be until they file,. A primary election will be held on February 6, 2007. The two candidates with the highest number of votes will face off against each other in the April 3, 2007 municipal elections. All ten council seats are also up in the April election.
SENATOR CHUCK GROSS
Senator Gross’s name has been mentioned as a candidate. Gross could make the race and if he lost would still have two years left on his term in the senate. Some say, that although he has not filed for the position, he is already acting like he is the Mayor. He recently passed a bill in the senate restricting the authority of the St. Charles City Council’s use of gaming funds. St. Charles is the only City in Missouri to face such restrictions. Other senators with casinos in their districts refused to allow their cities to be handicapped by such a law.
Those in the know seem to think that once Steve Ehlmann is elected County Executive, Gross will move into Ehlmann's old office, that of County Administrator.
ST. CHARLES COUNTY
COUNCILMAN DAN FOUST
Dan Foust is a perennial candidate. In the last mayoral election he was able to beat Councilman Bob Hoepfner and Councilman Rory Riddler in the primary to face Patti York in the municipal elections. Some say he lost the election to York because he would not debate her. Dan says he was told by his advisors not to debate her because he was too tall. There is also the possibility Dan can move into the position of Chairman of the County Council. Dan says if the salary is high enough he will probably be a candidate but is not yet ready to commit.
COUNCILMAN JOHN GIESEKE
There appears to be a movement afoot to draft St. Charles Ward 8 Councilman John Gieseke to run for the office of mayor. John says he is considering all his options but has not made a decision. John is completing his second term as a councilman. If he decides to run for Mayor he will be giving up his chance to run for a third term as councilman. John’s ward has grown tremendously during his tenure. The New town at St. Charles is in his ward and is projected to have 5,700 new homes. A large number of new retail businesses and industrial companies have opened in John’s ward. At a recent ground breaking for a retail center in Ward 8, Tim Sansone of the Sansone Company remarked,”We would not be building in st. Charles if not for the efforts and hard work of Councilman John Gieseke.” those behind the draft Gieseke movement believe he has shown great vision and leadership and that he is the type of leader St. Charles has been lacking.
PATTI YORK
Mayor York has already announced her intentions to try for a third term. Prior to being elected Mayor she served as a councilwoman. Although she is carrying a lot of baggage she evidently believes she can mount a stiff challenge. Some of her baggage includes; The sale of the old police headquarters at less than value; the apparent illegal signing of a contract with Express Scripts who are now making demands for $200,000 to the city; Her letters of recommendation for her “Top Cop” while he had a $101 million dollar law suit pending against the City, City Administrator and Council; Her high profile involvement in the recall efforts to remove Councilwoman Dottie Greer and Councilman Mark Brown from office and her alleged use of taxpayer dollars to fund the recall attempts which were plagued with fraud and forgeries; Her appointment of people to city boards and commissions who are not even residents of the city, just to mention a few.
OTHER CANDIDATES?
Other possible candidates include Kevin Kast and Rory Riddler. Kast headed SSM St. Joseph Health Center until his sudden resignation. It was reported he wanted to retire. He then got involved in the recall attempts to oust Councilwoman Dottie Greer and Councilman Mark Brown. Both recall attempts were filled with fraud, forgeries and misinformation. The recall attempts were funded by Kast and TR Hughes. After the recalls failed Kast went to work for a hospital in Decatur, Illinois and he and Hughes are building a senior development in O’Fallon.
Don’t count out Councilman Rory Riddler. Riddler is also a perennial candidate. Although he says he is not running for the office of mayor he is a very smart politician. You never know what he is going to do.
Who would you like to see as mayor? let us know at firstcapitolnews@aol.com or write us 336 A S. Main St. 63301.
RAMBLING WITH THE EDITOR - Tony Brockmeyer
CONDOLENCES
Our condolences to Bill Goellner of Goellner Printing and his family on the passing of his mother.
NOT A PART TIME JOB
We had a reader call the other day who said he is sending us a piece of campaign literature from Mike Weller. The literature Weller distributed said “he would not treat the job of a City Councilman as a part time job.” It appears he has kept his promise. Weller now has the worst attendance record for City Council meetings. He has made only one of the last three meetings. The residents of Ward 5 have little representation on the Council. Do you think that Weller is foregoing his monthly paycheck and expense account or do you you think he is collecting the money?
MUENCH BACKTRACKING
Brightstar development has a proposal coming before the City Council to build a 5 story building on South Main just south of Boones Lick in Ward 2. The Planning and Zoning Commission and the Landmarks Commission voted to deny the project. It now comes before the Council. Muench, who was a big supporter of the project when it was first presented has now changed his mind and is against it. He was overheard telling someone he had enough votes to kill the project. Muench has a history of waffling. A rumor on the street says Venetia McEntyre is planning on challenging him for his seat on the Council. She has the backing of the Mayor and her pal, Steve Powell, the former head of the Convention and Visitors Bureau.
MONEY LAUNDERING OR SMART
POLITICS
After our investigative series that began on May 13, “Money Laundering or Smart Politics”, the subject of our stories, Thomas W. Smith Jr., has resigned as treasurer of TEN back door funding legislative committees he operated out of his home at 320 Monroe Street in St. Charles. Smith, as treasurer of the committees formed to circumvent political contribution limits, dolled out millions of dollars he had received from those who were trying to hide their political contributions. The money he collected was then funneled through backdoors making it almost impossible for the public to know who is giving and who is receiving.
According to records received from the office of Missouri Secretary of State, Robin Carnahan, Smith is a state employee and legislative aide to State Representative Tom Dempsey (R) St. Charles and is paid $53,530 a year in taxpayer dollars by the State of Missouri. It would seem to me that as a state employee it is unethical and perhaps illegal for Smith to be the treasurer of the money laundering committees. Perhaps there should be an investigation into whether he is breaking any laws. Wasn’t Attorney General Bill Webster sentenced to prison for less?
Our condolences to Bill Goellner of Goellner Printing and his family on the passing of his mother.
NOT A PART TIME JOB
We had a reader call the other day who said he is sending us a piece of campaign literature from Mike Weller. The literature Weller distributed said “he would not treat the job of a City Councilman as a part time job.” It appears he has kept his promise. Weller now has the worst attendance record for City Council meetings. He has made only one of the last three meetings. The residents of Ward 5 have little representation on the Council. Do you think that Weller is foregoing his monthly paycheck and expense account or do you you think he is collecting the money?
MUENCH BACKTRACKING
Brightstar development has a proposal coming before the City Council to build a 5 story building on South Main just south of Boones Lick in Ward 2. The Planning and Zoning Commission and the Landmarks Commission voted to deny the project. It now comes before the Council. Muench, who was a big supporter of the project when it was first presented has now changed his mind and is against it. He was overheard telling someone he had enough votes to kill the project. Muench has a history of waffling. A rumor on the street says Venetia McEntyre is planning on challenging him for his seat on the Council. She has the backing of the Mayor and her pal, Steve Powell, the former head of the Convention and Visitors Bureau.
MONEY LAUNDERING OR SMART
POLITICS
After our investigative series that began on May 13, “Money Laundering or Smart Politics”, the subject of our stories, Thomas W. Smith Jr., has resigned as treasurer of TEN back door funding legislative committees he operated out of his home at 320 Monroe Street in St. Charles. Smith, as treasurer of the committees formed to circumvent political contribution limits, dolled out millions of dollars he had received from those who were trying to hide their political contributions. The money he collected was then funneled through backdoors making it almost impossible for the public to know who is giving and who is receiving.
According to records received from the office of Missouri Secretary of State, Robin Carnahan, Smith is a state employee and legislative aide to State Representative Tom Dempsey (R) St. Charles and is paid $53,530 a year in taxpayer dollars by the State of Missouri. It would seem to me that as a state employee it is unethical and perhaps illegal for Smith to be the treasurer of the money laundering committees. Perhaps there should be an investigation into whether he is breaking any laws. Wasn’t Attorney General Bill Webster sentenced to prison for less?
THE CITY DESK - Rory Riddler, Councilman Ward 1
Children’s Museum: The Spark
To Light A Thousand Dreams
Growing up my brother and I were fortunate to have parents who felt strongly about inspiring us both to learn. They made learning fun. That’s a notion that, unfortunately, too many kids today can’t relate to. For them learning is simply drudgery.
One of the lessons our parents were able to instill was that learning had no boundaries. It wasn’t confined to the brick walls or front steps of the grade school we attended. It didn’t end when our homework was done.
It seemed like almost every weekend we climbed into that old Chevy and went somewhere fun and educational. Shaw’s Garden, the Jefferson Memorial in Forrest Park, the Jewel Box, the Art Museum, the Zoo, Planetarium, the Old Court House in St. Louis, Grant’s Farm, the Museum of Transportation, the Campbell House, the old Pioneer Museum in St. Peters (sadly gone now for many years), and the Boone Home to name a few. We also would visit Mr. Frank who built the log cabins on West Clay. He would take the time to show my brother and I how to carve those wonderful sculptures of Honest Abe out of wood and regaled us with stories of his favorite President.
One of my favorite destinations was the old Science Museum in Oak Knoll Park. Occupying a wonderful old stone house and grounds at Clayton and Big Bend, the museum was one of my windows to the larger world before the internet. The visible (or was it invisible) woman display, introduced us to the functions of the human body, though the clear plastic mannequin was a lot less titillating than young minds had imagined. It taught me that beauty is only skin deep and that no woman looks good without an epidermis.
The museum had a lot of traveling exhibits. One of my favorites was about the shipwreck Vasa (pronounced Wasa) in Sweden, where underwater archaeologist managed to find and salvage a Royal Swedish war ship from the 16th Century. I still have the framed print of that ship I purchased in the modest gift shop that day.
In some respects the old Science Museum was better than the new one near the Planetarium. I think it mainly comes down to a matter of scale. The drive to serve so many more patrons has taken some of the edge off the experience.
Fortunately there are a few places that retain the qualities of the old Science Museum. The Children’s Museum in Quincy Illinois is located in a beautiful Victorian mansion, whose second and third floors are a labyrinth of fun and interactive things for kids to do. Edwardsville has also put together a wonderful Children’s Museum as an amenity of that community.
Which brings me to the topic of why a Children’s Museum could be a good thing for our community. Early childhood development has proven to be essential to establishing a firm foundation for a lifetime of learning. It certainly was for me. I further believe our community would benefit from an educational facility that could offer a variety of creative tactile learning experiences, stimulating changeable exhibits, exposure to cutting edge technology and interesting programs for a variety of ages.
The New City Museum, Magic House and Science Center are great facilities, but are a bit far away for families in St. Charles to visit as often as they might like. St. Charles City alone has over 2,200 pre-school children and 4,600 elementary school children. St. Charles County has over 13,300 pre-school children and 28,500 elementary school children…nearly 42,000 kids that could be served by a more convenient facility. I envision a museum on the scale of the old Science Center, one that could provide parents and teachers a place for preschool and K-5 fun and learning that is both convenient and affordable.
There is within our community a large reserve of professional educators, current and retired school administrators, design and technical experts in a variety of fields, a supportive business and corporate community, as well as many enthusiastic and dedicated parents willing to give of their time and energy. To tap that wellspring of talent and volunteerism, I sponsored a resolution this week to create a Children’s Museum Commission.
I tried to set the bar high in the wording of the resolution:
“Now Therefore Be It Resolved By The City Council Of The City Of St. Charles that there is hereby established the Children’s Museum Commission Of St. Charles, dedicated to the spirit inspired by the late Melvin Washington, whose mission shall be to assess the feasibility and design a fun and creative public learning facility to lift the spirit, expand the mind and excite the imagination of our children and generations yet unborn.”
The Commission will be comprised of thirteen members, one each from the ten wards appointed by the Councilman from each ward, or in the absence of an appointment from a Councilman the Mayor, and two at-large representatives appointed by the Mayor. The thirteenth member will be a Council liaison appointed by the Mayor with the consent of the Council. Already there have been several people volunteer.
The Commission is charged with the study of existing facilities in other communities, research on facilities nationwide, the latest in hands-on equipment and displays in the fields of math, science, astronomy, space exploration, history, archeology, geology, biology, health, medicine, engineering, architecture and computer science (to name a few) museum design and space needs, staffing, annual budget, safety, insurance concerns, volunteerism programs, potential partnerships, funding, giving programs, grants and potential locations.
There is some money is the 2008 Capital Budget for a professional feasibility study. That will cap off the first year of the Commission’s work, which must issue a report to the Council within 24 months. That seems like a long time from now, but these will be citizen volunteers and there is much to do. I hope the path we have started down is one that will result in a quality place of learning and inspiration for today’s children. It could be the spark that lights a thousand dreams.
SIGNS AVAILABLE FOR SUPPORT OF CIVIC CENTER BOND ISSUE
(Click on image to enlarge)If you would like a yard sign like the one displayed on the left please call our office at 724-1955 or e-mail us at firstcapitolnews@aol.com and we will have the supporters provide you with one.
Case In Point By Joe Koester, Councilman Ward 9
I love America more than any other country in this world, and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually.
James A. Baldwin
The First Capitol News has been working on a crossword puzzle. Everything was moving along smoothly until they realized that the hints given for each answer were quite confusing due to their similarities. Take a look at some of the hints; maybe you can see what they meant:
DOWN
1. Republican politician sentenced to 6 years in prison.
2. Republican politician involved in scandal steps down from office.
3. Republican politician involved in scandal drops out of campaign.
4. Money Laundering cost this Republican his seat in Congress.
5. Republican lobbyist involved in money laundering.
6. Impeachable offense committed by current administration.
ACROSS
1. Republican cover up of scandal may cost him his seat.
2. Republican cover up of scandal may cost him his seat.
3. Republican Congressman sentenced to prison for taking bribes amounting to more than $2.4 Million.
4. Republican charged with conspiring to corrupt public officials.
5. Electronic voting machine company whose allegiance has been linked to the GOP resulting in questionable election returns.
6. GOP supportive electronic voting machine company that has caused concern among fair election groups due to bias.
Personally, I think the public could definitely figure out this puzzle. Anyone who has kept up with the news (I know that can be difficult given the current state of our national news sources) would breeze right through this crossword, but the publisher and editor of the FCN said, “NO” so we’ll have to somehow simplify the clues if we want to see this puzzle in print.
For the record, the Republican Party has a grand old history. I mean, think about it, the Party of Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, and Eisenhower! I believe if these men were here today, they wouldn’t recognize their old Party. These three men were part of a progressive Party that believed in good government, not the emaciation of all government. Each of these three Presidents increased the role of the federal government by creating federal income taxes, by creating a national park system, and by creating an interstate highway system respectively.
The corruption that has tainted the Republican Party so completely after such a short time in power would sadden any past Party leaders.
I believe a culture of corruption has resulted from the Right wanting to rule rather than govern.
Just in case you need the answers to the puzzle:
DOWN:
Governor George Ryan
Mark Foley
Bob Ney
Tom Delay
Jack Abramoff
Illegal wiretapping of American citizens first believed to be only performed on international calls, later it was uncovered that Americans within our own boarders were being tapped.
ACROSS:
Dennis Hastert
John Shimkus
Duke Cunningham
Michael Scanton
ES&S
Diebold
The Conservative Factor - Alex Spencer
Wow. I mean really, wow. Here’s the problem with writing a political column, sometimes the political climate is a bit slow or uneventful and you find yourself rehashing old news. Then, the Mayor of St. Peters gets indicted by the United States Government. Yup, that’s the latest and greatest political news out of St. Charles County. One more time, for anyone who might be living under a rock and might have missed the news: MAYOR SHAWN BROWN WAS INDICTED ON FEDERAL BRIBERY CHARGES.
Let’s recap, shall we? On Thursday, August 17, 2006, a Federal Grand Jury indicted St. Peters Mayor Shawn Brown on charges of federal bribery. Basically, they decided there was enough proof to proceed against Shawn on charges of bribery. This idiot (there really is no other word for it) shook down a red light camera company. On Friday, August 18, Shawn was arrested near his home. He was arrested, handcuffed, and taken downtown for processing. Wow.
From all the press accounts, it looks like it went down something like this: The St. Peters Board of Aldermen voted to sign a contract with Redflex, a red light camera company based in Arizona, to install and monitor several red light cameras in St. Peters. Shawn, as Mayor, would sign that bill and the process for installing the cameras would move forward. Bingo, bango: less people run red lights, and the City of St. Peters has a new stream of revenue (which of course, is not the reason for installing the cameras). Well, that’s not exactly what happened. Apparently, it looks like Shawn interacted with Redflex and said something like: “I’m going to veto the bill and you won’t get the contract unless you pay me $2750.00.” The press reports are somewhat contradictory, so I’m not certain, but it sure sounds like that person from Redflex might have been wearing a wire. So, the Feds have Shawn on tape shaking down the business. That’s what you call a career-ender. Memo to the “innocent until proven guilty” Shawn fan club (Sandy Waters, Pathetic Brandy Pedersen, and other people suing the City of St. Peters.: this is a federal indictment, they have him cold – you might ix-nay on the defending Shawn-ay because you are a bunch of orons-may.
I digress, let’s get back to the basics. So, every other time Shawn was accused of inappropriate or criminal behavior, he would spout off several silly defenses. Remember when he was faxing out campaign reports from city hall? First he had reimbursed the city for use of the fax machine; then he was entitled to do it because he pays taxes; then he didn’t know it was inappropriate (duh!); finally, he proclaims: they are out to get me.
Then, there was the haunted house fiasco: first, it was a paperwork mix-up and he didn’t know you can’t use an out of town address to avoid paying taxes; then it was his lawyer told him to do it that way; finally, he proclaims: they are out to get me.
And maybe “they” are out to get him. But apparently, “they” have a point. Former Mayor Tom Brown was right when he said that Shawn broke a sacred trust with the people. So, you’d think the guy would defend himself right? Where are Shawn’s protestations of innocence this time? Where are the stupid excuses. When is he going to put that dopey look on his face and stare into the camera and do the whole simpleton routine where he claims not to understand that you can’t actually bribe a city vendor? Hmmmm, curiously missing. Instead, he’s giving excuses that would make Former President Clinton proud. What’s next: “In my heart, it was a campaign contribution” or maybe “it depends on what your definition of bribery is?” Shawn is a crook, plain and simple. He’s embarrassing and he should leave. So then, the idiot is walking out of the Federal Courthouse where he was arraigned that next week, and he tells the TV cameras that of course he will be at the meeting that Thursday. It’s business as usual. Well, let’s hope that’s not the case.
In the next installment of this drama, Alderman David Hayes announces that he will be asking for Shawn’s resignation at that next Board meeting. What exactly was Hayes supposed to do? There was a giant elephant in the room, and in the right light, it looked like the elephant might be wearing prison stripes. Meeting time came and proceeded rather slowly and uneventfully. Then, it was time for citizen comment at the end of the meeting. After that, it was time for the elected officials to give their comments. Lo and behold, Shawn bolted. Shawn didn’t excuse himself in a professional manner. Shawn bolted. Shawn ran out of that chamber like a scared little rabbit. He didn’t stay and let Hayes say his piece and then respond or ignore him. Shawn ran away. In the words of one local editorial board, Shawn was a coward.
Hayes gave an impassioned speech about why Shawn should resign. Even though I’ve called out him and others for speechifying in the past, he was right. It’s time for the people to realize they elected a crook, plain and simple. All the rumors of other shakedowns are probably true. It just took a company from out of state to do the right thing. Maybe the local builders will take notice and step up to the plate.
To the other aldermen, are you seriously that dense? Just in case you missed it, your mayor is under federal indictment. Hey Alderman Pagano – we get it. You want to keep Shawn there, so that Alderman Holt doesn’t take over and pose you any greater competition in the next Mayoral campaign. Just in case you are planning to do the doddering old fool routine again, you are very transparent, and it’s kind of pathetic – you might as well announce your candidacy. And Alderman Hollingsworth – before you start out on another campaign of compromise where you emerge as some sort of lesser of two evils, “trust me I’m an insurance guy” candidate, I’m not sure the people of St. Peters want a Mayor who abstains all the time because a bunch of the local builders and city contractors are clients of his insurance business. The city might not be ready for an insurance salesman Mayor, since the electrical salesman Mayor was kind of a bust. It will certainly be interesting to watch the members of the Board of Aldermen as they jockey for even the slightest electoral advantage.
To Shawn, I bid you a fond farewell. Whether you choose to do the right thing and resign your post to spare the people of your city (and the rest of us in this county from embarrassment, or you stick it out until the Feds put you in the can, your days as an elected official are numbered. Hey Shawn: Na, na, na, na. Na, na, na, na. Hey, hey, hey. Goodbye.
Let’s recap, shall we? On Thursday, August 17, 2006, a Federal Grand Jury indicted St. Peters Mayor Shawn Brown on charges of federal bribery. Basically, they decided there was enough proof to proceed against Shawn on charges of bribery. This idiot (there really is no other word for it) shook down a red light camera company. On Friday, August 18, Shawn was arrested near his home. He was arrested, handcuffed, and taken downtown for processing. Wow.
From all the press accounts, it looks like it went down something like this: The St. Peters Board of Aldermen voted to sign a contract with Redflex, a red light camera company based in Arizona, to install and monitor several red light cameras in St. Peters. Shawn, as Mayor, would sign that bill and the process for installing the cameras would move forward. Bingo, bango: less people run red lights, and the City of St. Peters has a new stream of revenue (which of course, is not the reason for installing the cameras). Well, that’s not exactly what happened. Apparently, it looks like Shawn interacted with Redflex and said something like: “I’m going to veto the bill and you won’t get the contract unless you pay me $2750.00.” The press reports are somewhat contradictory, so I’m not certain, but it sure sounds like that person from Redflex might have been wearing a wire. So, the Feds have Shawn on tape shaking down the business. That’s what you call a career-ender. Memo to the “innocent until proven guilty” Shawn fan club (Sandy Waters, Pathetic Brandy Pedersen, and other people suing the City of St. Peters.: this is a federal indictment, they have him cold – you might ix-nay on the defending Shawn-ay because you are a bunch of orons-may.
I digress, let’s get back to the basics. So, every other time Shawn was accused of inappropriate or criminal behavior, he would spout off several silly defenses. Remember when he was faxing out campaign reports from city hall? First he had reimbursed the city for use of the fax machine; then he was entitled to do it because he pays taxes; then he didn’t know it was inappropriate (duh!); finally, he proclaims: they are out to get me.
Then, there was the haunted house fiasco: first, it was a paperwork mix-up and he didn’t know you can’t use an out of town address to avoid paying taxes; then it was his lawyer told him to do it that way; finally, he proclaims: they are out to get me.
And maybe “they” are out to get him. But apparently, “they” have a point. Former Mayor Tom Brown was right when he said that Shawn broke a sacred trust with the people. So, you’d think the guy would defend himself right? Where are Shawn’s protestations of innocence this time? Where are the stupid excuses. When is he going to put that dopey look on his face and stare into the camera and do the whole simpleton routine where he claims not to understand that you can’t actually bribe a city vendor? Hmmmm, curiously missing. Instead, he’s giving excuses that would make Former President Clinton proud. What’s next: “In my heart, it was a campaign contribution” or maybe “it depends on what your definition of bribery is?” Shawn is a crook, plain and simple. He’s embarrassing and he should leave. So then, the idiot is walking out of the Federal Courthouse where he was arraigned that next week, and he tells the TV cameras that of course he will be at the meeting that Thursday. It’s business as usual. Well, let’s hope that’s not the case.
In the next installment of this drama, Alderman David Hayes announces that he will be asking for Shawn’s resignation at that next Board meeting. What exactly was Hayes supposed to do? There was a giant elephant in the room, and in the right light, it looked like the elephant might be wearing prison stripes. Meeting time came and proceeded rather slowly and uneventfully. Then, it was time for citizen comment at the end of the meeting. After that, it was time for the elected officials to give their comments. Lo and behold, Shawn bolted. Shawn didn’t excuse himself in a professional manner. Shawn bolted. Shawn ran out of that chamber like a scared little rabbit. He didn’t stay and let Hayes say his piece and then respond or ignore him. Shawn ran away. In the words of one local editorial board, Shawn was a coward.
Hayes gave an impassioned speech about why Shawn should resign. Even though I’ve called out him and others for speechifying in the past, he was right. It’s time for the people to realize they elected a crook, plain and simple. All the rumors of other shakedowns are probably true. It just took a company from out of state to do the right thing. Maybe the local builders will take notice and step up to the plate.
To the other aldermen, are you seriously that dense? Just in case you missed it, your mayor is under federal indictment. Hey Alderman Pagano – we get it. You want to keep Shawn there, so that Alderman Holt doesn’t take over and pose you any greater competition in the next Mayoral campaign. Just in case you are planning to do the doddering old fool routine again, you are very transparent, and it’s kind of pathetic – you might as well announce your candidacy. And Alderman Hollingsworth – before you start out on another campaign of compromise where you emerge as some sort of lesser of two evils, “trust me I’m an insurance guy” candidate, I’m not sure the people of St. Peters want a Mayor who abstains all the time because a bunch of the local builders and city contractors are clients of his insurance business. The city might not be ready for an insurance salesman Mayor, since the electrical salesman Mayor was kind of a bust. It will certainly be interesting to watch the members of the Board of Aldermen as they jockey for even the slightest electoral advantage.
To Shawn, I bid you a fond farewell. Whether you choose to do the right thing and resign your post to spare the people of your city (and the rest of us in this county from embarrassment, or you stick it out until the Feds put you in the can, your days as an elected official are numbered. Hey Shawn: Na, na, na, na. Na, na, na, na. Hey, hey, hey. Goodbye.
THE VIEW FROM THE CHEAP SEATS By Jerry Haferkamp
The View From The Cheap Seats
By Jerry Haferkamp
In my last column I noted that a particular park board member hasn’t stepped down at the expiration of his term. I later received information that members are generally allowed to remain in the position until a successor is approved.
However, therein lies the rub. The mayor is apparently not going to bring forth a candidate until she has the proper “stacking” of the city council. That brings politics into a board that has been better left outside the political infighting. We have benefited in St. Charles from the way our parks are administered, and politicizing the board would be a big mistake. It makes you wonder if the mayor is still stinging from the incident when the park board voted to not place the Veterans’ Memorial where the mayor wanted it, in the middle of the cross-country running course where it would be an obstruction to runners.
I occasionally receive comments on this column, but that is not the reaction I am looking for. This column does nothing but voice the view that a great number of our residents have. It is based on common sense, something that is sorely lacking in our power structure. My comments won’t change anything. The power you have can only be realized if you call or write your councilman and the administration. Writing letters to the editor will get people to rally to your side, but unless they act, it is a futile activity. Waiting until an election is a slow way to make change.
I find myself agreeing with members of the council that believe that the utility tax rebates should have limits based on income. If the council makes the program income based, there will be more money available to those who really could use a lift. I know of people who would qualify under the present program whose net worth would be well over a million dollars. Let’s keep the rebates for those who need it
.
Let’s keep the park board non-political. There’s only one way to do it. YOU! Get involved. YOU! Call your council member. YOU! Voice your opinion. YOU! Be informed and vote when the time comes.
You nearly regained control of your city at the last council election. You put enough of the right people on the council to at least slow a runaway city, but there is still a long way to go. You still have an administration and a few council seats to return to the citizens. Now is not the time to get lazy.
As always, that’s just the view from the cheap seats.
By Jerry Haferkamp
In my last column I noted that a particular park board member hasn’t stepped down at the expiration of his term. I later received information that members are generally allowed to remain in the position until a successor is approved.
However, therein lies the rub. The mayor is apparently not going to bring forth a candidate until she has the proper “stacking” of the city council. That brings politics into a board that has been better left outside the political infighting. We have benefited in St. Charles from the way our parks are administered, and politicizing the board would be a big mistake. It makes you wonder if the mayor is still stinging from the incident when the park board voted to not place the Veterans’ Memorial where the mayor wanted it, in the middle of the cross-country running course where it would be an obstruction to runners.
I occasionally receive comments on this column, but that is not the reaction I am looking for. This column does nothing but voice the view that a great number of our residents have. It is based on common sense, something that is sorely lacking in our power structure. My comments won’t change anything. The power you have can only be realized if you call or write your councilman and the administration. Writing letters to the editor will get people to rally to your side, but unless they act, it is a futile activity. Waiting until an election is a slow way to make change.
I find myself agreeing with members of the council that believe that the utility tax rebates should have limits based on income. If the council makes the program income based, there will be more money available to those who really could use a lift. I know of people who would qualify under the present program whose net worth would be well over a million dollars. Let’s keep the rebates for those who need it
.
Let’s keep the park board non-political. There’s only one way to do it. YOU! Get involved. YOU! Call your council member. YOU! Voice your opinion. YOU! Be informed and vote when the time comes.
You nearly regained control of your city at the last council election. You put enough of the right people on the council to at least slow a runaway city, but there is still a long way to go. You still have an administration and a few council seats to return to the citizens. Now is not the time to get lazy.
As always, that’s just the view from the cheap seats.
SPORTS - First Capitol News Sports Section - MIKE MCMURRAN Sports Editor
MY COLUMN by Mike McMurran
Lately I have been suggesting “Everything is relative.” And I truly believe it is. Well as true as that statement may be, “timing is everything,” is equally true, as well as important. Allow me to explain – have a couple of examples.
For three or so years now, I have gathered a group of buddies to play in the annual Patt Holt Singers golf tournament. The original group was Henry Kruse, Mike Lemke, Mark Francis and yours truly. Once or twice, for whatever reason Henry couldn’t make it, so we added Doug Medley to our foursome. We never won the tournament, nor did we really expect to, but boy did we have fun. So we pretty much decided we would make it an annual outing. Well, for whatever reason, and there is some speculation as to the real reason, Francis couldn’t make it this year. He said his daughter had a soccer game, and maybe she did, but this was an annual outing of guys – true male bondage type stuff. (Kruse has suggested that Francis’ frugality simply wouldn’t allow it) Anyway, we found a replacement, or Lemke found a replacement I should say, John Janschutz. John was picked for his personality more than his golf game. Everyone knows four men scrambles are about getting along more than anything else. So to answer any questions, No, John was not a ringer, he is just an average guy.
Timing, remember where I started? Timing was everything – or in Francis’ case it was not everything. The foursome of Kruse, Lemke, Janschutz and McMurran took control of Warrenton Golf Course like, well, we played far, far over our heads. So much so, we shot 11 under par and won the 1st place prize money. Oh sure, most of the shots used came from Janschutz and Kruse, but Lemke and I truly contributed at the most opportunistic times. The point is this: Francis messed up by not being there. To add insult to injury, since we are the defending champions, we have vowed to return to the scene of the crime next year. Therefore, Francis is out!
Ah yes, timing. For me it got even better. On Sunday I made arrangements to go to the Rams’ game with an old buddy of mine, Anthony “Anferney” Carimatti. Tony and I met at the Holiday Inn Select at noon or so and began our day by having a few adult beverages. For some reason or another, at around 2:00 or so, we decided to walk to Busch Stadium. You see we knew Family Almus would be sitting in Section 135, because he traded me fireworks for the tickets (how should I know, in July, that on October 1st the game would have any meaning?). Tony and I approached the usher at the gate and told her we only wanted to go in for a minute. We showed her our Rams’ tickets and explained we were going to the football game, which was to start in less than 30 minutes, so we would only be there for 5 minutes at most. She responded, “what did you just say?” I really didn’t want to repeat everything I had just explained to her, so I simply asked, “can you let us in for a minute, please?” She said sure, go right on in! I’m not kidding. If I knew it was that easy I would have been doing it all season.
Anyway, the first thing Tony did was buy two of those $8.50 beers. Our priorities were intact. We found Family Almus, sat down (timing is on our side) and for some reason the famous Atlanta Tomahawk Chop song began playing. We were there for no more than 5 minutes but they were the most exciting 5 minutes of the entire game: the Cardinals had won the Central Division while Tony and I sat there. Ask Almus.
As we were leaving another usher told us we couldn’t leave the stadium with our newly purchased $8.50 beers. We explained to him that we had just bought them and were going to the Rams’ game, and could we please take them with us. After all we had just spent $17 and were only in the stadium for 5 minutes. “Ah, go ahead fellas. You don’t look like you are going to cause any trouble.” Man oh man, was timing on our side!
So now we are walking at a rather brisk pace trying to make it to the Dome before kick-off. It became obvious we were going to be late for the kickoff…but wait. As we were walking down the street, two young ladies asked us if we knew where the Dome was. Of course they were driving in their automobile. Now you have to understand that neither Tony or I are what you would call “lookers,” so these ladies, who were in fact “lookers,” really needed directions to the Dome. Tony and I could have simply said continue straight for another 7 blocks or so, but our luck was going so good we couldn’t help but try and get a ride. We did. Did our luck run out? Not a chance – they had cold beer in the car and offered us some for our help. We really didn’t have time to wait with them as they maneuvered their way thru the parking lot, so we simply excused ourselves at the Broadway entrance.
Did we make the kickoff? Nope, but the moment we sat in our seats Detroit fumbled the ball and the Rams recovered. Ah yes my friends, timing is everything.
High School Football
Eagles Are Soaring
Orchard Farm is 4-1 Overall and Undefeated in Conference
By Louis J. Launer
One team opening up some eyes among the high school football fans this season is the Orchard Farm Eagles. This is a team that has had its shares of struggle over the years. But this year, their 3-0 Eastern Missouri Conference start has been their best start in the past decade. Their only loss was in a non-conference game against Crystal City back in early September.
They have quite an offense led by junior quarterback Zach Pugh, who has scored one touchdown by himself, along with completing 73 out of 117 pass attempts for 876 yards halfway through this season. He has 7 touchdown passes to his credit and 5 interceptions. Receiving many of those passes is Zach Trudo, who caught 30 passes for 449 yards. He is also quite a rusher with 9 rushes for 25 yards. He has 6 touchdowns at the halfway mark of the season.
Zach Pugh performs his leadership every week on the field. Last week’s 41-18 win over Winfield placed Pugh in the record books by breaking the schools’ single game passing record. According to the school, “Zach has been a solid performer both on the field and off. He has developed into a team leader with his attitude during games and practices and is determined in making himself better each day.”
The Eagles’ top running back is Ricky Eiting, who has 66 rushes for 426 yards and 8 touchdowns. The Eagles have quite a well-balanced offensive line and can run and pass the ball.
Defensively, Zach Trudo also shows he’s quite the defender as well as a receiver in the offensive line. On defense, Trudo has intercepted two passes, recovered one fumble and made 32 tackles. Sam Kline is another big man on defense with 29 tackles. Richard Wunderlich can throw any offensive player for a loss. Midway through this season, he has 25 tackles, 4 of them were losses of 18 yards.
Their schedule still has some tough teams, including Lutheran-St. Charles, Bowling Green, Wright City and Hermann. The big rivalry lately with Orchard Farm has been against Lutheran-St. Charles. It is a district game and the last game of the season. But this year will be the first time that both teams will play as non-conference rivals.
APOLOGY TO BRANNON CHAMPAGNE –
Two weeks ago, this reporter was a little too hard on St. Charles West quarterback Brannon Champagne. It was written that Brannon was the reason that West lost a football game. This reporter was wrong and made a bad judgment in words. High school football is a team sport and St. Charles West does have a good team that works hard and does their best week after week. All high school football teams try their best. Sometimes the fan comes out of the reporter and either gets a little excited or becomes too quick to judge a player or find a microscopic reason why a team either wins or loses. Brannon is only a sophomore. His performance against Timberland was very good, with 15 rushes for 48 yards. He was also quite good in passing the ball being 4 of 10 for 76 yards. Brannon is adjusting to the game and a sophomore quarterback playing on the varsity level is quite a difficult task. It takes a lot of growing and coach Gary Strauss knows that. Brannon will probably be a great quarterback and each and every game, he does his best that he can do.
Sometimes reporters have to remember that high school sports is the most purest form of sport. The players who play any sport are participating in it during what should be the best time of their lives. Many fans in urban areas, suburbia and small town America, including St. Charles enjoy a good high school game. It becomes to easy and tempting to make comparisons of high school sports to that of their college or professional counterparts. High school sports expresses unity, where student-athletes, student fans, alumni can root for their favorite teams and when the game is over, win or lose, everyone on the team gave it their best.
Tickets on Sale for 19th Annual Budweiser “Guns ‘N Hoses,” Proceeds to Benefit St. Louis Backstoppers; Features Police, Firefighters from Illinois and Missouri
Tickets are on sale for the 19th annual Budweiser “Guns ‘N Hoses” boxing matches between police officers and firefighters on Thanksgiving Eve, November 22, at 7:30 p.m. at Scottrade Center (formerly Savvis Center). Proceeds will go to the St. Louis Backstoppers who assist families of firefighters and police officers who die in the line of duty.
Budweiser “Guns ‘N Hoses” features three-round matches between teams of Missouri and Illinois police officers and firefighters. Boxers are paired by age, weight and ability. Firefighters won last year bouts, 10 matches to 7.
Last year’s event raised more than $198,000 bringing the total since 1987 to $1.6 million for the families of firefighters and police officers who die in the line of duty.
The 2,000-member Backstoppers cover St. Louis City, the Missouri counties of St. Louis, St. Charles, Lincoln, Jefferson, Franklin, St. Francois and Warren and the Illinois counties of Madison, Monroe and St. Clair. In addition, Backstoppers cover members of Troop C of the Missouri Highway Patrol.
Budweiser “Guns ‘N Hoses” tickets are $30, $25 and $20 and are available by calling (314) 444-5832 in St. Louis City, (314) 713-6031 in St. Louis County or (618) 622-1507 in Illinois.
Lately I have been suggesting “Everything is relative.” And I truly believe it is. Well as true as that statement may be, “timing is everything,” is equally true, as well as important. Allow me to explain – have a couple of examples.
For three or so years now, I have gathered a group of buddies to play in the annual Patt Holt Singers golf tournament. The original group was Henry Kruse, Mike Lemke, Mark Francis and yours truly. Once or twice, for whatever reason Henry couldn’t make it, so we added Doug Medley to our foursome. We never won the tournament, nor did we really expect to, but boy did we have fun. So we pretty much decided we would make it an annual outing. Well, for whatever reason, and there is some speculation as to the real reason, Francis couldn’t make it this year. He said his daughter had a soccer game, and maybe she did, but this was an annual outing of guys – true male bondage type stuff. (Kruse has suggested that Francis’ frugality simply wouldn’t allow it) Anyway, we found a replacement, or Lemke found a replacement I should say, John Janschutz. John was picked for his personality more than his golf game. Everyone knows four men scrambles are about getting along more than anything else. So to answer any questions, No, John was not a ringer, he is just an average guy.
Timing, remember where I started? Timing was everything – or in Francis’ case it was not everything. The foursome of Kruse, Lemke, Janschutz and McMurran took control of Warrenton Golf Course like, well, we played far, far over our heads. So much so, we shot 11 under par and won the 1st place prize money. Oh sure, most of the shots used came from Janschutz and Kruse, but Lemke and I truly contributed at the most opportunistic times. The point is this: Francis messed up by not being there. To add insult to injury, since we are the defending champions, we have vowed to return to the scene of the crime next year. Therefore, Francis is out!
Ah yes, timing. For me it got even better. On Sunday I made arrangements to go to the Rams’ game with an old buddy of mine, Anthony “Anferney” Carimatti. Tony and I met at the Holiday Inn Select at noon or so and began our day by having a few adult beverages. For some reason or another, at around 2:00 or so, we decided to walk to Busch Stadium. You see we knew Family Almus would be sitting in Section 135, because he traded me fireworks for the tickets (how should I know, in July, that on October 1st the game would have any meaning?). Tony and I approached the usher at the gate and told her we only wanted to go in for a minute. We showed her our Rams’ tickets and explained we were going to the football game, which was to start in less than 30 minutes, so we would only be there for 5 minutes at most. She responded, “what did you just say?” I really didn’t want to repeat everything I had just explained to her, so I simply asked, “can you let us in for a minute, please?” She said sure, go right on in! I’m not kidding. If I knew it was that easy I would have been doing it all season.
Anyway, the first thing Tony did was buy two of those $8.50 beers. Our priorities were intact. We found Family Almus, sat down (timing is on our side) and for some reason the famous Atlanta Tomahawk Chop song began playing. We were there for no more than 5 minutes but they were the most exciting 5 minutes of the entire game: the Cardinals had won the Central Division while Tony and I sat there. Ask Almus.
As we were leaving another usher told us we couldn’t leave the stadium with our newly purchased $8.50 beers. We explained to him that we had just bought them and were going to the Rams’ game, and could we please take them with us. After all we had just spent $17 and were only in the stadium for 5 minutes. “Ah, go ahead fellas. You don’t look like you are going to cause any trouble.” Man oh man, was timing on our side!
So now we are walking at a rather brisk pace trying to make it to the Dome before kick-off. It became obvious we were going to be late for the kickoff…but wait. As we were walking down the street, two young ladies asked us if we knew where the Dome was. Of course they were driving in their automobile. Now you have to understand that neither Tony or I are what you would call “lookers,” so these ladies, who were in fact “lookers,” really needed directions to the Dome. Tony and I could have simply said continue straight for another 7 blocks or so, but our luck was going so good we couldn’t help but try and get a ride. We did. Did our luck run out? Not a chance – they had cold beer in the car and offered us some for our help. We really didn’t have time to wait with them as they maneuvered their way thru the parking lot, so we simply excused ourselves at the Broadway entrance.
Did we make the kickoff? Nope, but the moment we sat in our seats Detroit fumbled the ball and the Rams recovered. Ah yes my friends, timing is everything.
High School Football
Eagles Are Soaring
Orchard Farm is 4-1 Overall and Undefeated in Conference
By Louis J. Launer
One team opening up some eyes among the high school football fans this season is the Orchard Farm Eagles. This is a team that has had its shares of struggle over the years. But this year, their 3-0 Eastern Missouri Conference start has been their best start in the past decade. Their only loss was in a non-conference game against Crystal City back in early September.
They have quite an offense led by junior quarterback Zach Pugh, who has scored one touchdown by himself, along with completing 73 out of 117 pass attempts for 876 yards halfway through this season. He has 7 touchdown passes to his credit and 5 interceptions. Receiving many of those passes is Zach Trudo, who caught 30 passes for 449 yards. He is also quite a rusher with 9 rushes for 25 yards. He has 6 touchdowns at the halfway mark of the season.
Zach Pugh performs his leadership every week on the field. Last week’s 41-18 win over Winfield placed Pugh in the record books by breaking the schools’ single game passing record. According to the school, “Zach has been a solid performer both on the field and off. He has developed into a team leader with his attitude during games and practices and is determined in making himself better each day.”
The Eagles’ top running back is Ricky Eiting, who has 66 rushes for 426 yards and 8 touchdowns. The Eagles have quite a well-balanced offensive line and can run and pass the ball.
Defensively, Zach Trudo also shows he’s quite the defender as well as a receiver in the offensive line. On defense, Trudo has intercepted two passes, recovered one fumble and made 32 tackles. Sam Kline is another big man on defense with 29 tackles. Richard Wunderlich can throw any offensive player for a loss. Midway through this season, he has 25 tackles, 4 of them were losses of 18 yards.
Their schedule still has some tough teams, including Lutheran-St. Charles, Bowling Green, Wright City and Hermann. The big rivalry lately with Orchard Farm has been against Lutheran-St. Charles. It is a district game and the last game of the season. But this year will be the first time that both teams will play as non-conference rivals.
APOLOGY TO BRANNON CHAMPAGNE –
Two weeks ago, this reporter was a little too hard on St. Charles West quarterback Brannon Champagne. It was written that Brannon was the reason that West lost a football game. This reporter was wrong and made a bad judgment in words. High school football is a team sport and St. Charles West does have a good team that works hard and does their best week after week. All high school football teams try their best. Sometimes the fan comes out of the reporter and either gets a little excited or becomes too quick to judge a player or find a microscopic reason why a team either wins or loses. Brannon is only a sophomore. His performance against Timberland was very good, with 15 rushes for 48 yards. He was also quite good in passing the ball being 4 of 10 for 76 yards. Brannon is adjusting to the game and a sophomore quarterback playing on the varsity level is quite a difficult task. It takes a lot of growing and coach Gary Strauss knows that. Brannon will probably be a great quarterback and each and every game, he does his best that he can do.
Sometimes reporters have to remember that high school sports is the most purest form of sport. The players who play any sport are participating in it during what should be the best time of their lives. Many fans in urban areas, suburbia and small town America, including St. Charles enjoy a good high school game. It becomes to easy and tempting to make comparisons of high school sports to that of their college or professional counterparts. High school sports expresses unity, where student-athletes, student fans, alumni can root for their favorite teams and when the game is over, win or lose, everyone on the team gave it their best.
Tickets on Sale for 19th Annual Budweiser “Guns ‘N Hoses,” Proceeds to Benefit St. Louis Backstoppers; Features Police, Firefighters from Illinois and Missouri
Tickets are on sale for the 19th annual Budweiser “Guns ‘N Hoses” boxing matches between police officers and firefighters on Thanksgiving Eve, November 22, at 7:30 p.m. at Scottrade Center (formerly Savvis Center). Proceeds will go to the St. Louis Backstoppers who assist families of firefighters and police officers who die in the line of duty.
Budweiser “Guns ‘N Hoses” features three-round matches between teams of Missouri and Illinois police officers and firefighters. Boxers are paired by age, weight and ability. Firefighters won last year bouts, 10 matches to 7.
Last year’s event raised more than $198,000 bringing the total since 1987 to $1.6 million for the families of firefighters and police officers who die in the line of duty.
The 2,000-member Backstoppers cover St. Louis City, the Missouri counties of St. Louis, St. Charles, Lincoln, Jefferson, Franklin, St. Francois and Warren and the Illinois counties of Madison, Monroe and St. Clair. In addition, Backstoppers cover members of Troop C of the Missouri Highway Patrol.
Budweiser “Guns ‘N Hoses” tickets are $30, $25 and $20 and are available by calling (314) 444-5832 in St. Louis City, (314) 713-6031 in St. Louis County or (618) 622-1507 in Illinois.
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