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Saturday, May 20, 2006
FIRST CAPITOL NEWS FRONT PAGE - May 20, 2006
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Police Chief Swope reflects and contemplates after first year
Story and photos by Lynndi Lockenour
It was only a year ago that Tim Swope made the transition from St. Charles County Sheriff to St. Charles Police Chief. Now, after a year in his new position he has lots of ideas and says he loves his new job.
In an interview with First Capitol News last March, Swope said that he was surprised by the amount of administrative work his job required. While no longer surprised, Swope said, at times, he is still overwhelmed at the magnitude of administrative issues he deals with everyday.
Instead, a new surprise for Swope is the number of crimes in progresses that are perpetrated in the county on a daily basis. His first day on the job, Swope said, was spent pursuing and arresting bank robbery suspects. “The first day started like that and it hasn’t seemed to slow down since,” he said.
Another issue consuming much of the Chief’s time is complaints received by the City Council. “I dedicate a lot of my time to handling these situations personally. Wherever possible, I always make sure I’m involved in the process somewhere,” Swope said. While the news that results from some of the complaints may not always be positive for everyone involved, Swope said he thinks people appreciate being told what’s going on.
To help with common complaints, like code enforcement, an additional officer was placed into that department and Swope said it has helped tremendously. “Some might consider code violations to be lower level complaints,” he said. “But they are just as important to the people making the complaint and we want to deal with them to the best of our ability.”
Carrying over an ideology of “proactive policing” from his training in the Sheriff’s Department, Swope said no longer can a department survive on just responding to calls as they are reported. Rather, officers must be out on the streets, and either trying to stop the crime before it starts, or catching it in the act. “Waiting for the next one to occur is not acceptable,” he said. We have to be out there, doing the surveillance, and catching them before it happens.
Keeping the officers on the street is very important to Chief Swope. With this in mind, he moved four officers, who were previously sitting behind desks in the office, back onto the street. “While the officers were doing a great job in the office, I just felt it was important to get them back on the streets,” the Chief said, “because that is where we can best serve our community.”
New technology is allowing Chief Swope to keep his officers on the street for longer periods of time. Devices known as mobile data computers will soon be added to the patrol cars, allowing officers to file reports directly from their vehicles, without going back to the police station. Swope said officers had similar capabilities before, but the previous technology was severely outdated. The new computer systems have arrived to the department and Swope said they are now waiting to be installed in the vehicles.
With the warm summer weather quickly around the corner, Chief Swope said the department anticipates an increase in the crime rate. “Warm weather seems to bring crime and calls for service up,” he said, with daytime burglaries and traffic offenses topping the list.
Another consideration in the crime rate is the influx of students at Lindenwood University. As with any other college town Swope said this shift in student population must be considered when looking at the amount of crime throughout different times of the year. “A lot of students spend time in the Main Street area,” Swope said, “As with anything else, adding 14,000 people to the equation is going to increase calls for service.”
Like many other public services, the Police Department is also fighting to keep up with the growth that St. Charles city is incurring. At some point, the Chief said it will be necessary to add police officers to the force. Citing New Town as a perfect example, Swope explained how, while right now there are only a few thousand people living in New Town, but as the area grows, so will the number of people. “We are already seeing an increase in the number of calls for service to the area,” he said. “Eventually it will be necessary to add more police officers.”
In wishing to continue with the same success that his first year has brought to the St. Charles Police Department, Chief Swope hopes to implement the following programs and ideas within the department soon:
‡ Random drug testing for Police Officers- While Chief Swope assures that nothing in particular has spawned this type of testing, he said he feels it is important in reassuring the community that they can trust the officers.
‡ Victim call-backs – “Feedback is important”, says Chief Swope, and in keeping with this theme he has already began his program to call back victims and ask them about the service they received from the Police Department. “It’s important that we ask how our services are being received,” he said. “And then use that information to make the process better in the future.”
‡ Law enforcement accreditation- Each year guidelines are placed forth for the department by the state of Missouri and the department is expected to meet them. So far Swope said the department is great when it comes to policy and procedure aspects of the guidelines, but leaves something to be desired in other area. “This is something I really want us to focus on in the future,” Swope said.
Of the many things Chief Swope said he has emphasized in his first year, dedicating more resources to the drug unit is one thing in which he is most proud. “We could add five more officers and that would only mean five times the number of calls,” he said. “That tells us we have a significant drug problem in this county.”
One project Chief Swope is particularly proud of is the Mobile Reserve Unit (MRU). This unit consists of five men, four officers and one sergeant who perform special tasks and are often called in when surveillance is needed. Just this week, Swope said, the MRU team used their surveillance techniques to catch a group of robbers and Swope credits the MRU with helping add to the drug unit. “They [MRU] have helped make our drug unit, and the entire department, run more efficiently.”
Dressed in regular clothes, the MRU is used in special cases, covering everything from drug busts to traffic details and shoplifting. To date the MRU has seized over $1 million in illegal drugs and hundreds of thousands of dollars in illicit currency. “Those drugs were destine to hits the streets,” Swope said. “But now, because of these officers, they will not.
Just a few weeks ago, the MRU confiscated 10 kilos of the methamphetamine known as ICE. “It doesn’t get much larger than that,” Swope said. “Now that’s 10 kilos going down the drain as opposed to out on the street,” he said.
Swope said one of the most rewarding parts of his job besides helping members of the community is using drug dealer’s money to create good in St. Charles. “It’s almost as though we get the last laugh because we take the money and put it toward something positive.”
Describing his first year as Police Chief, Swope said, “Slowly, but surely, we are getting there. I want to continue with the type of progress we’ve had in the last year. I want the community to know they can trust us.”
Perhaps as equally important is Swope’s message that the Police Department couldn’t do their jobs without the members of the St. Charles community. “We are here to help the community and it is my hope that each officer can come to work with a smile on their face because they know they are helping this great community.”
It was only a year ago that Tim Swope made the transition from St. Charles County Sheriff to St. Charles Police Chief. Now, after a year in his new position he has lots of ideas and says he loves his new job.
In an interview with First Capitol News last March, Swope said that he was surprised by the amount of administrative work his job required. While no longer surprised, Swope said, at times, he is still overwhelmed at the magnitude of administrative issues he deals with everyday.
Instead, a new surprise for Swope is the number of crimes in progresses that are perpetrated in the county on a daily basis. His first day on the job, Swope said, was spent pursuing and arresting bank robbery suspects. “The first day started like that and it hasn’t seemed to slow down since,” he said.
Another issue consuming much of the Chief’s time is complaints received by the City Council. “I dedicate a lot of my time to handling these situations personally. Wherever possible, I always make sure I’m involved in the process somewhere,” Swope said. While the news that results from some of the complaints may not always be positive for everyone involved, Swope said he thinks people appreciate being told what’s going on.
To help with common complaints, like code enforcement, an additional officer was placed into that department and Swope said it has helped tremendously. “Some might consider code violations to be lower level complaints,” he said. “But they are just as important to the people making the complaint and we want to deal with them to the best of our ability.”
Carrying over an ideology of “proactive policing” from his training in the Sheriff’s Department, Swope said no longer can a department survive on just responding to calls as they are reported. Rather, officers must be out on the streets, and either trying to stop the crime before it starts, or catching it in the act. “Waiting for the next one to occur is not acceptable,” he said. We have to be out there, doing the surveillance, and catching them before it happens.
Keeping the officers on the street is very important to Chief Swope. With this in mind, he moved four officers, who were previously sitting behind desks in the office, back onto the street. “While the officers were doing a great job in the office, I just felt it was important to get them back on the streets,” the Chief said, “because that is where we can best serve our community.”
New technology is allowing Chief Swope to keep his officers on the street for longer periods of time. Devices known as mobile data computers will soon be added to the patrol cars, allowing officers to file reports directly from their vehicles, without going back to the police station. Swope said officers had similar capabilities before, but the previous technology was severely outdated. The new computer systems have arrived to the department and Swope said they are now waiting to be installed in the vehicles.
With the warm summer weather quickly around the corner, Chief Swope said the department anticipates an increase in the crime rate. “Warm weather seems to bring crime and calls for service up,” he said, with daytime burglaries and traffic offenses topping the list.
Another consideration in the crime rate is the influx of students at Lindenwood University. As with any other college town Swope said this shift in student population must be considered when looking at the amount of crime throughout different times of the year. “A lot of students spend time in the Main Street area,” Swope said, “As with anything else, adding 14,000 people to the equation is going to increase calls for service.”
Like many other public services, the Police Department is also fighting to keep up with the growth that St. Charles city is incurring. At some point, the Chief said it will be necessary to add police officers to the force. Citing New Town as a perfect example, Swope explained how, while right now there are only a few thousand people living in New Town, but as the area grows, so will the number of people. “We are already seeing an increase in the number of calls for service to the area,” he said. “Eventually it will be necessary to add more police officers.”
In wishing to continue with the same success that his first year has brought to the St. Charles Police Department, Chief Swope hopes to implement the following programs and ideas within the department soon:
‡ Random drug testing for Police Officers- While Chief Swope assures that nothing in particular has spawned this type of testing, he said he feels it is important in reassuring the community that they can trust the officers.
‡ Victim call-backs – “Feedback is important”, says Chief Swope, and in keeping with this theme he has already began his program to call back victims and ask them about the service they received from the Police Department. “It’s important that we ask how our services are being received,” he said. “And then use that information to make the process better in the future.”
‡ Law enforcement accreditation- Each year guidelines are placed forth for the department by the state of Missouri and the department is expected to meet them. So far Swope said the department is great when it comes to policy and procedure aspects of the guidelines, but leaves something to be desired in other area. “This is something I really want us to focus on in the future,” Swope said.
Of the many things Chief Swope said he has emphasized in his first year, dedicating more resources to the drug unit is one thing in which he is most proud. “We could add five more officers and that would only mean five times the number of calls,” he said. “That tells us we have a significant drug problem in this county.”
One project Chief Swope is particularly proud of is the Mobile Reserve Unit (MRU). This unit consists of five men, four officers and one sergeant who perform special tasks and are often called in when surveillance is needed. Just this week, Swope said, the MRU team used their surveillance techniques to catch a group of robbers and Swope credits the MRU with helping add to the drug unit. “They [MRU] have helped make our drug unit, and the entire department, run more efficiently.”
Dressed in regular clothes, the MRU is used in special cases, covering everything from drug busts to traffic details and shoplifting. To date the MRU has seized over $1 million in illegal drugs and hundreds of thousands of dollars in illicit currency. “Those drugs were destine to hits the streets,” Swope said. “But now, because of these officers, they will not.
Just a few weeks ago, the MRU confiscated 10 kilos of the methamphetamine known as ICE. “It doesn’t get much larger than that,” Swope said. “Now that’s 10 kilos going down the drain as opposed to out on the street,” he said.
Swope said one of the most rewarding parts of his job besides helping members of the community is using drug dealer’s money to create good in St. Charles. “It’s almost as though we get the last laugh because we take the money and put it toward something positive.”
Describing his first year as Police Chief, Swope said, “Slowly, but surely, we are getting there. I want to continue with the type of progress we’ve had in the last year. I want the community to know they can trust us.”
Perhaps as equally important is Swope’s message that the Police Department couldn’t do their jobs without the members of the St. Charles community. “We are here to help the community and it is my hope that each officer can come to work with a smile on their face because they know they are helping this great community.”
Prosecutor Expected To File More Charges In Citizen Empowerment Committee Recall Effort
By Phyllis Schaltenbrand
The First Capitol News has learned that St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney Jack Banas is expected to bring more criminal charges of fraud in the petition drive by the Citizens Empowerment Committee, headed by Linda Meyer, in their attempts to recall Councilman Mark Brown and Councilwoman Dottie Greer.
The First Capitol News has been told that Banas does not want to proceed until he has all the evidence against the perpetrators and is then expected to file all the charges against all the perpetrators at one time.
The investigation involving the Citizens Empowerment Committee and fraud in the Dottie Greer recall attempts is complete. The investigation involving the Citizens Empowerment Committee in their efforts to recall Councilman Mark Brown is still being conducted.
The Citizens Empowerment Committee is headed by Linda Meyer, the wife of a St. Charles Police Officer. It is being funded by Glennon Jamboretz and Ken Kielty, and their St. Charles Citizens for Responsible Government. Their Responsible Government committee was started with it’s intended purpose, the recall of St. Charles office holders. St. Charles Citizens for Responsible Government made a large loan to Meyer’s Citizens Empowerment Committee. When Dottie Greer was successful in turning back the recall efforts Kielty and Jamboretz disbanded their committee. The Empowerment Committee is also funded by large donations from developers Mike Sellenschuetter and Tom Hughes and former hospital administrator, Kevin Kast.
For background information please see the First Capitol News archives on our web log at firstcapitolnews.blogspot.com
“Recall Fraud Admitted In Deposition” 1/4/06
“Apparent Election Fraud Uncovered Against Group Seeking Recall of Councilwoman Greer” 10/22/05
Attorney Invokes 5th Amendment 1/14/06
Police take Suspect Into Custody Involving Recall Petitions 1/27/06
Depositions Could Be Fatal – Recall Committee Attempts To Delay 2/17/06
Recall Petitions Criminal Violations, Widespread Forgeries 3/4/06
The First Capitol News has learned that St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney Jack Banas is expected to bring more criminal charges of fraud in the petition drive by the Citizens Empowerment Committee, headed by Linda Meyer, in their attempts to recall Councilman Mark Brown and Councilwoman Dottie Greer.
The First Capitol News has been told that Banas does not want to proceed until he has all the evidence against the perpetrators and is then expected to file all the charges against all the perpetrators at one time.
The investigation involving the Citizens Empowerment Committee and fraud in the Dottie Greer recall attempts is complete. The investigation involving the Citizens Empowerment Committee in their efforts to recall Councilman Mark Brown is still being conducted.
The Citizens Empowerment Committee is headed by Linda Meyer, the wife of a St. Charles Police Officer. It is being funded by Glennon Jamboretz and Ken Kielty, and their St. Charles Citizens for Responsible Government. Their Responsible Government committee was started with it’s intended purpose, the recall of St. Charles office holders. St. Charles Citizens for Responsible Government made a large loan to Meyer’s Citizens Empowerment Committee. When Dottie Greer was successful in turning back the recall efforts Kielty and Jamboretz disbanded their committee. The Empowerment Committee is also funded by large donations from developers Mike Sellenschuetter and Tom Hughes and former hospital administrator, Kevin Kast.
For background information please see the First Capitol News archives on our web log at firstcapitolnews.blogspot.com
“Recall Fraud Admitted In Deposition” 1/4/06
“Apparent Election Fraud Uncovered Against Group Seeking Recall of Councilwoman Greer” 10/22/05
Attorney Invokes 5th Amendment 1/14/06
Police take Suspect Into Custody Involving Recall Petitions 1/27/06
Depositions Could Be Fatal – Recall Committee Attempts To Delay 2/17/06
Recall Petitions Criminal Violations, Widespread Forgeries 3/4/06
Baby Found In Dumpster
Baby Found In Dumpster
Story and photos by Lynndi Lockenour
A newborn baby girl was discovered in a dumpster behind a restaurant, located in the 1100th block of Duchesne Drive Thursday morning around 10 a.m. St. Charles City Police Chief, Tim Swope said the department was contacted by a nurse from a local hospital where the baby’s mother was being treated post-nattily. He said the nurse expressed concern that there might be a miscarried fetus located in the dumpster. However, when officers and paramedics arrived to the scene, they found the baby still alive.
Paramedic Todd Ferring jumped into the dumpster to retrieve the newborn. Aside from the infant’s extremities being a bit blue, he said the child was responsive and seemed fine considering the circumstances. “When we got there I definitely didn’t expect to see a baby with ten fingers and toes,” he said.
Ferring estimates the baby was approximately 30 weeks gestation, meaning it was delivered between six and 10 weeks early. The infant, who is thought to have been born early Thursday morning, was found still attached to its umbilical cord and placenta. Paramedics cut the umbilical cord and transferred the baby to the ambulance where, after minor stimulation, she began to cry and moan. “Her heart rate was strong and she was breathing on her own,” Ferring said. The baby was then taken to Cardinal-Glennon Hospital, where she remains.
Ferring’s paramedic partner, Matt Schafer, has children of his own and said he couldn’t believe his eyes when Ferring handed him the baby. “I remember thinking ‘Oh my God, she’s alive,’” he said. “Immediately I began falling back on all my training to care for the child.”
Sometime after police and paramedics found the baby, members of the infant’s mother’s family arrived to the scene. Chief Swope said some of the relatives seem to already know about the ‘miscarriage’ and hinted that the birth might have taken place at a nearby residence. As of now, no arrests have been made.
Both paramedics say this was the youngest child they’d cared for. Schafer himself lost a child to unforeseen birth defects when it was only one day old. He currently has two other children at home, one four and the other two years of age. “This is what we do,” he said. “I just feel good that we were able to keep her alive.”
Paramedic Ferring was less optimistic about the rescue. “It makes me angry really,” he said. “I can’t believe a mother would leave her child like that.”
As of now the child’s mother is not in police custody, but remains at a local hospital where she is undergoing post-natal treatment. Chief Swope said officers are investigating the situation as a homicide, but no arrests have been made yet. “If prosecuted for homicide, there could be serious consequences for the mother,” he said. “The simple act alone of abandoning a baby in a dumpster is questionable.” The name of the baby’s mother was not released by press-time.
The child will now be turned over to Division Family Services as further investigations continue.
Story and photos by Lynndi Lockenour
A newborn baby girl was discovered in a dumpster behind a restaurant, located in the 1100th block of Duchesne Drive Thursday morning around 10 a.m. St. Charles City Police Chief, Tim Swope said the department was contacted by a nurse from a local hospital where the baby’s mother was being treated post-nattily. He said the nurse expressed concern that there might be a miscarried fetus located in the dumpster. However, when officers and paramedics arrived to the scene, they found the baby still alive.
Paramedic Todd Ferring jumped into the dumpster to retrieve the newborn. Aside from the infant’s extremities being a bit blue, he said the child was responsive and seemed fine considering the circumstances. “When we got there I definitely didn’t expect to see a baby with ten fingers and toes,” he said.
Ferring estimates the baby was approximately 30 weeks gestation, meaning it was delivered between six and 10 weeks early. The infant, who is thought to have been born early Thursday morning, was found still attached to its umbilical cord and placenta. Paramedics cut the umbilical cord and transferred the baby to the ambulance where, after minor stimulation, she began to cry and moan. “Her heart rate was strong and she was breathing on her own,” Ferring said. The baby was then taken to Cardinal-Glennon Hospital, where she remains.
Ferring’s paramedic partner, Matt Schafer, has children of his own and said he couldn’t believe his eyes when Ferring handed him the baby. “I remember thinking ‘Oh my God, she’s alive,’” he said. “Immediately I began falling back on all my training to care for the child.”
Sometime after police and paramedics found the baby, members of the infant’s mother’s family arrived to the scene. Chief Swope said some of the relatives seem to already know about the ‘miscarriage’ and hinted that the birth might have taken place at a nearby residence. As of now, no arrests have been made.
Both paramedics say this was the youngest child they’d cared for. Schafer himself lost a child to unforeseen birth defects when it was only one day old. He currently has two other children at home, one four and the other two years of age. “This is what we do,” he said. “I just feel good that we were able to keep her alive.”
Paramedic Ferring was less optimistic about the rescue. “It makes me angry really,” he said. “I can’t believe a mother would leave her child like that.”
As of now the child’s mother is not in police custody, but remains at a local hospital where she is undergoing post-natal treatment. Chief Swope said officers are investigating the situation as a homicide, but no arrests have been made yet. “If prosecuted for homicide, there could be serious consequences for the mother,” he said. “The simple act alone of abandoning a baby in a dumpster is questionable.” The name of the baby’s mother was not released by press-time.
The child will now be turned over to Division Family Services as further investigations continue.
Residents Address Council On Proposed Opening of Buckskin Path to Principia
By Phyllis Schaltenbrand
An attempt by Councilman Bob Hoepfner to extend Buckskin Path from Hunters Ridge to Principia has met with mixed reviews from those in the neighborhood.
Hoepfner was absent from the City Council Meeting Tuesday evening when several residents from Runny Meade, Briar Cliff and Beacon Hill subdivisions spoke for and against the opening of the cut through.
Steve Thro, who resides on Principia, told the Council that in 1993 the builder of the Beacon Hills subdivision told him he was not going to build the cut through and the City was not requiring him to build it and had required no escrow funds. He also said in 1995 the Council voted not to connect the streets.
Some of the residents said Councilman Hoepfner told them he was going to have the streets connected as a public safety factor because of problems that may occur when Elm Street is being reconstructed. Bob Boerding, the St. Charles assistant chief of police, told the Council that there was no safety factor involved regarding response from the police department and he had talked to assistant fire chief Rich Olney who told him that the construction on Elm would have little or no impact on reducing response time by the fire department. He also said that based on his experience there would be an increase in crime and public safety issues if the cut through was opened..
Tom Pohlman who resides on Principia said that children would be in danger if the street was opened.
In 2002 attempts were made to open the street and according to the residents Hoepfner told them that he would not open the street as long as he was on the City Council.
Dan Keltch of Principia said that the streets were too narrow, 26 feet, and the City had taken no action on the problem of street creep that he though would worsen if more traffic uses the street.
When Dan Foust was the Councilman representing the area the right of way for the street was vacated and the property was given to the three adjacent property owners. If the City Council votes to open the cut through that property will have to be condemned under eminent domain if the property owners refuse to give the City a right of way.
Allen Gingerich who resides on Bryn Maur thought opening the street is the right thing to do and is in full agreement with Hoepfner that the opening is needed. June Latrel of Cole in Briar Cliff, a resident for over 30 years spoke against connecting the streets.
The cost estimate to connect the streets two years ago was $100,000.
An attempt by Councilman Bob Hoepfner to extend Buckskin Path from Hunters Ridge to Principia has met with mixed reviews from those in the neighborhood.
Hoepfner was absent from the City Council Meeting Tuesday evening when several residents from Runny Meade, Briar Cliff and Beacon Hill subdivisions spoke for and against the opening of the cut through.
Steve Thro, who resides on Principia, told the Council that in 1993 the builder of the Beacon Hills subdivision told him he was not going to build the cut through and the City was not requiring him to build it and had required no escrow funds. He also said in 1995 the Council voted not to connect the streets.
Some of the residents said Councilman Hoepfner told them he was going to have the streets connected as a public safety factor because of problems that may occur when Elm Street is being reconstructed. Bob Boerding, the St. Charles assistant chief of police, told the Council that there was no safety factor involved regarding response from the police department and he had talked to assistant fire chief Rich Olney who told him that the construction on Elm would have little or no impact on reducing response time by the fire department. He also said that based on his experience there would be an increase in crime and public safety issues if the cut through was opened..
Tom Pohlman who resides on Principia said that children would be in danger if the street was opened.
In 2002 attempts were made to open the street and according to the residents Hoepfner told them that he would not open the street as long as he was on the City Council.
Dan Keltch of Principia said that the streets were too narrow, 26 feet, and the City had taken no action on the problem of street creep that he though would worsen if more traffic uses the street.
When Dan Foust was the Councilman representing the area the right of way for the street was vacated and the property was given to the three adjacent property owners. If the City Council votes to open the cut through that property will have to be condemned under eminent domain if the property owners refuse to give the City a right of way.
Allen Gingerich who resides on Bryn Maur thought opening the street is the right thing to do and is in full agreement with Hoepfner that the opening is needed. June Latrel of Cole in Briar Cliff, a resident for over 30 years spoke against connecting the streets.
The cost estimate to connect the streets two years ago was $100,000.
Police Quell Brawl Involving Over 50 People On South Main
Police Quell Brawl Involving Over 50 People On South Main
By Tony Brockmeyer
At approximately 1:50 AM on Saturday morning St. Charles Police were called to 338 South Main Street for a fight in progress. Prior to their arrival they were notified that the fight had spilled over into the alley and City parking lot in back of that address and many individuals were involved. Officers arrived to find a large group of people fighting. Assistance was needed to bring the unruly crowd under control.
According to neighbors, who called the police, a large group of young people had gathered at the home of the Mayor’s daughter for a party. The Mayor and her husband own the building at 338/340 South Main Street. They had operated it as a bed and breakfast but have converted the building to retail space and an apartment for their daughter. The neighbors said that it took about a dozen police officers and police dogs to bring the fight to a halt. The neighbors said it appeared baseball bats were being used by some of the participants in the fight.
St. Charles police report that three male subjects were taken into custody and another, a female subject, was issued a summons. The charges range from interfering with a police officer to resisting arrest to being involved in a fray. The police told the First Capitol News those involved in the brawl ranged in age from 20 to 25. Police reported that they had to enter the residence to remove and arrest one of the instigators of the brawl.
According to a police spokesperson a taser was used on one of the male subjects who refused to cooperate. Prongs were not shot into the individual. The taser was held against his body and according to the spokesperson the electric shock he received would feel like a punch to his body. He was taken to the ground, handcuffed and removed from the scene.
Editor’s note… This is also the address that Glennon Jamboretz, confidant to the Mayor and active in recall efforts of Councilwoman Dottie Greer and Councilman Mark Brown, listed as his business address for a St. Charles City business license. This was the address he was using when the First Capitol News uncovered taxpayer money being authorized by the Mayor and directed to fictitious named companies with the money eventually going to Jamboretz. Jamboretz and Ken Kielty then loaned funds to the Citizens Empowerment Committee that used them for the recall efforts against Brown and Greer. See First Capitol News archives on the web at, firstcapitolnews.blogspot.com, Mayor Caught – Taxpayers Out $15,475, October 22, 2005.
By Tony Brockmeyer
At approximately 1:50 AM on Saturday morning St. Charles Police were called to 338 South Main Street for a fight in progress. Prior to their arrival they were notified that the fight had spilled over into the alley and City parking lot in back of that address and many individuals were involved. Officers arrived to find a large group of people fighting. Assistance was needed to bring the unruly crowd under control.
According to neighbors, who called the police, a large group of young people had gathered at the home of the Mayor’s daughter for a party. The Mayor and her husband own the building at 338/340 South Main Street. They had operated it as a bed and breakfast but have converted the building to retail space and an apartment for their daughter. The neighbors said that it took about a dozen police officers and police dogs to bring the fight to a halt. The neighbors said it appeared baseball bats were being used by some of the participants in the fight.
St. Charles police report that three male subjects were taken into custody and another, a female subject, was issued a summons. The charges range from interfering with a police officer to resisting arrest to being involved in a fray. The police told the First Capitol News those involved in the brawl ranged in age from 20 to 25. Police reported that they had to enter the residence to remove and arrest one of the instigators of the brawl.
According to a police spokesperson a taser was used on one of the male subjects who refused to cooperate. Prongs were not shot into the individual. The taser was held against his body and according to the spokesperson the electric shock he received would feel like a punch to his body. He was taken to the ground, handcuffed and removed from the scene.
Editor’s note… This is also the address that Glennon Jamboretz, confidant to the Mayor and active in recall efforts of Councilwoman Dottie Greer and Councilman Mark Brown, listed as his business address for a St. Charles City business license. This was the address he was using when the First Capitol News uncovered taxpayer money being authorized by the Mayor and directed to fictitious named companies with the money eventually going to Jamboretz. Jamboretz and Ken Kielty then loaned funds to the Citizens Empowerment Committee that used them for the recall efforts against Brown and Greer. See First Capitol News archives on the web at, firstcapitolnews.blogspot.com, Mayor Caught – Taxpayers Out $15,475, October 22, 2005.
RAMBLING WITH THE EDITOR - Tony Brockmeyer
Those who don’t agree with our style and content have occasionally maligned the First Capitol News. Those who voice their distaste the loudest generally have something to hide.
A few weeks ago Councilman Mike Weller made some statements at a City Council meeting that made us pause for reflection.
From his first days on the St. Charles City Council Weller has been a negative force in this City. His campaign manager helped set the tone with scathing reviews of the swearing in ceremony. Some on the council followed the law and had the City Clerk or a Circuit Judge swear them in. Weller had Mayor York swear him in.
That was the start of Weller’s reign of terror and abuse. It was obvious from the beginning Weller was going to give others a hard time. Weller ran on a platform that he would be the leader of the Council and create a boardroom atmosphere. Evidently Weller thought he could get elected and say whatever he wanted and people wouldn’t remember. Well it is the job of the First Capitol News to report his actions and words.
Just this past month Weller told the Council members at a Council meeting that those who know him, know he wants all the facts before he votes on anything. Was that why he voted not to subpoena witnesses that could have testified about the Mayor’s signing of a contract with Express Scripts and would have brought forward all the facts?* An action by the Mayor that is against the Charter and City ordinances and done without Council approval? A contract by the way that the City has received a $200,000 demand on?* Weller voted against allowing the City to find the truth behind the fraud ridden re-call efforts and provide funds for the attorney?
Weller’s role in the recall attempt against Councilwoman Dottie Greer was very active and suspicious. Maybe that is why he wanted the police investigation into fraud stopped. Weller actively campaigned against Greer and on Election Day worked the polls in an attempt to remove her from office. We have confirmed that a fellow Councilman confronted Weller and they had words.
Councilman John Gieseke approached Weller and told him he thought he was slime and that Weller was bought and paid for. Keep in mind Weller earlier asked if someone had something to say to him, come and say it. I guess Gieseke really hit a nerve so Weller immediately went to the police and tried to create a voter scandal involving Councilman Gieseke. He complained Gieseke voted illegally during the recent elections. Gieseke still owns his house on Indian Hills and he voted using that address. He was still registered to vote from that address. Weller apparently wanting to do whatever he could to embarrass Gieseke, filed a complaint with the police. This was surprising since at earlier meetings Weller had ranted and raved against Council President Rory Riddler filing a complaint regarding voter fraud against those conducting the petition drive to recall Dottie Greer. At a recent Council meeting Weller made accusations against the Police Chief and police department regarding the investigation they conducted in the recall fraud petition drive. He was yelling at the Chief for sending out a letter to people who had signed the petitions asking if they had really signed them. He demanded to know if the City Administrator had approved the letter before it went out.
At the request of St. Charles Police Chief Tim Swope, the St. Charles County Sheriff’s department conducted an investigation regarding Weller’s complaint against Councilman Gieseke. Rich Chrismer, County Director of Elections, who Weller praised for his professionalism in the handling of the re-call signatures, told the Sheriff this was not a violation. In fact he told the Sheriffs office you can own multiple pieces of property in the County as long as you vote from just one, it could be from any of them. Chrismer’s opinion can be found on the web blog. Certainly Weller wouldn’t now say Chrismer’s opinions and professionalism are in question because he did his job and spoke the truth. By the way Mike, you might want to check out “Home is where the heart is”, case decision and others like it across the country. In the USA the government has made it clear the person voting decides where home is, not Big Brother.
Weller also told the people of the City if there was fraud found in the re-calls he wouldn’t support the re-calls. I guess that was just more words without meaning. He has a lot of those flowing from his mouth. Maybe we should ask the Corp of Engineers to put in a dam so the residents of St. Charles can be protected from the floodwaters of distortion and misstatements. After all Weller told the people of the City the quotes we attribute to him are lies, lies, lies, when in fact what we do is take his statements from the Council meetings and print them. So if there are lies being told they aren’t coming from us they are coming from the person we are quoting.
The FCN asked Councilman Gieseke for any comments regarding the complaint Weller filed against Gieseke. Gieseke told the FCN, “It is very difficult to understand why someone would work so hard using politics of personal destruction. I have one job as a Councilman and that is to try to work for the betterment of my ward and the City. It is obvious that some would rather continue the backbiting and infighting instead of working together. Politics is something some people are not well suited for, you win some and lose some. The key is to move forward and not dwell on the past.”
Mike Weller told the people of Ward 5 he would bring professionalism to the Council. He has failed miserably on that promise and the voters in his ward need to remember that when he comes up for reelection in April of 2007.
* See the First Capitol News archives on our web log,
firstcapitolnews.blogspot.com
Illegal Contract 2/5/05, Mayor attempts to mislead residents 4/19/06, Council Votes Investigation of Mayor 2/26/05, Express Scripts Demands $200,000 from City 5/13/06, Unauthorized signing of contract by Mayor could lead to her Impeachment 3/19/05
HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY
OUR NEXT EDITION JUNE 3, 2006
A few weeks ago Councilman Mike Weller made some statements at a City Council meeting that made us pause for reflection.
From his first days on the St. Charles City Council Weller has been a negative force in this City. His campaign manager helped set the tone with scathing reviews of the swearing in ceremony. Some on the council followed the law and had the City Clerk or a Circuit Judge swear them in. Weller had Mayor York swear him in.
That was the start of Weller’s reign of terror and abuse. It was obvious from the beginning Weller was going to give others a hard time. Weller ran on a platform that he would be the leader of the Council and create a boardroom atmosphere. Evidently Weller thought he could get elected and say whatever he wanted and people wouldn’t remember. Well it is the job of the First Capitol News to report his actions and words.
Just this past month Weller told the Council members at a Council meeting that those who know him, know he wants all the facts before he votes on anything. Was that why he voted not to subpoena witnesses that could have testified about the Mayor’s signing of a contract with Express Scripts and would have brought forward all the facts?* An action by the Mayor that is against the Charter and City ordinances and done without Council approval? A contract by the way that the City has received a $200,000 demand on?* Weller voted against allowing the City to find the truth behind the fraud ridden re-call efforts and provide funds for the attorney?
Weller’s role in the recall attempt against Councilwoman Dottie Greer was very active and suspicious. Maybe that is why he wanted the police investigation into fraud stopped. Weller actively campaigned against Greer and on Election Day worked the polls in an attempt to remove her from office. We have confirmed that a fellow Councilman confronted Weller and they had words.
Councilman John Gieseke approached Weller and told him he thought he was slime and that Weller was bought and paid for. Keep in mind Weller earlier asked if someone had something to say to him, come and say it. I guess Gieseke really hit a nerve so Weller immediately went to the police and tried to create a voter scandal involving Councilman Gieseke. He complained Gieseke voted illegally during the recent elections. Gieseke still owns his house on Indian Hills and he voted using that address. He was still registered to vote from that address. Weller apparently wanting to do whatever he could to embarrass Gieseke, filed a complaint with the police. This was surprising since at earlier meetings Weller had ranted and raved against Council President Rory Riddler filing a complaint regarding voter fraud against those conducting the petition drive to recall Dottie Greer. At a recent Council meeting Weller made accusations against the Police Chief and police department regarding the investigation they conducted in the recall fraud petition drive. He was yelling at the Chief for sending out a letter to people who had signed the petitions asking if they had really signed them. He demanded to know if the City Administrator had approved the letter before it went out.
At the request of St. Charles Police Chief Tim Swope, the St. Charles County Sheriff’s department conducted an investigation regarding Weller’s complaint against Councilman Gieseke. Rich Chrismer, County Director of Elections, who Weller praised for his professionalism in the handling of the re-call signatures, told the Sheriff this was not a violation. In fact he told the Sheriffs office you can own multiple pieces of property in the County as long as you vote from just one, it could be from any of them. Chrismer’s opinion can be found on the web blog. Certainly Weller wouldn’t now say Chrismer’s opinions and professionalism are in question because he did his job and spoke the truth. By the way Mike, you might want to check out “Home is where the heart is”, case decision and others like it across the country. In the USA the government has made it clear the person voting decides where home is, not Big Brother.
Weller also told the people of the City if there was fraud found in the re-calls he wouldn’t support the re-calls. I guess that was just more words without meaning. He has a lot of those flowing from his mouth. Maybe we should ask the Corp of Engineers to put in a dam so the residents of St. Charles can be protected from the floodwaters of distortion and misstatements. After all Weller told the people of the City the quotes we attribute to him are lies, lies, lies, when in fact what we do is take his statements from the Council meetings and print them. So if there are lies being told they aren’t coming from us they are coming from the person we are quoting.
The FCN asked Councilman Gieseke for any comments regarding the complaint Weller filed against Gieseke. Gieseke told the FCN, “It is very difficult to understand why someone would work so hard using politics of personal destruction. I have one job as a Councilman and that is to try to work for the betterment of my ward and the City. It is obvious that some would rather continue the backbiting and infighting instead of working together. Politics is something some people are not well suited for, you win some and lose some. The key is to move forward and not dwell on the past.”
Mike Weller told the people of Ward 5 he would bring professionalism to the Council. He has failed miserably on that promise and the voters in his ward need to remember that when he comes up for reelection in April of 2007.
* See the First Capitol News archives on our web log,
firstcapitolnews.blogspot.com
Illegal Contract 2/5/05, Mayor attempts to mislead residents 4/19/06, Council Votes Investigation of Mayor 2/26/05, Express Scripts Demands $200,000 from City 5/13/06, Unauthorized signing of contract by Mayor could lead to her Impeachment 3/19/05
HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY
OUR NEXT EDITION JUNE 3, 2006
THE CITY DESK - Rory Riddler, Councilman Ward 1
Good Intentions Don’t Make Up
For Bad Decision To Close Schools
I don’t envy members of the St. Charles City School District Board of Education. They made some tough decisions recently to close two wonderful grade schools that have meant a lot to this community for generations. I believe in their hearts they felt they were doing the right thing, but that doesn’t mean they made the right decision.
Closing Benton and Blackhurst was shortsighted and discriminatory.
Good neighborhood schools are an important factor in where people want to live. Busing children out of their neighborhood to go to an elementary school makes the neighborhood less attractive to younger families. Therefore, the less families that might consider buying in an area, the smaller the resale market for homes in that neighborhood. That decreases property values as homes sit on the market longer and homeowners are forced to lower their sales price.
Other than assistance from the State, our School Districts are totally dependent on property taxes. As property values rise, the schools benefit. But when property values decline, as they are in St. Louis County, the schools are hurt.
The City of St. Charles and the St. Charles School District should share the common goal of wanting stable neighborhoods with increasing property values. That larger goal was somehow lost in the press of trying to cut costs for the short term. In the long run, closing both of these elementary schools hurts the economic stability of the district.
The problem is compounded by Benton and Blackhurst serving adjoining areas. Following on the now decades old closing of McKinley School, the entire Northeast quadrant of our City is without a local public grade school. Now it is not an insignificant fact that this is also the most blue collar working class quadrant of our community. Which brings me to my claim that the closing of these schools was discriminatory.
That is not to say that there was any overt intention on the part of board members to discriminate, but simply to bring to their attention that the end result was discriminatory against people based on income. Some board members cited standardized test scores as the reason they chose to close Benton and Blackhurst over other elementary schools.
Neither of these schools is poorly maintained. Therefore what building you are in doesn’t affect test scores. Were lower test scores the fault of the teachers? I don’t think so. There are wonderful and talented teachers serving these two school populations. Besides, wouldn’t it be easier to move a few teachers than close buildings and move hundreds of students?
So what is the single biggest factor that impacts test scores? The answer is economics. There are more factors working against kids from households with more limited incomes. There is often more stress at home. In the case of Benton School, I’ve been told by a former employee that one-half of the student population received subsidized lunches.
So to say the decision to close Benton and Blackhurst was based on “test scores” is terribly disingenuous to these students. Nobody ever told then in advance, “Hey kids, if you don’t do better on your standardized tests this year we’re going to close your school.” There wasn’t exactly a level playing field going into such testing either. The school district for years was busing children from the major apartment complexes near I-70 past Lincoln School to Benton.
If you say the school closings were based on test scores, then you are in fact saying students from low-income families were discriminated against in the process.
I also have a hard time grasping how closing schools saves much money unless you significantly increase class sizes and lay off teachers. The classrooms at Benton and Blackhurst are not sitting there half-empty. They have the same number of students as other classrooms at other elementary schools in the district. Lincoln and Benton are smaller student bodies overall, just because the number of individual classrooms is less…not because classrooms aren’t utilized to their fullest.
So what do you save by closing schools? You save a principal’s salary, a librarian, perhaps an extra janitor and lunchroom worker. Eighty percent of the salaries are still the individual classroom teachers. Benton and Blackhurst were paid off years ago and recently renovated. There are utility cost savings, but again, only if you increase class sizes at other schools. There aren’t just empty classrooms at these other schools to move the students into.
In their defense, the School District is faced with a Governor and State Legislature that have failed to fully fund the School Foundation Formula and have perpetuated an unfair system of distributing vital State resources to our schools. How unfair is it? Well for over ten years the resources of nine casinos have been pouring into the State to support public education…literally hundreds of millions of dollars.
Our school district has received none of that additional money from the State because we are in a special category. I’ve asked the question, what if the district weren’t a so-called “hold harmless” school district under the State’s funding formula. I have been given the incredible answer that in that case we would have received even less! Less than nothing from riverboat gaming isn’t exactly what voters were promised when they approved gaming in Missouri.
The district does, however, receive property tax from the land-based development of the casino property. I’m told that amounts to over $600,000 per year. Which is a potential bright spot in the future fortunes of the district. The casino currently has under construction a $240,000,000 25-story hotel and garage complex.
Local school property taxes on these additions should exceed what the district currently receives on the facilities in place now. The hotel is scheduled to open in 2007, so the district would receive the full benefit late in 2008. An extra $700,000 or so could go a long way towards keeping schools open.
So would a change in attitude on the part of our elected leaders in Jefferson City.
The issue of school closings and the future of Benton and Blackhurst may not be cast in concrete as yet. Voters will have an opportunity in April of 2007 to register their feelings in the school board elections. Candidates will have the chance to debate and discuss these decisions and their impact on the community.
We need creative ways to serve the needs of all students, regardless of the economic circumstances of their families. We need to provide neighborhood schools convenient to all sections of the community. We need to promote stable neighborhoods and increasing property values. We need to demand results from our State leaders and the financial resources from gaming revenues our kids were promised. Rather than pitting half of the school district against the other in a giant game of “rob your neighbor”, we need consensus on a long-term approach that makes us feel good about the future of St. Charles City School District and proud of our past.
For Bad Decision To Close Schools
I don’t envy members of the St. Charles City School District Board of Education. They made some tough decisions recently to close two wonderful grade schools that have meant a lot to this community for generations. I believe in their hearts they felt they were doing the right thing, but that doesn’t mean they made the right decision.
Closing Benton and Blackhurst was shortsighted and discriminatory.
Good neighborhood schools are an important factor in where people want to live. Busing children out of their neighborhood to go to an elementary school makes the neighborhood less attractive to younger families. Therefore, the less families that might consider buying in an area, the smaller the resale market for homes in that neighborhood. That decreases property values as homes sit on the market longer and homeowners are forced to lower their sales price.
Other than assistance from the State, our School Districts are totally dependent on property taxes. As property values rise, the schools benefit. But when property values decline, as they are in St. Louis County, the schools are hurt.
The City of St. Charles and the St. Charles School District should share the common goal of wanting stable neighborhoods with increasing property values. That larger goal was somehow lost in the press of trying to cut costs for the short term. In the long run, closing both of these elementary schools hurts the economic stability of the district.
The problem is compounded by Benton and Blackhurst serving adjoining areas. Following on the now decades old closing of McKinley School, the entire Northeast quadrant of our City is without a local public grade school. Now it is not an insignificant fact that this is also the most blue collar working class quadrant of our community. Which brings me to my claim that the closing of these schools was discriminatory.
That is not to say that there was any overt intention on the part of board members to discriminate, but simply to bring to their attention that the end result was discriminatory against people based on income. Some board members cited standardized test scores as the reason they chose to close Benton and Blackhurst over other elementary schools.
Neither of these schools is poorly maintained. Therefore what building you are in doesn’t affect test scores. Were lower test scores the fault of the teachers? I don’t think so. There are wonderful and talented teachers serving these two school populations. Besides, wouldn’t it be easier to move a few teachers than close buildings and move hundreds of students?
So what is the single biggest factor that impacts test scores? The answer is economics. There are more factors working against kids from households with more limited incomes. There is often more stress at home. In the case of Benton School, I’ve been told by a former employee that one-half of the student population received subsidized lunches.
So to say the decision to close Benton and Blackhurst was based on “test scores” is terribly disingenuous to these students. Nobody ever told then in advance, “Hey kids, if you don’t do better on your standardized tests this year we’re going to close your school.” There wasn’t exactly a level playing field going into such testing either. The school district for years was busing children from the major apartment complexes near I-70 past Lincoln School to Benton.
If you say the school closings were based on test scores, then you are in fact saying students from low-income families were discriminated against in the process.
I also have a hard time grasping how closing schools saves much money unless you significantly increase class sizes and lay off teachers. The classrooms at Benton and Blackhurst are not sitting there half-empty. They have the same number of students as other classrooms at other elementary schools in the district. Lincoln and Benton are smaller student bodies overall, just because the number of individual classrooms is less…not because classrooms aren’t utilized to their fullest.
So what do you save by closing schools? You save a principal’s salary, a librarian, perhaps an extra janitor and lunchroom worker. Eighty percent of the salaries are still the individual classroom teachers. Benton and Blackhurst were paid off years ago and recently renovated. There are utility cost savings, but again, only if you increase class sizes at other schools. There aren’t just empty classrooms at these other schools to move the students into.
In their defense, the School District is faced with a Governor and State Legislature that have failed to fully fund the School Foundation Formula and have perpetuated an unfair system of distributing vital State resources to our schools. How unfair is it? Well for over ten years the resources of nine casinos have been pouring into the State to support public education…literally hundreds of millions of dollars.
Our school district has received none of that additional money from the State because we are in a special category. I’ve asked the question, what if the district weren’t a so-called “hold harmless” school district under the State’s funding formula. I have been given the incredible answer that in that case we would have received even less! Less than nothing from riverboat gaming isn’t exactly what voters were promised when they approved gaming in Missouri.
The district does, however, receive property tax from the land-based development of the casino property. I’m told that amounts to over $600,000 per year. Which is a potential bright spot in the future fortunes of the district. The casino currently has under construction a $240,000,000 25-story hotel and garage complex.
Local school property taxes on these additions should exceed what the district currently receives on the facilities in place now. The hotel is scheduled to open in 2007, so the district would receive the full benefit late in 2008. An extra $700,000 or so could go a long way towards keeping schools open.
So would a change in attitude on the part of our elected leaders in Jefferson City.
The issue of school closings and the future of Benton and Blackhurst may not be cast in concrete as yet. Voters will have an opportunity in April of 2007 to register their feelings in the school board elections. Candidates will have the chance to debate and discuss these decisions and their impact on the community.
We need creative ways to serve the needs of all students, regardless of the economic circumstances of their families. We need to provide neighborhood schools convenient to all sections of the community. We need to promote stable neighborhoods and increasing property values. We need to demand results from our State leaders and the financial resources from gaming revenues our kids were promised. Rather than pitting half of the school district against the other in a giant game of “rob your neighbor”, we need consensus on a long-term approach that makes us feel good about the future of St. Charles City School District and proud of our past.
CASE IN POINT By Joe Koester, Councilman Ward 9
Men of integrity, by their very existence, rekindle the belief that as a people we can live above the level of moral squalor. We need that belief; a cynical community is a corrupt community.
John W. Gardner
A Culture of Corruption:
Scooter Libby helped secure no-bid contracts for Halliburton; Duke Cunningham resigned from Congress after admitting taking bribes for legislation to the tune of $2.4M; Rush Limbaugh after spouting for so many years about drug abusers is himself is convicted for prescription drug abuse; Tom Delay resigns from Congress for money laundering; Karl Rove along with Dick Cheney himself is accused of leaking the identity of a CIA agent who didn’t tow the Party line on Iraq; the list goes on and on…. Jack Abramoff, Ralph Reed, and President G.W. Bush too are all linked to unethical and illegal activities. In ten years the GOP has tainted the political system up and down the spectrum far beyond anything ever seen in fifty years of Democratic leadership.
The Party isn’t new to corruption – in our times, Nixon comes to mind, however, more officials in the Reagan administration (138) were convicted or indicted of crime than any other administration.
In keeping with GOP dogma, this fount of corruption has trickled down to the relatively little guys of state government. Saint Charles County can boast at least three guys in Jefferson City who believe that state government is there to help feather their own nests: Gross, Dempsey, and Bearden.
Each lawmaker has fought for legislation that applies only to our city; Gross with regards to casinos; Dempsey with regards to developers; and Bearden has decided that ethics is for the birds by pushing legislation that would benefit one of his employers – Lindenwood University. Carl Bearden, while drawing a salary as chief fundraiser for Lindenwood University, has attempted to redirect public tax dollars for scholarships to be used at L.U.
Sadly, these powerful, local politicians have spent their days in our state capitol fighting hard….. for interests that do nothing for their constituents and much for their own prestige and influence.
They would have a developer, and university benefit on the taxpayer’s dime while our school funding foundation is left under funded and convoluted. Locally, Saint Charles School District has slated schools for closure and our local emperors fiddle while Rome burns. When I hear that Saint Charles Schools receive the same amount of money as they did ten years ago – I think our state lawmakers have lost their priorities.
Why does an older school district with a relatively old infrastructure receive hundreds of dollars less per pupil per year than Fort Zumwalt and Francis Howell Districts? Where is the emergency law to help save our schools? We know from the recent past that only a few hours are needed to push through legislation to benefit large donors! Our public schools cannot pay the price for such privileged, special laws.
In November we need to put at least one house in Jefferson City and one house in Congress into the hands of the opposition Party so that checks and balances can begin to work again. Right now one Party has become drunk on power and these guys feel that they answer to no one. Until we expunge the overwhelming influence of money from government and hold Republicans accountable for their lack of leadership, we citizens can expect to play second fiddle to the interests of those who can buy the laws they want.
“House for Sale” … and if the price is right, we’ll throw the Senate in too!
John W. Gardner
A Culture of Corruption:
Scooter Libby helped secure no-bid contracts for Halliburton; Duke Cunningham resigned from Congress after admitting taking bribes for legislation to the tune of $2.4M; Rush Limbaugh after spouting for so many years about drug abusers is himself is convicted for prescription drug abuse; Tom Delay resigns from Congress for money laundering; Karl Rove along with Dick Cheney himself is accused of leaking the identity of a CIA agent who didn’t tow the Party line on Iraq; the list goes on and on…. Jack Abramoff, Ralph Reed, and President G.W. Bush too are all linked to unethical and illegal activities. In ten years the GOP has tainted the political system up and down the spectrum far beyond anything ever seen in fifty years of Democratic leadership.
The Party isn’t new to corruption – in our times, Nixon comes to mind, however, more officials in the Reagan administration (138) were convicted or indicted of crime than any other administration.
In keeping with GOP dogma, this fount of corruption has trickled down to the relatively little guys of state government. Saint Charles County can boast at least three guys in Jefferson City who believe that state government is there to help feather their own nests: Gross, Dempsey, and Bearden.
Each lawmaker has fought for legislation that applies only to our city; Gross with regards to casinos; Dempsey with regards to developers; and Bearden has decided that ethics is for the birds by pushing legislation that would benefit one of his employers – Lindenwood University. Carl Bearden, while drawing a salary as chief fundraiser for Lindenwood University, has attempted to redirect public tax dollars for scholarships to be used at L.U.
Sadly, these powerful, local politicians have spent their days in our state capitol fighting hard….. for interests that do nothing for their constituents and much for their own prestige and influence.
They would have a developer, and university benefit on the taxpayer’s dime while our school funding foundation is left under funded and convoluted. Locally, Saint Charles School District has slated schools for closure and our local emperors fiddle while Rome burns. When I hear that Saint Charles Schools receive the same amount of money as they did ten years ago – I think our state lawmakers have lost their priorities.
Why does an older school district with a relatively old infrastructure receive hundreds of dollars less per pupil per year than Fort Zumwalt and Francis Howell Districts? Where is the emergency law to help save our schools? We know from the recent past that only a few hours are needed to push through legislation to benefit large donors! Our public schools cannot pay the price for such privileged, special laws.
In November we need to put at least one house in Jefferson City and one house in Congress into the hands of the opposition Party so that checks and balances can begin to work again. Right now one Party has become drunk on power and these guys feel that they answer to no one. Until we expunge the overwhelming influence of money from government and hold Republicans accountable for their lack of leadership, we citizens can expect to play second fiddle to the interests of those who can buy the laws they want.
“House for Sale” … and if the price is right, we’ll throw the Senate in too!
THE PEOPLE SPEAK - Letters to the editor
Dear Editor,
I am writing you hoping that Jack Banas reads this paper. Mr. Banas has the chance to prove that lawlessness will not be the rule in St. Charles. To date Mr. Banas has charged one person in connection with the fraudulent signatures collected in Ward 7. He should not stop with just one. Each and every person who had their signature signed by someone else is looking to him to defend them. Mr. Banas would serve the public trust by charging all of those who knew that signatures were forged as well as the attached affidavits. Mr. Banas can send a clear message to those who would participate in such activities that St. Charles is not going to allow someone to desecrate the memories of those who fought and died for the right to vote. After all Mr. Banas is an elected official and needs to think what would he have done if he lost his election because someone had violated election laws.
So I am asking Mr. Banas to uphold the memories of our fallen soldiers, founding fathers and the soldiers fighting in far off lands so others can have fair and free elections. He is the last line of defense against those who believe that forging signatures and affidavits is acceptable. Mr. Banas has to understand that all eyes are on him and his lack of action will indicate that violating the law of the land is okay. My belief is Mr. Banas will do the right thing and prosecute all those involved to the fullest, after all that is his sworn duty.
Thanks
Mildred Hoff
Dear First Capitol News
I find it compelling to inform the people of St. Charles County that the current sheriff is erecting political signs prior to the 60 day restricted period. Sheriff Neer is clearly breaking the rules set forth by the County Election Committee. If the fact is that his campaign does not understand the laws regarding election rules then shame on them for thrusting this to the forefront. It is clear to me that this position leaves absolutely no gray area for violating a rule or a law. What sort of standard are we setting for the republican party and the head of law enforcement in our county.
Concerned Citizen/Business Owner
St. Charles County.
Editor’s Note…
We have discovered that several candidates for Sheriff and also for Judge have already placed their political signs.
Dear Editor:
First Capitol News
Re: Shuttle Article
Dear Mr. Brockmeyer
Thank you for the fine article on the above referenced subject. It is greatly appreciated.
If anyone asks, the December 21st date should be December 31st.
As the Foundation approves other projects, I will advise you of same.
Once again, our sincere thanks.
Respectfully submitted,
HAWK
Chairman of the Board
Historic Main Street
Forever Foundation
Dear FCN,
Benton Elementary School will close next spring after a 110 years of educating past, present and future citizens of St. Charles. It’s a beautiful old building. I thank the St. Charles school district for Benton’s continuous maintenance and modernization. I understand the reasons for it’s closing but something dear is being lost.
St. Charles is proud of it’s history but it’s history is largely rebuilt, reenacted or preserved in photos or plaques. Benton School is one of the rare historic public buildings still used for it’s original purpose and possibly the only one owned by the city. Unfortunately, the history embodied there has no value to tourism. The school district has no responsability to maintain the unbroken chain. Benton’s history is akin to a family tree. It’s value as a living link between our past and future is irreplaceable yet insupportable
I hope someday Benton School will reopen, rested and ready to serve as it was founded to serve in 1896. I’m happy to learn it will be used as an administration building instead of being sold or demolished but without it’s students it becomes another preserved relic. The life will go out of Benton, it’s history will be remembered but removed from it’s place in the formation of our city’s future.
Ellen Bauer
St. Charles, MO
I am writing you hoping that Jack Banas reads this paper. Mr. Banas has the chance to prove that lawlessness will not be the rule in St. Charles. To date Mr. Banas has charged one person in connection with the fraudulent signatures collected in Ward 7. He should not stop with just one. Each and every person who had their signature signed by someone else is looking to him to defend them. Mr. Banas would serve the public trust by charging all of those who knew that signatures were forged as well as the attached affidavits. Mr. Banas can send a clear message to those who would participate in such activities that St. Charles is not going to allow someone to desecrate the memories of those who fought and died for the right to vote. After all Mr. Banas is an elected official and needs to think what would he have done if he lost his election because someone had violated election laws.
So I am asking Mr. Banas to uphold the memories of our fallen soldiers, founding fathers and the soldiers fighting in far off lands so others can have fair and free elections. He is the last line of defense against those who believe that forging signatures and affidavits is acceptable. Mr. Banas has to understand that all eyes are on him and his lack of action will indicate that violating the law of the land is okay. My belief is Mr. Banas will do the right thing and prosecute all those involved to the fullest, after all that is his sworn duty.
Thanks
Mildred Hoff
Dear First Capitol News
I find it compelling to inform the people of St. Charles County that the current sheriff is erecting political signs prior to the 60 day restricted period. Sheriff Neer is clearly breaking the rules set forth by the County Election Committee. If the fact is that his campaign does not understand the laws regarding election rules then shame on them for thrusting this to the forefront. It is clear to me that this position leaves absolutely no gray area for violating a rule or a law. What sort of standard are we setting for the republican party and the head of law enforcement in our county.
Concerned Citizen/Business Owner
St. Charles County.
Editor’s Note…
We have discovered that several candidates for Sheriff and also for Judge have already placed their political signs.
Dear Editor:
First Capitol News
Re: Shuttle Article
Dear Mr. Brockmeyer
Thank you for the fine article on the above referenced subject. It is greatly appreciated.
If anyone asks, the December 21st date should be December 31st.
As the Foundation approves other projects, I will advise you of same.
Once again, our sincere thanks.
Respectfully submitted,
HAWK
Chairman of the Board
Historic Main Street
Forever Foundation
Dear FCN,
Benton Elementary School will close next spring after a 110 years of educating past, present and future citizens of St. Charles. It’s a beautiful old building. I thank the St. Charles school district for Benton’s continuous maintenance and modernization. I understand the reasons for it’s closing but something dear is being lost.
St. Charles is proud of it’s history but it’s history is largely rebuilt, reenacted or preserved in photos or plaques. Benton School is one of the rare historic public buildings still used for it’s original purpose and possibly the only one owned by the city. Unfortunately, the history embodied there has no value to tourism. The school district has no responsability to maintain the unbroken chain. Benton’s history is akin to a family tree. It’s value as a living link between our past and future is irreplaceable yet insupportable
I hope someday Benton School will reopen, rested and ready to serve as it was founded to serve in 1896. I’m happy to learn it will be used as an administration building instead of being sold or demolished but without it’s students it becomes another preserved relic. The life will go out of Benton, it’s history will be remembered but removed from it’s place in the formation of our city’s future.
Ellen Bauer
St. Charles, MO
THE CONSERVATIVE FACTOR - Alex Spencer
Well, the school year is over and I suppose it’s time for report cards and test scores and other assorted methods of evaluation. My wife and the other teachers in the district are preparing those final end-of-the-year reports, comments, and summer reading lists to send home with the kids. The legislature in Jefferson City has adjourned for the session, and I suppose it’s time to grade their performance as well.
In all fairness, these folks have a tough job to do. We give them less than five months to accomplish a year’s worth of the people’s business. We don’t pay them very much, and we scrutinize their every move, meal and expenditure. Our esteemed elected officials have taken quite a beating in the press this year. Lots of folks criticize them for what they accomplished as well as what they did not accomplish. We have an extremely powerful legislative delegation in St. Charles County with the number two and number three man in the House hailing from St. Charles and the powerful Budget Chairman in the Senate.
The Governor came into town last year in a whirlwind and the accomplishments were dizzying. Worker’s compensation legislation topped the list and the state became business friendly. Coupled with meaningful tort reform, the level of excitement in the business community was palpable. The Republican-controlled legislature worked very well with the newly elected Republican Governor, and they moved the ball forward quite a bit. While some of the decisions made were unpopular, they moved forward together to get Missouri back on the right track. Last year’s session was definitely a candidate for the honor roll. It was a solid A. It’s hard to top such a great year. I think our elected officials in Jeff City discovered that this year. With the GOP occupying both chambers of the legislature and the Governor’s Mansion, there were going to be some disagreements, it’s only natural and to be expected.
All in all, I think that the public and the press have been too harsh on our legislators. Regardless of the few bills that received negative attention, many bills were passed and the people of the State of Missouri will be better for it.
I, for one, am all in favor of any sort of improvement to the vehicle emission testing system is definitely a good thing, and I’d say a B+ is in order for this idea (I only wish they’d scrap the system altogether). I also think that little kids (under 7 to be specific) should ride in booster seats. The legislature deserves an A for recognizing the problem, and it’s a slam dunk when it comes to safety.
The legislature also tackled some more controversial issues. The photo-ID bill received a lot of negative attention, mostly from our liberal brethren. It seems rather basic to me that I should show ID to confirm my identity before I vote. It’s not unreasonable, and it won’t disenfranchise folks. Granted, some of our elderly and poor may be without photo identification, but that is a situation we should rectify as soon as possible. The legislature did well, when they passed this safeguard. I think I’ll reserve judgment on the elimination of straight-ticket voting. I think it will prove helpful to the GOP in St. Louis County, but I am not sure how it will play out closer to home. A vast majority of straight ticket votes in St. Charles County were cast for the good guys in 2004, and I don’t know how such a change will affect the down ticket races. I’d say the photo-ID component is a solid A- (the delay will make it somewhat difficult to make sure everyone has the appropriate identification) and I think I’d give the straight-ticket idea a B (until we know the real implications). The session overall probably deserves a B+. Not too bad at all.
I hope that people aren’t turned off by the goings-on at the state legislature, because St. Charles County is going to experience a significant absence of leadership soon. Arguably the two most powerful members of our legislative delegation will be retiring after this next election. Rep. Bearden and Rep. Dempsey will vacate their seats in the House of Representatives as a result of term limits (a misguided attempt to curb the power of special interest groups.) While it is entirely likely that Bearden or Dempsey will succeed Sen. Gross, certainly both of them can’t succeed Gross, so unfortunately, we will lose the dedication of at least one of them. It remains to be seen who will emerge as a leader in the next generation of our delegation, but my money’s on newly minted Sen. Rupp. He has the skills and the personality to step up and lead the crew. That being said, we will need good people to step up to succeed Bearden and Dempsey. It’s not too early to start thinking about this, and I am sure that Bearden and Dempsey are actively looking for leaders to step up and take this foray into public service. Much will be written and there will be much speculation, especially after this year’s election, so stay tuned.
Overall, our legislators did fine. We had some on who gave an outstanding effort including Bearden and Dempsey. Some who gave a good performance including Gross, Rupp and Schneider. Some who were predictably satisfactory including Faith, Smith and Parker. Well, and then there was Cynthia Davis who tends to go overboard a bit. Some of her ideas are sound, and while I am certainly not a fan of Darwinism, I’m not sure we should mandate how science is taught in the schools. I’m also torn on the issue of sex education, but I think that we need to have some responsibility on the part of parents. I’m not sure she does her constituency a service, but she certainly is dedicated.
In the end, St. Charles County is fairly lucky to have a solid Republican delegation representing our values. I hope that we remember how important that is as we head into Summer Vacation.
In all fairness, these folks have a tough job to do. We give them less than five months to accomplish a year’s worth of the people’s business. We don’t pay them very much, and we scrutinize their every move, meal and expenditure. Our esteemed elected officials have taken quite a beating in the press this year. Lots of folks criticize them for what they accomplished as well as what they did not accomplish. We have an extremely powerful legislative delegation in St. Charles County with the number two and number three man in the House hailing from St. Charles and the powerful Budget Chairman in the Senate.
The Governor came into town last year in a whirlwind and the accomplishments were dizzying. Worker’s compensation legislation topped the list and the state became business friendly. Coupled with meaningful tort reform, the level of excitement in the business community was palpable. The Republican-controlled legislature worked very well with the newly elected Republican Governor, and they moved the ball forward quite a bit. While some of the decisions made were unpopular, they moved forward together to get Missouri back on the right track. Last year’s session was definitely a candidate for the honor roll. It was a solid A. It’s hard to top such a great year. I think our elected officials in Jeff City discovered that this year. With the GOP occupying both chambers of the legislature and the Governor’s Mansion, there were going to be some disagreements, it’s only natural and to be expected.
All in all, I think that the public and the press have been too harsh on our legislators. Regardless of the few bills that received negative attention, many bills were passed and the people of the State of Missouri will be better for it.
I, for one, am all in favor of any sort of improvement to the vehicle emission testing system is definitely a good thing, and I’d say a B+ is in order for this idea (I only wish they’d scrap the system altogether). I also think that little kids (under 7 to be specific) should ride in booster seats. The legislature deserves an A for recognizing the problem, and it’s a slam dunk when it comes to safety.
The legislature also tackled some more controversial issues. The photo-ID bill received a lot of negative attention, mostly from our liberal brethren. It seems rather basic to me that I should show ID to confirm my identity before I vote. It’s not unreasonable, and it won’t disenfranchise folks. Granted, some of our elderly and poor may be without photo identification, but that is a situation we should rectify as soon as possible. The legislature did well, when they passed this safeguard. I think I’ll reserve judgment on the elimination of straight-ticket voting. I think it will prove helpful to the GOP in St. Louis County, but I am not sure how it will play out closer to home. A vast majority of straight ticket votes in St. Charles County were cast for the good guys in 2004, and I don’t know how such a change will affect the down ticket races. I’d say the photo-ID component is a solid A- (the delay will make it somewhat difficult to make sure everyone has the appropriate identification) and I think I’d give the straight-ticket idea a B (until we know the real implications). The session overall probably deserves a B+. Not too bad at all.
I hope that people aren’t turned off by the goings-on at the state legislature, because St. Charles County is going to experience a significant absence of leadership soon. Arguably the two most powerful members of our legislative delegation will be retiring after this next election. Rep. Bearden and Rep. Dempsey will vacate their seats in the House of Representatives as a result of term limits (a misguided attempt to curb the power of special interest groups.) While it is entirely likely that Bearden or Dempsey will succeed Sen. Gross, certainly both of them can’t succeed Gross, so unfortunately, we will lose the dedication of at least one of them. It remains to be seen who will emerge as a leader in the next generation of our delegation, but my money’s on newly minted Sen. Rupp. He has the skills and the personality to step up and lead the crew. That being said, we will need good people to step up to succeed Bearden and Dempsey. It’s not too early to start thinking about this, and I am sure that Bearden and Dempsey are actively looking for leaders to step up and take this foray into public service. Much will be written and there will be much speculation, especially after this year’s election, so stay tuned.
Overall, our legislators did fine. We had some on who gave an outstanding effort including Bearden and Dempsey. Some who gave a good performance including Gross, Rupp and Schneider. Some who were predictably satisfactory including Faith, Smith and Parker. Well, and then there was Cynthia Davis who tends to go overboard a bit. Some of her ideas are sound, and while I am certainly not a fan of Darwinism, I’m not sure we should mandate how science is taught in the schools. I’m also torn on the issue of sex education, but I think that we need to have some responsibility on the part of parents. I’m not sure she does her constituency a service, but she certainly is dedicated.
In the end, St. Charles County is fairly lucky to have a solid Republican delegation representing our values. I hope that we remember how important that is as we head into Summer Vacation.
The Family Arena: A Showplace That Could Have Been
The Family Arena:
A Showplace That Could Have Been
By Louis J. Launer
It appeared at first to be a self-destruction when the Missouri River Otters ceased operations in early May. Although there were symptoms from within the organization that the team was closing up shop, there could also be an outside factor. The River Otters were the last of the anchor tenants of the facility. In fact, the hockey team was the very first team to agree to a lease on the facility in 1997, two years before it was built.
Family Arena came with expectations from everywhere. It was a private and a public investment. Frank Trulaske, a St. Louis businessman agreed to invest half of the construction money to the project. The city of St. Charles agreed to partner with the County for the rest of the investment to complete construction and establish operation of the arena.
Tom Engel, who served as the general manager of the Family Arena in 2000, said, “Frank Trulaske felt that St. Louis needed a mid-size arena, and the area was missing out on a lot of events, not just amateur sports. The Fox was too small and Kiel [now Savvis] was too big.”
The late Kevin Kipp wrote in the December, 2000 edition of St. Louis Commerce magazine, “Experts and financiers told Trulaske that he could build a mid-size arena privately, or he’d go broke.”
The County Council agreed and passed legislation on the agreements. County Executive Joe Ortwerth vetoed the measure twice. On its second return to the County Council, the Council overrode Ortwerth’s veto and Family Arena was finally born. According to St. Louis Commerce, “Trulaske agreed to lease the arena for $2.2 million. The county agreed to commit $300,000 and for the last $300,000, the partners looked to the city of St. Charles.”
County Councilman Dan Foust said in a November 18, 1997 public hearing that the Council “spent many hours making sure the best deal for the taxpayers has been presented.” According to Foust during the time this project was proposed, he only received positive reaction to the project.
Ground was finally broken along South River Road (later known as Arena Parkway) in 1998. After some labor trouble and two cancelled events, the arena finally opened in October 1999 with a hockey game between the River Otters and the Asheville Smoke. The fans were entertained and pleased with the new hockey team and the arena itself. There was plenty of fanfare that first year. The River Otters had quite a first year and so did its other tenant, the International Basketball League’s St. Louis Swarm. The Swarm won two IBL championships in 1999-2000 and 2000-01. The Swarm folded because the league folded. Plus, the Swarm was lucky in their second year to draw only 800 fans per game in a 10,000-seat facility.
One could say that it might have been the lack of marketing and publicity that caused the team’s demise. But why did attendance drop suddenly from both the teams’ inaugural seasons to their second season in 2000-01? Was it really a lack of marketing and publicity by the teams? How did the “newness” of Family Arena suddenly erode after its first year?
Trouble in Family Arena appeared just two months after it opened. On December 31, 1999, a concert was held at Family Arena that had suspicions of drug use and other unusual goings-on. It was never confirmed as to what really happened. It appears that it was enough evidence for County Executive Joe Ortwerth to take over control of the facility. Ortwerth has been known throughout this decade as an outspoken critic of the Family Arena. Many have believed that he never liked the facility from its very origins. Family Arena Management Enterprise (FAME), the organization originally contracted to operate and maintain the facility, lost their contract in 2002.
In-between that time and the present, the River Otters were sold twice to two different local investor groups. At the same time, Family Arena began seeing decay, not just of the lack of patrons for sporting events, but the facility itself began to look neglected. A tour of some abandoned concession areas at Family Arena in the last two years provide evidence of the neglect. In observing the atmosphere of Family Arena not just during the hockey season, but during other events, anyone can easily see and find a number of pieces of arena or concession equipment in haphazard storage throughout the facility – some of the equipment not used since at least 2000, mainly in concession areas that haven’t been opened for five or six years. A lot of it contained dust as if it hasn’t moved for a long time.
Since 2002, only four concession areas at Family Arena are used, mainly at the main level and two on either side of the main concourse seating. There were times that only two were in operation. There are about 20 permanent stands and 10 portable stands throughout the facility. Many of them are unused and most of the stored equipment is found close to the Gate 5 area behind sections 109 through 112. One would think that no one goes through those sections. But many of them buy upper deck tickets for sections 208 through 212, also located near Gate 5.
A more serious concern faces Family Arena. It’s not just the unused equipment. It is the strained relationship/partnership between St. Charles City and St. Charles County. St. Charles City is refusing to pay their part of the $300,000. They did not pay their share of the agreement due in September, 2005.
The $300,000 that the city of St. Charles has to pay is a part of debt service for the construction and development of the Family Arena. According to the August 30, 2002 edition of the St. Louis Business Journal, it is a part of a ten-year letter of credit between St. Charles City and County.
St. Charles City Councilman Rory Riddler wrote in his First Capitol News column in March 2005 that the County had five years to get the Family Arena fully operational and had established the agreed amount of “ticketed” events to be 115 throughout a 12-month period. When Mr. Riddler was presented the report from the County for 2004, there were 120 events. Eight of those events were high school graduations. Six of them were Jehovah’s Witness conventions and there was one Bush/Cheney political rally. Mr. Riddler contends that those 19 events he mentioned are not “ticketed” events; that is a purchased ticket at the box office to get into the event. The Family Arena contends that every event held there has to have a control by the use of a ticketed system, because of security reasons. But Mr. Riddler defined the agreement as event tickets purchased with money at a box office or ticket broker (in this case, MetroTix), rather than an entity (school district, church, political party) handing out free tickets just for crowd control purposes.
Riddler wrote in his column, “When the City agreed to help with the financial structure of the Family Arena it was with the hope that the sales tax revenues would help offset some of the cost of participation. When you book a group that draws a few hundred people instead of a few thousand, the taxpayers are losing out on the sale of tickets, food, beverage and souvenirs that otherwise might have occurred. It isn’t just the taxpayers of St. Charles City being shortchanged, but the taxpayers of St. Charles County, who subsidize the operations and long-term debt with their tax dollars.”
According to Steve Ehlmann, who is the County’s Chief of Staff, the Family Arena, “had a good year this year. We made money.”
It is probably accurate to say that the Family Arena made money. But was that for calendar year 2005. That was when the Steamers, Rage and the River Otters were still at Family Arena and drawing low attendance figures. There were also several concerts as well as a rodeo, circus, ice motorcycle racing and two St. Louis University basketball games. Also, the NHL was locked out in 2005 and the only professional hockey in town was the River Otters. What about 2006? What’s going to happen on July 1 when most of these winter and indoor sports teams begin new fiscal years? The Rage and Steamers are still committed to Savvis at least for another season. They could be there for a long time, if their new landlord feels that they draw enough into Savvis Center.
In the last few hockey seasons itself, the River Otters were very lucky if they drew 5,000 for a game. On many nights, they drew between 1,000 and 3,000 fans. There were some nights with no inclement weather where there were less than 800 in the building and it was either a Friday or a Saturday. That’s quite small compared to the 10,000-seat capacity the place holds. There was never a sellout for a hockey game at Family Arena in the eight seasons the River Otters were there. Even the 2006 UHL All-Star Classic only drew 5,500.
In an August 30, 2002 edition of the St. Louis Business Journal County Executive Joe Ortwerth said, “Whether I like it or not, the arena has become part of St. Charles government, and I’ve got to be involved. I have an operation in the red that I need to turn into a break-even proposition. Otherwise I have to turn over money from my budget that would go to other things to fund this arena.”
In that same story, writer Chad Garrison wrote, “two of the four minor league sports teams that call the arena home (the St. Louis Steamers indoor soccer team and the St. Louis Swarm basketball team) have folded within the last year, leaving even more empty dates on the calendar. It is a lack of events at the arena that is drawing the ire of many in the community.”
“We would like to see more ticketed events,” then-St. Charles City Administrator Jim O’Connor said in the same article. “When you look over 2002 you see a lot of activities at the arena, but many of them dealt with conferences and trade shows. We want to see more entertainment programs that serve the community.”
In late 2005, the River City Rage and the current St. Louis Steamers took advantage of sub-lease deals at Savvis Center at the same time the Laurie family tried to sell both the St. Louis Blues hockey team and the primary lease holding of Savvis Center. Successful minor league sports teams can take advantage of any bargain possible, which going to Savvis was the primary reason why both teams disappeared from Family Arena. The Rage and the Steamers have become more successful now that they are at Savvis. Also, both teams are operated as serious businesses. The Rage has an ownership group that has genuine interest about metropolitan St. Louis as a whole, rather than just exclusively St. Charles. The same holds true for the current Steamers. Their indoor soccer league is finally reaching stability once again, plus the Steamers reached the championship series for the first time since returning to St. Louis proper.
It also appears that the Family Arena will never see another professional basketball team, since both the Swarm and the St. Louis Flight of the ABA could not succeed in the facility. One could say that it was a lack of marketing on their part. But did the arena and the county really want to have them there? Many sports experts claim that professional basketball doesn’t work in this area. The track record at Family Arena reflects that. But is it just the fault of the basketball franchises or their respective leagues? Should the county have made the place friendlier for fans to enjoy basketball?
Since the hockey team’s is folding, has the county administration and the United Hockey League taken every approach possible to find a buyer for this now abandoned franchise. If no buyer of the UHL franchise is found by July 1, there will probably be no sports tenant occupying the Family Arena. There are several concerts booked for the summer. But there probably won’t be 40 hockey games, 32 basketball games, 20 indoor soccer games and 12 indoor football games playing at Family Arena in 2006-07. Concerts, circuses, rodeos and ice motorcycle races cannot make up for the loss of minor league sports, considered to be anchor tenants at a multi-purpose facility such as Family Arena.
Has St. Charles County witnessed the success that T.R. Hughes Ballpark is having after being opened in O’Fallon for eight years? They still have the same minor league franchise and attendance figures have remained consistent. There have been slight changes in the baseball team’s organization and the City of O’Fallon has had some turbulent times in their administration. The city owns and operates the ballpark and the place is like new and well maintained since it opened in 1999. Only one sport plays at the ballpark. There are also other limitations that keep most other events from the ballpark, mainly due to the field make up and the sightlines geared specifically for baseball. There is free parking at the facility and generally patrons have a great time.
The teams at Family Arena might have failed or left for other locations, but at times when it was critical, there was no help at all from the county, who is supposed to not only oversee the operation of the arena, but to also oversee the interests of its residents. Family Arena has become a white elephant. The taxpayers aren’t to blame, although they will be seeing the burden of its debt. Family Arena’s problems arose because of a difference of philosophies among those who the taxpayers/registered voters placed in office. St. Charles County could have had quite a showplace and what could still be a prime location. Now, it is a hollow cavern next door to a quarry longing to be developed
A Showplace That Could Have Been
By Louis J. Launer
It appeared at first to be a self-destruction when the Missouri River Otters ceased operations in early May. Although there were symptoms from within the organization that the team was closing up shop, there could also be an outside factor. The River Otters were the last of the anchor tenants of the facility. In fact, the hockey team was the very first team to agree to a lease on the facility in 1997, two years before it was built.
Family Arena came with expectations from everywhere. It was a private and a public investment. Frank Trulaske, a St. Louis businessman agreed to invest half of the construction money to the project. The city of St. Charles agreed to partner with the County for the rest of the investment to complete construction and establish operation of the arena.
Tom Engel, who served as the general manager of the Family Arena in 2000, said, “Frank Trulaske felt that St. Louis needed a mid-size arena, and the area was missing out on a lot of events, not just amateur sports. The Fox was too small and Kiel [now Savvis] was too big.”
The late Kevin Kipp wrote in the December, 2000 edition of St. Louis Commerce magazine, “Experts and financiers told Trulaske that he could build a mid-size arena privately, or he’d go broke.”
The County Council agreed and passed legislation on the agreements. County Executive Joe Ortwerth vetoed the measure twice. On its second return to the County Council, the Council overrode Ortwerth’s veto and Family Arena was finally born. According to St. Louis Commerce, “Trulaske agreed to lease the arena for $2.2 million. The county agreed to commit $300,000 and for the last $300,000, the partners looked to the city of St. Charles.”
County Councilman Dan Foust said in a November 18, 1997 public hearing that the Council “spent many hours making sure the best deal for the taxpayers has been presented.” According to Foust during the time this project was proposed, he only received positive reaction to the project.
Ground was finally broken along South River Road (later known as Arena Parkway) in 1998. After some labor trouble and two cancelled events, the arena finally opened in October 1999 with a hockey game between the River Otters and the Asheville Smoke. The fans were entertained and pleased with the new hockey team and the arena itself. There was plenty of fanfare that first year. The River Otters had quite a first year and so did its other tenant, the International Basketball League’s St. Louis Swarm. The Swarm won two IBL championships in 1999-2000 and 2000-01. The Swarm folded because the league folded. Plus, the Swarm was lucky in their second year to draw only 800 fans per game in a 10,000-seat facility.
One could say that it might have been the lack of marketing and publicity that caused the team’s demise. But why did attendance drop suddenly from both the teams’ inaugural seasons to their second season in 2000-01? Was it really a lack of marketing and publicity by the teams? How did the “newness” of Family Arena suddenly erode after its first year?
Trouble in Family Arena appeared just two months after it opened. On December 31, 1999, a concert was held at Family Arena that had suspicions of drug use and other unusual goings-on. It was never confirmed as to what really happened. It appears that it was enough evidence for County Executive Joe Ortwerth to take over control of the facility. Ortwerth has been known throughout this decade as an outspoken critic of the Family Arena. Many have believed that he never liked the facility from its very origins. Family Arena Management Enterprise (FAME), the organization originally contracted to operate and maintain the facility, lost their contract in 2002.
In-between that time and the present, the River Otters were sold twice to two different local investor groups. At the same time, Family Arena began seeing decay, not just of the lack of patrons for sporting events, but the facility itself began to look neglected. A tour of some abandoned concession areas at Family Arena in the last two years provide evidence of the neglect. In observing the atmosphere of Family Arena not just during the hockey season, but during other events, anyone can easily see and find a number of pieces of arena or concession equipment in haphazard storage throughout the facility – some of the equipment not used since at least 2000, mainly in concession areas that haven’t been opened for five or six years. A lot of it contained dust as if it hasn’t moved for a long time.
Since 2002, only four concession areas at Family Arena are used, mainly at the main level and two on either side of the main concourse seating. There were times that only two were in operation. There are about 20 permanent stands and 10 portable stands throughout the facility. Many of them are unused and most of the stored equipment is found close to the Gate 5 area behind sections 109 through 112. One would think that no one goes through those sections. But many of them buy upper deck tickets for sections 208 through 212, also located near Gate 5.
A more serious concern faces Family Arena. It’s not just the unused equipment. It is the strained relationship/partnership between St. Charles City and St. Charles County. St. Charles City is refusing to pay their part of the $300,000. They did not pay their share of the agreement due in September, 2005.
The $300,000 that the city of St. Charles has to pay is a part of debt service for the construction and development of the Family Arena. According to the August 30, 2002 edition of the St. Louis Business Journal, it is a part of a ten-year letter of credit between St. Charles City and County.
St. Charles City Councilman Rory Riddler wrote in his First Capitol News column in March 2005 that the County had five years to get the Family Arena fully operational and had established the agreed amount of “ticketed” events to be 115 throughout a 12-month period. When Mr. Riddler was presented the report from the County for 2004, there were 120 events. Eight of those events were high school graduations. Six of them were Jehovah’s Witness conventions and there was one Bush/Cheney political rally. Mr. Riddler contends that those 19 events he mentioned are not “ticketed” events; that is a purchased ticket at the box office to get into the event. The Family Arena contends that every event held there has to have a control by the use of a ticketed system, because of security reasons. But Mr. Riddler defined the agreement as event tickets purchased with money at a box office or ticket broker (in this case, MetroTix), rather than an entity (school district, church, political party) handing out free tickets just for crowd control purposes.
Riddler wrote in his column, “When the City agreed to help with the financial structure of the Family Arena it was with the hope that the sales tax revenues would help offset some of the cost of participation. When you book a group that draws a few hundred people instead of a few thousand, the taxpayers are losing out on the sale of tickets, food, beverage and souvenirs that otherwise might have occurred. It isn’t just the taxpayers of St. Charles City being shortchanged, but the taxpayers of St. Charles County, who subsidize the operations and long-term debt with their tax dollars.”
According to Steve Ehlmann, who is the County’s Chief of Staff, the Family Arena, “had a good year this year. We made money.”
It is probably accurate to say that the Family Arena made money. But was that for calendar year 2005. That was when the Steamers, Rage and the River Otters were still at Family Arena and drawing low attendance figures. There were also several concerts as well as a rodeo, circus, ice motorcycle racing and two St. Louis University basketball games. Also, the NHL was locked out in 2005 and the only professional hockey in town was the River Otters. What about 2006? What’s going to happen on July 1 when most of these winter and indoor sports teams begin new fiscal years? The Rage and Steamers are still committed to Savvis at least for another season. They could be there for a long time, if their new landlord feels that they draw enough into Savvis Center.
In the last few hockey seasons itself, the River Otters were very lucky if they drew 5,000 for a game. On many nights, they drew between 1,000 and 3,000 fans. There were some nights with no inclement weather where there were less than 800 in the building and it was either a Friday or a Saturday. That’s quite small compared to the 10,000-seat capacity the place holds. There was never a sellout for a hockey game at Family Arena in the eight seasons the River Otters were there. Even the 2006 UHL All-Star Classic only drew 5,500.
In an August 30, 2002 edition of the St. Louis Business Journal County Executive Joe Ortwerth said, “Whether I like it or not, the arena has become part of St. Charles government, and I’ve got to be involved. I have an operation in the red that I need to turn into a break-even proposition. Otherwise I have to turn over money from my budget that would go to other things to fund this arena.”
In that same story, writer Chad Garrison wrote, “two of the four minor league sports teams that call the arena home (the St. Louis Steamers indoor soccer team and the St. Louis Swarm basketball team) have folded within the last year, leaving even more empty dates on the calendar. It is a lack of events at the arena that is drawing the ire of many in the community.”
“We would like to see more ticketed events,” then-St. Charles City Administrator Jim O’Connor said in the same article. “When you look over 2002 you see a lot of activities at the arena, but many of them dealt with conferences and trade shows. We want to see more entertainment programs that serve the community.”
In late 2005, the River City Rage and the current St. Louis Steamers took advantage of sub-lease deals at Savvis Center at the same time the Laurie family tried to sell both the St. Louis Blues hockey team and the primary lease holding of Savvis Center. Successful minor league sports teams can take advantage of any bargain possible, which going to Savvis was the primary reason why both teams disappeared from Family Arena. The Rage and the Steamers have become more successful now that they are at Savvis. Also, both teams are operated as serious businesses. The Rage has an ownership group that has genuine interest about metropolitan St. Louis as a whole, rather than just exclusively St. Charles. The same holds true for the current Steamers. Their indoor soccer league is finally reaching stability once again, plus the Steamers reached the championship series for the first time since returning to St. Louis proper.
It also appears that the Family Arena will never see another professional basketball team, since both the Swarm and the St. Louis Flight of the ABA could not succeed in the facility. One could say that it was a lack of marketing on their part. But did the arena and the county really want to have them there? Many sports experts claim that professional basketball doesn’t work in this area. The track record at Family Arena reflects that. But is it just the fault of the basketball franchises or their respective leagues? Should the county have made the place friendlier for fans to enjoy basketball?
Since the hockey team’s is folding, has the county administration and the United Hockey League taken every approach possible to find a buyer for this now abandoned franchise. If no buyer of the UHL franchise is found by July 1, there will probably be no sports tenant occupying the Family Arena. There are several concerts booked for the summer. But there probably won’t be 40 hockey games, 32 basketball games, 20 indoor soccer games and 12 indoor football games playing at Family Arena in 2006-07. Concerts, circuses, rodeos and ice motorcycle races cannot make up for the loss of minor league sports, considered to be anchor tenants at a multi-purpose facility such as Family Arena.
Has St. Charles County witnessed the success that T.R. Hughes Ballpark is having after being opened in O’Fallon for eight years? They still have the same minor league franchise and attendance figures have remained consistent. There have been slight changes in the baseball team’s organization and the City of O’Fallon has had some turbulent times in their administration. The city owns and operates the ballpark and the place is like new and well maintained since it opened in 1999. Only one sport plays at the ballpark. There are also other limitations that keep most other events from the ballpark, mainly due to the field make up and the sightlines geared specifically for baseball. There is free parking at the facility and generally patrons have a great time.
The teams at Family Arena might have failed or left for other locations, but at times when it was critical, there was no help at all from the county, who is supposed to not only oversee the operation of the arena, but to also oversee the interests of its residents. Family Arena has become a white elephant. The taxpayers aren’t to blame, although they will be seeing the burden of its debt. Family Arena’s problems arose because of a difference of philosophies among those who the taxpayers/registered voters placed in office. St. Charles County could have had quite a showplace and what could still be a prime location. Now, it is a hollow cavern next door to a quarry longing to be developed
FIRST CAPITOL NEWS SPORTS - MIKE McMurran Sports Editor
MY COLUMN - Mike McMurran First Capitol News Sports Editor
Just in case anyone is counting, this marks the 82nd consecutive week of my contributing a column to this fine weekly; this week’s column almost didn’t happen. Allow me to explain.
It all started last Saturday when my eldest son Joe was scheduled to play his final, and I really do mean final soccer game of the season. Remember now, Joe has been playing with Tony Glavin now since August, and during the fall and spring, in addition to Glavin, he played with his classmates in either C.Y.C. or SCCYSA, so when I say final game it really was a big deal. As of Saturday there would be no soccer for Joe until July or August. The game was scheduled for a 5:15 start at Woodland Park in St. Peters. Joe’s brother Dee was feeling under the weather, so Lynn stayed home and Joe and I ventured out together; time for some father son bonding.
As fate would have it, the other team failed to show, which really was a big deal. You see Joe and Paige Murray gave up their Cardinal tickets to be at the soccer game. Andrew Clark had two games scheduled at the same time, one with his recreational team and one with his select team. Since this was the final game of the season, and the team was playing with the hopes of finishing the season with a perfect 10-0 record, Tom and Sheri Clark allowed Drew to decide which game he would attend; he passed on his select team to attend the final game of the season. So, if you will, the boys were “all dressed up with no where to go.” It was at this point someone came up with the great idea of the parents playing the kids. When I heard this my mind immediately started thinking at warp speed: I have on flip-flops, and the last thing I need to do is get hurt…”I’ll play goalie,” yelled out Dr. Dan Coogan. Yeah, that’s what I was going to say, but Coogan beat me to it. I had on flip-flops, you can’t play soccer in flip-flops. Then I remembered. In the trunk of my car I kept an old pair of football shoes that I wore only at mud bowls. The shoes were at least 2 or 3 sizes too large, but they were fine for mud bowls and would certainly be better than trying to play soccer in flip-flops.
Granted I am over weight, O.K., I am fat, but I had no idea eight year-olds could run so fast. They literally ran circles around me. At one point I asked Dr. Dan, remember Dr. Dan, the quick thinker who was playing goal, “How many bones are in your foot?” To which he replied 40 or so. “It feels like I just broke half of them,” I shouted back, jokingly…or so I thought.
Ultimately the parents won the contest with little, or no help from me. I took off my mud bowl, oversized football shoes and returned to my favored flip-flops. We all said our good-byes and headed our own ways. Later that evening Joe and I decided to do some more father-son bonding and went shopping for a Mother’s Day gift. That’s when it hit me. I could hardly walk. As difficult as walking was, climbing up a step was practically impossible. I was in some serious, serious pain. Once home I explained to Lynn how my foot was killing me, to which she replied,” My foot hurts every day.” So much for sympathy from my lovely wife.
During the middle of the night, as fate would have it, nature called. I literally had to crawl to the rest room, as my foot would not support any weight. The next morning as the family attended Mass I opted for urgent health care, my first ever visit to such a place. The doctor on duty took x-rays and declared, “Your foot is broken in at least three places.” Wow, I thought to myself, I wasn’t too far off base when I told the quick thinking Dr. Dan I felt like I broke half the bones in my foot. “Stay off your foot completely and see a specialist as soon as you can,” were the Doctor’s final bits of advice. “I will give you something for the pain.” And he did.
The remainder of Sunday I was in a pain pill trance. First thing Monday morning I called my primary care doctor and he referred me to a specialist. The problem was the specialist could not see me until Tuesday evening around 5 p.m. So all day Monday and all day Tuesday I simply stayed in bed and took the prescribed pain pills. Remember, I had to stay off my foot “completely.” I knew not what 5 pm Tuesday would bring, but I dreaded it.
Five minutes into the specialist’s office he declared, “your ankle is fine.” I tried to explain to him that it was my foot that was broken, not my ankle. “No, it says here these are x-rays of your ankle, and I see no problem.” I then asked him if I could walk on it and he said sure, go ahead. He was right, there was no pain at all, in my foot or ankle. Of course I had been taking the pain pills every four hours to insure no pain would creep up on me, but this surprised me. “I was told not to walk on my foot until I saw a specialist, because it, my foot, was broke in at least three places,” I tried to explain to the Doc, but he would have no part of it as he walked out the door saying “well then, that’s it and I am out of here.”
My point? I’m not even sure I have a point. Oh yeah, I remember, even though I have been in bed for almost three days, with nothing wrong with me, paying close attention to the Doctor’s orders (“stay completely off your foot”), I was able to make my 82nd consecutive column.
Just in case anyone is counting, this marks the 82nd consecutive week of my contributing a column to this fine weekly; this week’s column almost didn’t happen. Allow me to explain.
It all started last Saturday when my eldest son Joe was scheduled to play his final, and I really do mean final soccer game of the season. Remember now, Joe has been playing with Tony Glavin now since August, and during the fall and spring, in addition to Glavin, he played with his classmates in either C.Y.C. or SCCYSA, so when I say final game it really was a big deal. As of Saturday there would be no soccer for Joe until July or August. The game was scheduled for a 5:15 start at Woodland Park in St. Peters. Joe’s brother Dee was feeling under the weather, so Lynn stayed home and Joe and I ventured out together; time for some father son bonding.
As fate would have it, the other team failed to show, which really was a big deal. You see Joe and Paige Murray gave up their Cardinal tickets to be at the soccer game. Andrew Clark had two games scheduled at the same time, one with his recreational team and one with his select team. Since this was the final game of the season, and the team was playing with the hopes of finishing the season with a perfect 10-0 record, Tom and Sheri Clark allowed Drew to decide which game he would attend; he passed on his select team to attend the final game of the season. So, if you will, the boys were “all dressed up with no where to go.” It was at this point someone came up with the great idea of the parents playing the kids. When I heard this my mind immediately started thinking at warp speed: I have on flip-flops, and the last thing I need to do is get hurt…”I’ll play goalie,” yelled out Dr. Dan Coogan. Yeah, that’s what I was going to say, but Coogan beat me to it. I had on flip-flops, you can’t play soccer in flip-flops. Then I remembered. In the trunk of my car I kept an old pair of football shoes that I wore only at mud bowls. The shoes were at least 2 or 3 sizes too large, but they were fine for mud bowls and would certainly be better than trying to play soccer in flip-flops.
Granted I am over weight, O.K., I am fat, but I had no idea eight year-olds could run so fast. They literally ran circles around me. At one point I asked Dr. Dan, remember Dr. Dan, the quick thinker who was playing goal, “How many bones are in your foot?” To which he replied 40 or so. “It feels like I just broke half of them,” I shouted back, jokingly…or so I thought.
Ultimately the parents won the contest with little, or no help from me. I took off my mud bowl, oversized football shoes and returned to my favored flip-flops. We all said our good-byes and headed our own ways. Later that evening Joe and I decided to do some more father-son bonding and went shopping for a Mother’s Day gift. That’s when it hit me. I could hardly walk. As difficult as walking was, climbing up a step was practically impossible. I was in some serious, serious pain. Once home I explained to Lynn how my foot was killing me, to which she replied,” My foot hurts every day.” So much for sympathy from my lovely wife.
During the middle of the night, as fate would have it, nature called. I literally had to crawl to the rest room, as my foot would not support any weight. The next morning as the family attended Mass I opted for urgent health care, my first ever visit to such a place. The doctor on duty took x-rays and declared, “Your foot is broken in at least three places.” Wow, I thought to myself, I wasn’t too far off base when I told the quick thinking Dr. Dan I felt like I broke half the bones in my foot. “Stay off your foot completely and see a specialist as soon as you can,” were the Doctor’s final bits of advice. “I will give you something for the pain.” And he did.
The remainder of Sunday I was in a pain pill trance. First thing Monday morning I called my primary care doctor and he referred me to a specialist. The problem was the specialist could not see me until Tuesday evening around 5 p.m. So all day Monday and all day Tuesday I simply stayed in bed and took the prescribed pain pills. Remember, I had to stay off my foot “completely.” I knew not what 5 pm Tuesday would bring, but I dreaded it.
Five minutes into the specialist’s office he declared, “your ankle is fine.” I tried to explain to him that it was my foot that was broken, not my ankle. “No, it says here these are x-rays of your ankle, and I see no problem.” I then asked him if I could walk on it and he said sure, go ahead. He was right, there was no pain at all, in my foot or ankle. Of course I had been taking the pain pills every four hours to insure no pain would creep up on me, but this surprised me. “I was told not to walk on my foot until I saw a specialist, because it, my foot, was broke in at least three places,” I tried to explain to the Doc, but he would have no part of it as he walked out the door saying “well then, that’s it and I am out of here.”
My point? I’m not even sure I have a point. Oh yeah, I remember, even though I have been in bed for almost three days, with nothing wrong with me, paying close attention to the Doctor’s orders (“stay completely off your foot”), I was able to make my 82nd consecutive column.
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