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Saturday, May 19, 2007
SECRET GROUP ASSAULTS YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW
ATTACK MADE ON FIRST AMENDMENT
By Tony Brockmeyer
An attack was made on the First Amendment last weekend when local businesses, who advertise in this newspaper, received a mailing asking them to stop advertising in the First Capitol News.
The letter, shown at the far right, came packaged with a a recent copy of the First Capitol News and a form letter asking the advertiser to sign and send to the FCN requesting that their ad be stopped. A stamped, addressed, envelope was included for their convenience. The letter was unsigned and had no return address so the business owners do not know who sent it.
First Capitol News Publisher Phyllis Schaltenbrand said, “For the past seven years we have been shining a light on St. Charles City Government. We take our readers behind the scene so they know what is going on. Now that this group is successful in taking control of the city council and the Mayor’s office, this newspaper is one thing standing between them and complete dictatorship.
Apparently they are frightened that one of our investigative reports is going to uncover activities they do not want the St. Charles resident taxpayers to know.”
Attacks have previously been made against this publication. Linda Meyer, who headed the recall efforts in the attempt to remove Councilman Mark Brown and Dottie Greer from office, has written and made phone calls to our advertisers in her attempts to have them stop advertising in this newspaper. She is married to a St. Charles police officer who was the president of the St. Charles Police Officers Association and a member of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP).
We have had advertisers tell us they have been contacted by the Mayor and her husband, Lionel, in an attempt to have them stop advertising in this publication.
TR Hughes spent thousands and thousands of dollars on the defunct St. Charles Citizen whose sole purpose was to put the First Capitol News out of business. His publisher, Ed Watkins, was quoted in the May 18th St. Charles section of the Post Dispatch as saying, “That was the worst mistake I ever made.” Watkins was also quoted in the May 21, 2006 edition of the Journal as saying, “I think people really underestimate the First Capitol News and the power of the First Capitol News. I have a healthy respect for them.”
Prior to the advent of the First Capitol News, those who were feeding from the public trough and living high on taxpayer dollars were able to do so without being exposed.
For the past several years they have been placed under the spotlight and their actions are being reported. That is why they are trying to stop this newspaper from reporting the true news about their schemes.
You should have received with this edition of the newspaper a subscription envelope. If you would like to help in the support of the First Capitol News so that you continue to receive local news coverage and investigative reports you won’t find anywhere else, we ask that you enclose a check or money order and mail it to the First Capitol News Post Office Box 1, St. Charles, Missouri 63302. If for some reason there is not a envelope enclosed any envelope will work just fine.
Home delivery of the First Capitol News is $20 for six months and $35 for a year. Although any contribution is welcome and we thank you for being a supporter of the Free Press.
Daily news is also available online at
firstcapitolnews-today.blogspot.com. Our entire edition including ads is available at
firstcapitolnews.com.
By Tony Brockmeyer
An attack was made on the First Amendment last weekend when local businesses, who advertise in this newspaper, received a mailing asking them to stop advertising in the First Capitol News.
The letter, shown at the far right, came packaged with a a recent copy of the First Capitol News and a form letter asking the advertiser to sign and send to the FCN requesting that their ad be stopped. A stamped, addressed, envelope was included for their convenience. The letter was unsigned and had no return address so the business owners do not know who sent it.
First Capitol News Publisher Phyllis Schaltenbrand said, “For the past seven years we have been shining a light on St. Charles City Government. We take our readers behind the scene so they know what is going on. Now that this group is successful in taking control of the city council and the Mayor’s office, this newspaper is one thing standing between them and complete dictatorship.
Apparently they are frightened that one of our investigative reports is going to uncover activities they do not want the St. Charles resident taxpayers to know.”
Attacks have previously been made against this publication. Linda Meyer, who headed the recall efforts in the attempt to remove Councilman Mark Brown and Dottie Greer from office, has written and made phone calls to our advertisers in her attempts to have them stop advertising in this newspaper. She is married to a St. Charles police officer who was the president of the St. Charles Police Officers Association and a member of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP).
We have had advertisers tell us they have been contacted by the Mayor and her husband, Lionel, in an attempt to have them stop advertising in this publication.
TR Hughes spent thousands and thousands of dollars on the defunct St. Charles Citizen whose sole purpose was to put the First Capitol News out of business. His publisher, Ed Watkins, was quoted in the May 18th St. Charles section of the Post Dispatch as saying, “That was the worst mistake I ever made.” Watkins was also quoted in the May 21, 2006 edition of the Journal as saying, “I think people really underestimate the First Capitol News and the power of the First Capitol News. I have a healthy respect for them.”
Prior to the advent of the First Capitol News, those who were feeding from the public trough and living high on taxpayer dollars were able to do so without being exposed.
For the past several years they have been placed under the spotlight and their actions are being reported. That is why they are trying to stop this newspaper from reporting the true news about their schemes.
You should have received with this edition of the newspaper a subscription envelope. If you would like to help in the support of the First Capitol News so that you continue to receive local news coverage and investigative reports you won’t find anywhere else, we ask that you enclose a check or money order and mail it to the First Capitol News Post Office Box 1, St. Charles, Missouri 63302. If for some reason there is not a envelope enclosed any envelope will work just fine.
Home delivery of the First Capitol News is $20 for six months and $35 for a year. Although any contribution is welcome and we thank you for being a supporter of the Free Press.
Daily news is also available online at
firstcapitolnews-today.blogspot.com. Our entire edition including ads is available at
firstcapitolnews.com.
We Do Not Print Falsehoods
The First Capitol News reported the Mayor told the board of the police association she would fire Chief of Police Tim Swope and his staff if she was reelected.
This was not a lie!
Shortly before the election, the Mayor held a press conference saying this was a lie and she was keeping all the city directors for a year. Then she was reelected. A couple of weeks later Chief Swope is gone and has a severance package. His secretary has been transferred to the record room. His assistant Chief, Major Bob Boerding, has been relieved of his command and demoted to the rank of Captain. Captain Gary Pollard, the public information officer, was relieved of his duties, demoted to patrolman and then back to Captain. In the severance agreement Swope is to receive a years salary of $113,000 payable in monthly installments beginning May 18th and benefits to the end of this year. The agreement also places a gag order on Swope.
The First Capitol News reported on activities that occurred during former Mayor Grace Nichol’s term in office.
This was not a lie!
She berated this newspaper and claimed we told lies. She even ran a half page ad in a St. Peters newspaper and in a look a like publication of the First Capitol News. We obtained the information from news reports and individuals who served during her term. If you go back and check the news reports from that election you will discover she made the same claims against her opponents then as she made against us during this election.
We reported that Councilman Mike Weller was disgusted with the snow removal efforts of the city. He told the Mayor that enough was enough.
This was not a lie!
In our February 24th edition we produced the e-mail that Councilman Weller had sent the First Capitol News.
The First Capitol News reported just prior to the election that millionaire developers were attempting to take over city hall.
This was not a lie!
A review of campaign finance reports on file at the office of the Director of Elections and news reports show that millionaire developers spent more than $1000,000 in recent election campaigns to place their candidates in office.
The First Capitol News reported that Professional Character Assassins were being brought in for the recent Mayoral and City Council elections.
This was not a lie!
A review of the campaign material you received in the mail and the phony clone of our newspaper that was thrown on your driveway prove it was a fact.
The First Capitol News reported that a Grand Jury subpoena was served on the city for records including records regarding the illegal signing of a contract without city council approval that the Mayor signed with Express Scripts. A contract that Express Scripts has made a demand of a $200,000 payment from the city.
This was not a lie!
Executive session minutes will show that the subpoena was served on the city and the council appropriated $25,000 in attorney fees for the hiring of a special council to make sure the records were provided in a timely manor.
The First Capitol News reported State Representative Tom Dempsey passed legislation in one day that prevented the city from stopping TR Hughes from hooking up his St. Andrews subdivision located outside the city limits to city water and sewers.
This was not a lie!
Records on file with the city and the state government plus later news reports show this was a true story.
A story in the First Capitol News reported that deposed testimony in the investigation of fraud and forgeries in the recall attempts against Councilwoman Dottie Greer and Councilman Mark Brown linked developers to the recall attempts.
This was not a lie!
A copy of the deposed testimony on file in the law office at city hall shows this was a true story.
A series of investigative reports by the First Capitol News told of millions of dollars in campaign money laundering through a large number of committees headed by Thomas Smith, an employee of State representative Tom Dempsey, J of 320 Monroe Street.
This was not a lie!
Reports on file with the Missouri Ethics Commission prove this information was correct.
The First Capitol News reported the recall efforts against Councilwoman Dottie Greer and Councilman Mark Brown were full of fraud and forgeries
This was not a lie!
An investigation by the police department showed this information was correct. Arrests were made and charges issued and more charges are pending by the office of the Prosecuting Attorney.
There are hundreds of similar examples. You can check our archives at firstcapitolnews.blogspot.com for additional stories. You will see the First Capitol News publishes the truth. Those who would like to keep the truth hidden from the residents of St. Charles are attempting to discredit this publication. We are standing between them and total dictatorship in their attempts to line their pockets with taxpayer dollars.
This was not a lie!
Shortly before the election, the Mayor held a press conference saying this was a lie and she was keeping all the city directors for a year. Then she was reelected. A couple of weeks later Chief Swope is gone and has a severance package. His secretary has been transferred to the record room. His assistant Chief, Major Bob Boerding, has been relieved of his command and demoted to the rank of Captain. Captain Gary Pollard, the public information officer, was relieved of his duties, demoted to patrolman and then back to Captain. In the severance agreement Swope is to receive a years salary of $113,000 payable in monthly installments beginning May 18th and benefits to the end of this year. The agreement also places a gag order on Swope.
The First Capitol News reported on activities that occurred during former Mayor Grace Nichol’s term in office.
This was not a lie!
She berated this newspaper and claimed we told lies. She even ran a half page ad in a St. Peters newspaper and in a look a like publication of the First Capitol News. We obtained the information from news reports and individuals who served during her term. If you go back and check the news reports from that election you will discover she made the same claims against her opponents then as she made against us during this election.
We reported that Councilman Mike Weller was disgusted with the snow removal efforts of the city. He told the Mayor that enough was enough.
This was not a lie!
In our February 24th edition we produced the e-mail that Councilman Weller had sent the First Capitol News.
The First Capitol News reported just prior to the election that millionaire developers were attempting to take over city hall.
This was not a lie!
A review of campaign finance reports on file at the office of the Director of Elections and news reports show that millionaire developers spent more than $1000,000 in recent election campaigns to place their candidates in office.
The First Capitol News reported that Professional Character Assassins were being brought in for the recent Mayoral and City Council elections.
This was not a lie!
A review of the campaign material you received in the mail and the phony clone of our newspaper that was thrown on your driveway prove it was a fact.
The First Capitol News reported that a Grand Jury subpoena was served on the city for records including records regarding the illegal signing of a contract without city council approval that the Mayor signed with Express Scripts. A contract that Express Scripts has made a demand of a $200,000 payment from the city.
This was not a lie!
Executive session minutes will show that the subpoena was served on the city and the council appropriated $25,000 in attorney fees for the hiring of a special council to make sure the records were provided in a timely manor.
The First Capitol News reported State Representative Tom Dempsey passed legislation in one day that prevented the city from stopping TR Hughes from hooking up his St. Andrews subdivision located outside the city limits to city water and sewers.
This was not a lie!
Records on file with the city and the state government plus later news reports show this was a true story.
A story in the First Capitol News reported that deposed testimony in the investigation of fraud and forgeries in the recall attempts against Councilwoman Dottie Greer and Councilman Mark Brown linked developers to the recall attempts.
This was not a lie!
A copy of the deposed testimony on file in the law office at city hall shows this was a true story.
A series of investigative reports by the First Capitol News told of millions of dollars in campaign money laundering through a large number of committees headed by Thomas Smith, an employee of State representative Tom Dempsey, J of 320 Monroe Street.
This was not a lie!
Reports on file with the Missouri Ethics Commission prove this information was correct.
The First Capitol News reported the recall efforts against Councilwoman Dottie Greer and Councilman Mark Brown were full of fraud and forgeries
This was not a lie!
An investigation by the police department showed this information was correct. Arrests were made and charges issued and more charges are pending by the office of the Prosecuting Attorney.
There are hundreds of similar examples. You can check our archives at firstcapitolnews.blogspot.com for additional stories. You will see the First Capitol News publishes the truth. Those who would like to keep the truth hidden from the residents of St. Charles are attempting to discredit this publication. We are standing between them and total dictatorship in their attempts to line their pockets with taxpayer dollars.
Council Kills Engineering Contract For Downtown Parking Garage
By Tony Brockmeyer
Tuesday night the City Council killed item B-1b on the Consent Agenda which would have awarded an engineering contract to HDR for the first phase of a long planned parking garage in Downtown St. Charles. The idea of building more parking had been championed by Second Ward City Councilman Larry Muench in the past as well as the Special Business District (SBD) and Historic Downtown Association (HAD).
Those efforts came to a crashing halt Tuesday evening as the City Council unanimously shot down the engineering contract at the urging of the Mayor and Council President Bob Kneemiller. They argued that there was no money for the project. Previously the Council had set aside future funding in the Capital Improvement Budget (CIP) to address parking problems.
For decades, business owners on North Main Street have complained about a lack of adequate parking. Most vocal in the past has been long-time businessman on North Main, Maurice (Mo) Thro, owner of Thro’s and Michelle’s clothing stores.
Councilman Larry Muench had pushed for a site between First Capitol and Jefferson between North Second Street and the alley to the East. He had envisioned a cooperative agreement between the City, St. Joseph’s SSM Hospital, which owns part of the site, and the corporate business Quilogy, which owns another portion of the site. The preliminary engineering contract with HDR was to determine the size, scale and cost of the project.
Though the project would have been located on the First Ward side of First Capitol, the project received no support from First Ward Councilman Richard Veit, who also voted to kill the parking garage project. While some Council members said they would form another committee to “study” the parking problems of Downtown, one member of the Historic Downtown Association we spoke with, who owns property on Main, said that any hope of parking relief just got setback years. She questioned if Councilmen Veit and Muench knew what they were voting on, or if they were just going along with the Council President and trusting what they were told.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, this property owner observed, ”Some people were afraid this new City Council would be less supportive of Downtown. In the long-term this is really short-sighted. Downtown is the heart of St. Charles. Too many businesses are already struggling to get by.”
Some long-time business owners on the street were shocked to hear of the council’s actions, though they prefer their reactions to remain anonymous for now. “Everyone knows there isn’t enough parking down here. That’s one reason why it is so hard to lease space and why there are so many empty storefronts.”
Specifically cited by some owners were businesses in the 100 block of South Main. “If you are a big business the city finds you parking or leases you space. But if you have a coffee shop or hair salon you are on your own. Nobody cares about small business owners.”
One local attorney and frequent visitor to Downtown said they always had problems trying to find parking to go to Lewis & Clark’s Restaurant. “Even at night you are hard pressed to get a convenient parking space. A garage there would have been great. I’m sorry to hear the City killed the idea.”
Tuesday night the City Council killed item B-1b on the Consent Agenda which would have awarded an engineering contract to HDR for the first phase of a long planned parking garage in Downtown St. Charles. The idea of building more parking had been championed by Second Ward City Councilman Larry Muench in the past as well as the Special Business District (SBD) and Historic Downtown Association (HAD).
Those efforts came to a crashing halt Tuesday evening as the City Council unanimously shot down the engineering contract at the urging of the Mayor and Council President Bob Kneemiller. They argued that there was no money for the project. Previously the Council had set aside future funding in the Capital Improvement Budget (CIP) to address parking problems.
For decades, business owners on North Main Street have complained about a lack of adequate parking. Most vocal in the past has been long-time businessman on North Main, Maurice (Mo) Thro, owner of Thro’s and Michelle’s clothing stores.
Councilman Larry Muench had pushed for a site between First Capitol and Jefferson between North Second Street and the alley to the East. He had envisioned a cooperative agreement between the City, St. Joseph’s SSM Hospital, which owns part of the site, and the corporate business Quilogy, which owns another portion of the site. The preliminary engineering contract with HDR was to determine the size, scale and cost of the project.
Though the project would have been located on the First Ward side of First Capitol, the project received no support from First Ward Councilman Richard Veit, who also voted to kill the parking garage project. While some Council members said they would form another committee to “study” the parking problems of Downtown, one member of the Historic Downtown Association we spoke with, who owns property on Main, said that any hope of parking relief just got setback years. She questioned if Councilmen Veit and Muench knew what they were voting on, or if they were just going along with the Council President and trusting what they were told.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, this property owner observed, ”Some people were afraid this new City Council would be less supportive of Downtown. In the long-term this is really short-sighted. Downtown is the heart of St. Charles. Too many businesses are already struggling to get by.”
Some long-time business owners on the street were shocked to hear of the council’s actions, though they prefer their reactions to remain anonymous for now. “Everyone knows there isn’t enough parking down here. That’s one reason why it is so hard to lease space and why there are so many empty storefronts.”
Specifically cited by some owners were businesses in the 100 block of South Main. “If you are a big business the city finds you parking or leases you space. But if you have a coffee shop or hair salon you are on your own. Nobody cares about small business owners.”
One local attorney and frequent visitor to Downtown said they always had problems trying to find parking to go to Lewis & Clark’s Restaurant. “Even at night you are hard pressed to get a convenient parking space. A garage there would have been great. I’m sorry to hear the City killed the idea.”
RAMBLING WITH The Editor Tony Brockmeyer
WHY DID TIM SWOPE LEAVE AS CHIEF OF POLICE?
Although Tim Swope refuses to make any comments as to why he accepted the severance package from the city and left his job as Chief of Police, the First Capitol News was able to make some interesting discoveries that may shed some light on this situation.
On April 16 Mayor York notified the police department she would be acting as Chief of Police and would be making any decisions related to the police department. An office was to be made available to her and she would be interviewing all employees.
Mayor York ordered Chief Swope to immediately end the police investigation into the fraud and forgeries committed during the Mark Brown recall effort and to forward whatever information he had to St. Charles Prosecuting Attorney Jack Banas.
Mayor York ordered Chief Swope to stop fraternizing with people he went to high school with and people he had worked with in the St. Charles County Sheriff’s office.
Now if you were in Tim Swope’s shoes what would you do?
The Mayor has been quoted as saying that during her campaign the people were more interested in streets and infrastructure than anything else. If that statement was true why then immediately after the election did she settle down in the police department instead of the public works department? Was it because she lied when she said she was not going to fire Chief Swope and his command staff or was it because she was trying to make him uncomfortable enough to leave on his own so she could satisfy the Fraternal Order of Police? You decide!
WE HOLD OUR HEAD UP HIGH!
The old saying “All politics is local” was coined some time ago. That saying is holding true even today. I say this because the new St. Charles administration, which was elected by 55 percent of 16 percent of the voters, has begun to place pressure on those who support this newspaper. Since the days of Watergate the press has taken on a much larger role. It’s the job of the press to keep the politics and the politicians on an even keel. You might say we are supposed to keep them honest. This paper can hold our head up high because that’s what we do. We do it better than the other papers because we are not beholden to the City of St. Charles for advertising funds to produce or distribute our paper.
The other two newspapers distributed in St. Charles but with headquarters out of town each receive in access of $300,000 in advertising per year from the city. The city is most likely one of the biggest accounts. That being said, their stories are often void of any real controversy or comment that would look negatively on the St. Charles administration.
You can’t say that about the First Capitol News. When we see something that’s not right we report on it. This paper has never edited itself based on who gives us advertising. Lindenwood University and Dr. Spellmann was an advertiser and we ran stories when we believed they were doing wrong. Council President Rory Riddler was a contributing columnist and we told him he was wrong with the way he was handling the Frenchtown redevelopment.
Why would a small number of people want to see us go? Simple, control of the press as well as the city gives them total control. If nobody is there to tell you what’s really going on he or she can cheat, steal, and act anyway they want. It’s really simple; they don’t want their actions aired in public because they don’t want the taxpayers to know.
In a recent editorial, written in another publication, the editor attempted to explain why they don’t use anonymous sources in the stories they print. While this was brought to my attention I had to laugh. The biggest stories in our countries recent history have been from anonymous sources. The real reason a paper would refuse to use a source that insists on remaining anonymous is they are afraid to make those in power angry. Sources who refuse to be named usually have a job that can be affected, family to protect or a business that would be in jeopardy. The fact that they have criteria is admirable, most people learn most of that in J-School in the first ten minutes.
Papers who refuse to use or place such scrutiny on why not to use anonymous sources in reality are the cause for the distrust of the current press. They are unable to provide a fair and balanced representation of the truth. Case in point is the fact that Mayor York held a press conference telling people that she did not say she would fire Chief Swope if re-elected. The other papers lack of editorial ethics did not allow for them to print the truth as relayed to them by sources that wished their identities to be withheld. Those voices would not be heard. They only reported what the mayor said. This type of press is much more dangerous than any other. This type of press is not free.
The First Capitol News does keep our sources confidential when they request it. We will continue to do so as we bring you behind the scene news that you won’t find anywhere else. We thank you for being a reader of the First Capitol News and hope that you continue to enjoy our publication.
BURN THE DEBT! WHAT IS THE MONEY REALLY FOR?
We were told that the Mayor recently sent out a couple of hundred e-mail invitations for a “Burn The Debt” party to be held at Bogey Hills Country Club. Our sources told us about 60 people showed up and that nine of the invited 10 councilmen were also present. Councilman Erv Ermeling was not there. Some of the people told us they thought the money was going to the Mayor’s campaign but later found out that any extra would go to TR Hughes in an attempt to pay him back the $58,000 he spent on the recent elections of the mayor and city councilman and his attempt to discredit this newspaper. Maybe he needs the money. An article in the March 23-29 edition of the St. Louis Business Journal reported that T.R. Hughes, Inc. saw its revenue drop about 32 percent last year. T.R. Hughes reported revenue of $59.8 million in 2006, down from nearly 88.8 million in 2005.
The councilmen were told if they had any campaign debt to see Buddy Harden and he would see it was paid. Several councilmen apparently took Hughes up on the offer.
SUBSCRIBE TODAY!
Don’t forget to send in your subscription for home delivery, $20 for six months and $35 for a year. “I saw it in the First Capitol News.” It’s what people are talking about! Home Delivery! Subscribe Today! A self addressed envelope is included inside this paper.
Although Tim Swope refuses to make any comments as to why he accepted the severance package from the city and left his job as Chief of Police, the First Capitol News was able to make some interesting discoveries that may shed some light on this situation.
On April 16 Mayor York notified the police department she would be acting as Chief of Police and would be making any decisions related to the police department. An office was to be made available to her and she would be interviewing all employees.
Mayor York ordered Chief Swope to immediately end the police investigation into the fraud and forgeries committed during the Mark Brown recall effort and to forward whatever information he had to St. Charles Prosecuting Attorney Jack Banas.
Mayor York ordered Chief Swope to stop fraternizing with people he went to high school with and people he had worked with in the St. Charles County Sheriff’s office.
Now if you were in Tim Swope’s shoes what would you do?
The Mayor has been quoted as saying that during her campaign the people were more interested in streets and infrastructure than anything else. If that statement was true why then immediately after the election did she settle down in the police department instead of the public works department? Was it because she lied when she said she was not going to fire Chief Swope and his command staff or was it because she was trying to make him uncomfortable enough to leave on his own so she could satisfy the Fraternal Order of Police? You decide!
WE HOLD OUR HEAD UP HIGH!
The old saying “All politics is local” was coined some time ago. That saying is holding true even today. I say this because the new St. Charles administration, which was elected by 55 percent of 16 percent of the voters, has begun to place pressure on those who support this newspaper. Since the days of Watergate the press has taken on a much larger role. It’s the job of the press to keep the politics and the politicians on an even keel. You might say we are supposed to keep them honest. This paper can hold our head up high because that’s what we do. We do it better than the other papers because we are not beholden to the City of St. Charles for advertising funds to produce or distribute our paper.
The other two newspapers distributed in St. Charles but with headquarters out of town each receive in access of $300,000 in advertising per year from the city. The city is most likely one of the biggest accounts. That being said, their stories are often void of any real controversy or comment that would look negatively on the St. Charles administration.
You can’t say that about the First Capitol News. When we see something that’s not right we report on it. This paper has never edited itself based on who gives us advertising. Lindenwood University and Dr. Spellmann was an advertiser and we ran stories when we believed they were doing wrong. Council President Rory Riddler was a contributing columnist and we told him he was wrong with the way he was handling the Frenchtown redevelopment.
Why would a small number of people want to see us go? Simple, control of the press as well as the city gives them total control. If nobody is there to tell you what’s really going on he or she can cheat, steal, and act anyway they want. It’s really simple; they don’t want their actions aired in public because they don’t want the taxpayers to know.
In a recent editorial, written in another publication, the editor attempted to explain why they don’t use anonymous sources in the stories they print. While this was brought to my attention I had to laugh. The biggest stories in our countries recent history have been from anonymous sources. The real reason a paper would refuse to use a source that insists on remaining anonymous is they are afraid to make those in power angry. Sources who refuse to be named usually have a job that can be affected, family to protect or a business that would be in jeopardy. The fact that they have criteria is admirable, most people learn most of that in J-School in the first ten minutes.
Papers who refuse to use or place such scrutiny on why not to use anonymous sources in reality are the cause for the distrust of the current press. They are unable to provide a fair and balanced representation of the truth. Case in point is the fact that Mayor York held a press conference telling people that she did not say she would fire Chief Swope if re-elected. The other papers lack of editorial ethics did not allow for them to print the truth as relayed to them by sources that wished their identities to be withheld. Those voices would not be heard. They only reported what the mayor said. This type of press is much more dangerous than any other. This type of press is not free.
The First Capitol News does keep our sources confidential when they request it. We will continue to do so as we bring you behind the scene news that you won’t find anywhere else. We thank you for being a reader of the First Capitol News and hope that you continue to enjoy our publication.
BURN THE DEBT! WHAT IS THE MONEY REALLY FOR?
We were told that the Mayor recently sent out a couple of hundred e-mail invitations for a “Burn The Debt” party to be held at Bogey Hills Country Club. Our sources told us about 60 people showed up and that nine of the invited 10 councilmen were also present. Councilman Erv Ermeling was not there. Some of the people told us they thought the money was going to the Mayor’s campaign but later found out that any extra would go to TR Hughes in an attempt to pay him back the $58,000 he spent on the recent elections of the mayor and city councilman and his attempt to discredit this newspaper. Maybe he needs the money. An article in the March 23-29 edition of the St. Louis Business Journal reported that T.R. Hughes, Inc. saw its revenue drop about 32 percent last year. T.R. Hughes reported revenue of $59.8 million in 2006, down from nearly 88.8 million in 2005.
The councilmen were told if they had any campaign debt to see Buddy Harden and he would see it was paid. Several councilmen apparently took Hughes up on the offer.
SUBSCRIBE TODAY!
Don’t forget to send in your subscription for home delivery, $20 for six months and $35 for a year. “I saw it in the First Capitol News.” It’s what people are talking about! Home Delivery! Subscribe Today! A self addressed envelope is included inside this paper.
AN EDITORIAL
INTRODUCING THE SAGA OF TR GEPETO AND PINOCOPATTI
With this issue we are introducing our new editorial cartoons , “The saga of TR Gepeto and PinocoPatti. They will be appearing in editions of the First Capitol News from time to time and we hope you enjoy them.
We offer the following as background to the saga of TR Gepeto and PinocoPatti:
Once upon a time in a village along the banks of a rushing river there lived a greedy, lonely man who thought he should be king. Lets call him TR Gepeto. He believed that all the villagers should bow down and pay him homage because he was very wealthy and he knew what was best for them. However, TR Gepeto had a business that needed his attention and he did not want to dedicate the time necessary to be king. He just wanted the power. This king wannabe tried to make demands upon the governing body of the village that would bring him greater riches but would come out of the pockets of the villagers. Several of the elected officials refused to bend to his wishes. He tried to get some of his lackeys elected by the villagers to the governing body but alas his efforts failed. The members of the governing body believed that what was best for the villagers was more important than what was good for the greedy, lonely TR Gepeto.
He attempted to have the villagers rebel against some members of the governing body and spent thousands and thousands of dollars in doing so. Alas, when the local sheriff discovered fraud, forgeries and deceit, these efforts failed. Some of the lackeys of the wannabe king were even charged with crimes. He tried to get the investigation by the sheriff stopped but when the sheriff refused he started a campaign to have the sheriff removed.
He was also very angry because there was a town crier who refused to do his bidding and each time he tried to slip something past the villagers the town crier alerted them. So the wannabe king brought in his own make-believe town crier in an attempt to discredit the real town crier. But, alas, once again his efforts were fraught with defeat and his make-believe town crier quickly disappeared but not before lauding the work of the real town crier.
Elections were again coming due and the lonely man believed he needed a puppet that could take control of the local government and do his bidding. He was planning on creating such a puppet out of a block of wood he had discovered. But then he had an even better idea. He would find someone who would follow his directions without question and form them into the puppet that he could control and thus take over the village. Enter PinocoPatti.
TR Gepeto believed if he could get a member of the governing body reelected to the top position in the village government, who would bow to his every wish, his dreams for more wealth would be realized. TR Gepeto then spent thousands more dollars promoting his puppet and other candidates whom he could control, in efforts to get them elected to the village governing body. TR Gepeto even created a duplicate of the town crier to spread his lies and distortions so that the villagers would believe it was the real town crier. You see, it was the only way he could get the villagers attention.
Because of the underhanded way he conducted the campaigns of lies, untruths, and deceit the lonely wannabe king, TR Gepeto was successful in taking control of the village board. However, his plan had a weakness. PinocoPatti had a defect. Each time she told a lie her nose would grow longer. Try as he might TR Gepeto was unable to keep PinocoPatti’s nose from growing longer with each lie. This was something he would have to work on.
But in the meantime, TR Gepeto angered some of his lackeys when an attempt was made to have them reimburse him for the thousands of dollars he had spent on his takeover campaign. Maybe the king was not as wealthy as he would have all the villagers believe.
Be sure to follow the continued adventures of the saga of TR Gepeto and PinocoPatti in future edition of the First Capitol News.
The saga of TR Gepeto and PinocoPatti is offered as a parody and any similarity to any persons living or dead are purely coincidental.
THE EDITOR
With this issue we are introducing our new editorial cartoons , “The saga of TR Gepeto and PinocoPatti. They will be appearing in editions of the First Capitol News from time to time and we hope you enjoy them.
We offer the following as background to the saga of TR Gepeto and PinocoPatti:
Once upon a time in a village along the banks of a rushing river there lived a greedy, lonely man who thought he should be king. Lets call him TR Gepeto. He believed that all the villagers should bow down and pay him homage because he was very wealthy and he knew what was best for them. However, TR Gepeto had a business that needed his attention and he did not want to dedicate the time necessary to be king. He just wanted the power. This king wannabe tried to make demands upon the governing body of the village that would bring him greater riches but would come out of the pockets of the villagers. Several of the elected officials refused to bend to his wishes. He tried to get some of his lackeys elected by the villagers to the governing body but alas his efforts failed. The members of the governing body believed that what was best for the villagers was more important than what was good for the greedy, lonely TR Gepeto.
He attempted to have the villagers rebel against some members of the governing body and spent thousands and thousands of dollars in doing so. Alas, when the local sheriff discovered fraud, forgeries and deceit, these efforts failed. Some of the lackeys of the wannabe king were even charged with crimes. He tried to get the investigation by the sheriff stopped but when the sheriff refused he started a campaign to have the sheriff removed.
He was also very angry because there was a town crier who refused to do his bidding and each time he tried to slip something past the villagers the town crier alerted them. So the wannabe king brought in his own make-believe town crier in an attempt to discredit the real town crier. But, alas, once again his efforts were fraught with defeat and his make-believe town crier quickly disappeared but not before lauding the work of the real town crier.
Elections were again coming due and the lonely man believed he needed a puppet that could take control of the local government and do his bidding. He was planning on creating such a puppet out of a block of wood he had discovered. But then he had an even better idea. He would find someone who would follow his directions without question and form them into the puppet that he could control and thus take over the village. Enter PinocoPatti.
TR Gepeto believed if he could get a member of the governing body reelected to the top position in the village government, who would bow to his every wish, his dreams for more wealth would be realized. TR Gepeto then spent thousands more dollars promoting his puppet and other candidates whom he could control, in efforts to get them elected to the village governing body. TR Gepeto even created a duplicate of the town crier to spread his lies and distortions so that the villagers would believe it was the real town crier. You see, it was the only way he could get the villagers attention.
Because of the underhanded way he conducted the campaigns of lies, untruths, and deceit the lonely wannabe king, TR Gepeto was successful in taking control of the village board. However, his plan had a weakness. PinocoPatti had a defect. Each time she told a lie her nose would grow longer. Try as he might TR Gepeto was unable to keep PinocoPatti’s nose from growing longer with each lie. This was something he would have to work on.
But in the meantime, TR Gepeto angered some of his lackeys when an attempt was made to have them reimburse him for the thousands of dollars he had spent on his takeover campaign. Maybe the king was not as wealthy as he would have all the villagers believe.
Be sure to follow the continued adventures of the saga of TR Gepeto and PinocoPatti in future edition of the First Capitol News.
The saga of TR Gepeto and PinocoPatti is offered as a parody and any similarity to any persons living or dead are purely coincidental.
THE EDITOR
Commentary From The Publisher - Phyllis Schaltenbrand
Rubber Stamp Council Busy Fulfilling Pledge To Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell
It seems the highest priority among the majority of new City Councilmembers is to not ask too many questions and to not tell people what they are doing.
Our sources tell us that Third Ward Councilwoman Laurie Feldman was particularly upset that news of the Council’s support for buying out former Police Chief Tim Swope’s contract leaked out. Not upset that she voted for it, mind you, just upset that the public found out how she voted. She berated her fellow Councilmembers over leaks to the press.
Here are some recent examples of the new Don’t Ask – Don’t Tell policy at City Hall:
DON’T ASK
Council supports legislation to “give away” to a citizens committee appointed by the Mayor, the power to set your water and sewer rates and to give out tens of millions of dollars worth of contracts for sewer and water plant upgrades and line extensions.
They just want to RUBBER STAMP the actions of these unelected citizens and blame them when your rates go up. Almost every new Councilmember ran on a platform pledging to not raise any taxes or rates. If our sewer and water rates go up, these Councilmembers will have broken their pledges to you. They are desperately looking for a third party to let them off the hook. We at the First Capitol News don’t intend to.
The Council, also, voted to give the Mayor supreme authority to hire interim department directors without any vote of approval of the Council. In other words, this Council couldn’t even be bothered to deliberate and vote on the merits of a nominee of the Mayor.
DON’T TELL
The majority of City Councilmembers supported a “gag” rule as a condition for the buyout of former Police Chief Tim Swope so that he could not comment on the details of his leaving. These are not the actions of people who support open government.
Their actions, in supporting the Mayor’s buyout of Swope’s contract cost every taxpayer of this City. One of the first votes of these new Councilmembers (with the exception of Erv Ermeling who abstained) was to WASTE $150,000 of your hard earned tax dollars! They might as well have stacked up $150,000 in the middle of the street and burned it!
DON’T CARE
First Ward Councilman Richard Veit epitomized the attitude of the slate of candidates elected to give unquestioning support to the Mayor by millionaire developer T. R. Hughes when he said at a recent Council meeting that he wasn’t elected to be “Mayor” of the First Ward, but to be part of a “collective” body.
He didn’t use the word “deliberative” body where representatives would think and act for themselves. He said collective body; a hive mentality where everyone thinks and acts the same and does what they are told.
It seems the highest priority among the majority of new City Councilmembers is to not ask too many questions and to not tell people what they are doing.
Our sources tell us that Third Ward Councilwoman Laurie Feldman was particularly upset that news of the Council’s support for buying out former Police Chief Tim Swope’s contract leaked out. Not upset that she voted for it, mind you, just upset that the public found out how she voted. She berated her fellow Councilmembers over leaks to the press.
Here are some recent examples of the new Don’t Ask – Don’t Tell policy at City Hall:
DON’T ASK
Council supports legislation to “give away” to a citizens committee appointed by the Mayor, the power to set your water and sewer rates and to give out tens of millions of dollars worth of contracts for sewer and water plant upgrades and line extensions.
They just want to RUBBER STAMP the actions of these unelected citizens and blame them when your rates go up. Almost every new Councilmember ran on a platform pledging to not raise any taxes or rates. If our sewer and water rates go up, these Councilmembers will have broken their pledges to you. They are desperately looking for a third party to let them off the hook. We at the First Capitol News don’t intend to.
The Council, also, voted to give the Mayor supreme authority to hire interim department directors without any vote of approval of the Council. In other words, this Council couldn’t even be bothered to deliberate and vote on the merits of a nominee of the Mayor.
DON’T TELL
The majority of City Councilmembers supported a “gag” rule as a condition for the buyout of former Police Chief Tim Swope so that he could not comment on the details of his leaving. These are not the actions of people who support open government.
Their actions, in supporting the Mayor’s buyout of Swope’s contract cost every taxpayer of this City. One of the first votes of these new Councilmembers (with the exception of Erv Ermeling who abstained) was to WASTE $150,000 of your hard earned tax dollars! They might as well have stacked up $150,000 in the middle of the street and burned it!
DON’T CARE
First Ward Councilman Richard Veit epitomized the attitude of the slate of candidates elected to give unquestioning support to the Mayor by millionaire developer T. R. Hughes when he said at a recent Council meeting that he wasn’t elected to be “Mayor” of the First Ward, but to be part of a “collective” body.
He didn’t use the word “deliberative” body where representatives would think and act for themselves. He said collective body; a hive mentality where everyone thinks and acts the same and does what they are told.
CASE IN POINT by Joe Koester
None are so hopelessly enslaved, as those who falsely believe they are free. The truth has been kept from the depth of their minds by masters who rule them with lies. They feed them on falsehoods till wrong looks like right in their eyes.
Johann von Goethe
On City Politics: If you have kept abreast of city politics then you probably know that money set aside for each ward, but not yet spent, may in fact, go back into the general budget. Certainly, this is a poor decision considering some wards have had the benefit of this money while others have not.
In Ward 9, money was already set aside for a public improvement project at the corner of Duchesne and Droste Roads; for the replacement of all stop signs in the ward (as well as a few in Ward 10 that are at split intersections); for a retaining wall at James Drive and Droste; and for at least seven street lights in High Prairie Subdivision. Ward 9 deserves to have this investment fulfilled. Hopefully, those concerned will fight for our ward and make certain that this money, already earmarked for improvements to our neighborhoods, actually goes to these projects and does not allow it to go back into the general fund.
Another story out of Ward 9, and more specifically, my own neighborhood, concerns itself with a business being established within a residential area that many surrounding residents opposed. The business permit was given with opposition coming from two council members – including Stivison’s vote. Certainly, if the proper communication had been made prior to the council meeting, the representation for the ward could have stopped this from moving forward. You see, whenever something concerns solely one ward, council members will communicate their wishes for their area since they should know it best. Before the council meeting even happens, you begin taking up your cause with others on council. Whenever a symbolic vote is cast, it usually is a way of having your cake and eating it too. For many readers this particular small matter is meaningless, however, when the issue is in your own back yard, you may well see things differently. Unfortunately, many politicians play this game and their own constituents end up the losers.
Three exciting developments along West Clay will hopefully continue unabated in the coming months including: the completion of the old Clinic site (commercial and residential usage); the groundbreaking of the development behind the Jack-in-the-Box that will become a senior housing development; and finally, the redevelopment of First Capitol Drive from the water tower to I-70. This last development is crucial to our town’s financial well being. Our city currently suffers from a less-than-desirable image as you enter from I-70 and 94. This one development area, I believe, could be the most important piece of the puzzle to be redeveloped and quite literally, I think it would solidify redevelopment throughout the City. This location is after all, the core of our town. A new entrance to our City at First Capitol Drive could lift the perception of our entire community as certainly as it currently detracts from our community now.
There is a study being conducted on the feasibility of streetcars in town. If this does move forward, I think that our town needs to take a serious look at making one of the stops at Lindenwood University at First Capitol and Boone (at the planned redevelopment site) as well as at the water tower (site of planned redevelopment). The route could be something like this: New Town/ Charlestowne / Main Street / Convention Center / water tower / Lindenwood University / Back to Main Street... this, of course, if the study shows that the plan is even feasible.
Johann von Goethe
On City Politics: If you have kept abreast of city politics then you probably know that money set aside for each ward, but not yet spent, may in fact, go back into the general budget. Certainly, this is a poor decision considering some wards have had the benefit of this money while others have not.
In Ward 9, money was already set aside for a public improvement project at the corner of Duchesne and Droste Roads; for the replacement of all stop signs in the ward (as well as a few in Ward 10 that are at split intersections); for a retaining wall at James Drive and Droste; and for at least seven street lights in High Prairie Subdivision. Ward 9 deserves to have this investment fulfilled. Hopefully, those concerned will fight for our ward and make certain that this money, already earmarked for improvements to our neighborhoods, actually goes to these projects and does not allow it to go back into the general fund.
Another story out of Ward 9, and more specifically, my own neighborhood, concerns itself with a business being established within a residential area that many surrounding residents opposed. The business permit was given with opposition coming from two council members – including Stivison’s vote. Certainly, if the proper communication had been made prior to the council meeting, the representation for the ward could have stopped this from moving forward. You see, whenever something concerns solely one ward, council members will communicate their wishes for their area since they should know it best. Before the council meeting even happens, you begin taking up your cause with others on council. Whenever a symbolic vote is cast, it usually is a way of having your cake and eating it too. For many readers this particular small matter is meaningless, however, when the issue is in your own back yard, you may well see things differently. Unfortunately, many politicians play this game and their own constituents end up the losers.
Three exciting developments along West Clay will hopefully continue unabated in the coming months including: the completion of the old Clinic site (commercial and residential usage); the groundbreaking of the development behind the Jack-in-the-Box that will become a senior housing development; and finally, the redevelopment of First Capitol Drive from the water tower to I-70. This last development is crucial to our town’s financial well being. Our city currently suffers from a less-than-desirable image as you enter from I-70 and 94. This one development area, I believe, could be the most important piece of the puzzle to be redeveloped and quite literally, I think it would solidify redevelopment throughout the City. This location is after all, the core of our town. A new entrance to our City at First Capitol Drive could lift the perception of our entire community as certainly as it currently detracts from our community now.
There is a study being conducted on the feasibility of streetcars in town. If this does move forward, I think that our town needs to take a serious look at making one of the stops at Lindenwood University at First Capitol and Boone (at the planned redevelopment site) as well as at the water tower (site of planned redevelopment). The route could be something like this: New Town/ Charlestowne / Main Street / Convention Center / water tower / Lindenwood University / Back to Main Street... this, of course, if the study shows that the plan is even feasible.
The View From The Cheap Seats by Jerry Hafferkamp
The View From The Cheap Seats
By Jerry Haferkamp
“What the heck is she doing”? That’s the question reverberating all around the city. The mayor’s supporters are asking about her slash and burn at City Hall. Many of those who voted for her are surprised. Those who didn’t aren’t. We know her better than her supporters do. Like the proverbial horse led to water, we led you to the truth, you just wouldn’t drink.
I look to more surprises for the 55% of you that voted for her.
Look for the former Director of Tourism to make his return. I could only hope that when he does, this time he will abide by our ordinances. Exhibiting at least a small amount of common sense and intelligence wouldn’t hurt, either.
Look for the return of the “Top Cop”. There is an attachment there I can’t put into words. I know at the council meeting where Patti named him her “Top Cop”, she appeared as if someone was going to have to revive her. Now we can understand why she has an office in the Justice Center. We won’t have to look for a new Chief of Police. The Fraternal Order of Police will run our police department, thank you.
Look to the various boards to consist of residents who don’t breathe unless this mayor tells them they may. If she can’t get residents that will do her bidding, she’ll use non-residents. She has shown this trait in the past.
She can now dare to show her true self. She no longer needs the voters. She has this temporary position until Tom Dempsey steps down and the political machine anoints her as your State Representative. (At this point, it should be noted that the Republican machine is not doing anything the Democrat Party machine wouldn’t do). By the time she needs your votes again, many of us will have passed on and most of the rest will have forgotten the dishonesty. She is doing a quick “slash and burn” and hope most of it is forgotten by the next time she needs to use you.
Only the City Council can put the brakes on this runaway train, but so far has only given York the fast track. There are three on the council who may have not promised to drink the Kool-Aid, but seven are locked to the mayor.
The mayor now has full and unstoppable control. She has so much staff she doesn’t even have to get out of bed, and she’ll be adding more. That way, when the stuff hits the fan, she will have someone onto whom she can pin the blame. No blame sticks to Teflon Patti.
Fasten your seatbelts. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.
By the way. I recently asked Tom Dempsey how he was coming along with having the T.R.Hughes law removed. (That’s the anti-resident law that benefits one campaign contributor.) He replied that he is trying to identify a piece of legislation to which he can attach the bill. It surely didn’t take this long to get his buddy’s bill passed into law. Maybe we need to send him a large campaign donation to get activity.
The old council should have started legal action to have it removed.
This council never will.
That’s the view from the cheap seats.
By Jerry Haferkamp
“What the heck is she doing”? That’s the question reverberating all around the city. The mayor’s supporters are asking about her slash and burn at City Hall. Many of those who voted for her are surprised. Those who didn’t aren’t. We know her better than her supporters do. Like the proverbial horse led to water, we led you to the truth, you just wouldn’t drink.
I look to more surprises for the 55% of you that voted for her.
Look for the former Director of Tourism to make his return. I could only hope that when he does, this time he will abide by our ordinances. Exhibiting at least a small amount of common sense and intelligence wouldn’t hurt, either.
Look for the return of the “Top Cop”. There is an attachment there I can’t put into words. I know at the council meeting where Patti named him her “Top Cop”, she appeared as if someone was going to have to revive her. Now we can understand why she has an office in the Justice Center. We won’t have to look for a new Chief of Police. The Fraternal Order of Police will run our police department, thank you.
Look to the various boards to consist of residents who don’t breathe unless this mayor tells them they may. If she can’t get residents that will do her bidding, she’ll use non-residents. She has shown this trait in the past.
She can now dare to show her true self. She no longer needs the voters. She has this temporary position until Tom Dempsey steps down and the political machine anoints her as your State Representative. (At this point, it should be noted that the Republican machine is not doing anything the Democrat Party machine wouldn’t do). By the time she needs your votes again, many of us will have passed on and most of the rest will have forgotten the dishonesty. She is doing a quick “slash and burn” and hope most of it is forgotten by the next time she needs to use you.
Only the City Council can put the brakes on this runaway train, but so far has only given York the fast track. There are three on the council who may have not promised to drink the Kool-Aid, but seven are locked to the mayor.
The mayor now has full and unstoppable control. She has so much staff she doesn’t even have to get out of bed, and she’ll be adding more. That way, when the stuff hits the fan, she will have someone onto whom she can pin the blame. No blame sticks to Teflon Patti.
Fasten your seatbelts. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.
By the way. I recently asked Tom Dempsey how he was coming along with having the T.R.Hughes law removed. (That’s the anti-resident law that benefits one campaign contributor.) He replied that he is trying to identify a piece of legislation to which he can attach the bill. It surely didn’t take this long to get his buddy’s bill passed into law. Maybe we need to send him a large campaign donation to get activity.
The old council should have started legal action to have it removed.
This council never will.
That’s the view from the cheap seats.
THE PEOPLE SPEAK - Letters To The Editor
Dear Tony,
The police department is made up of three factions. The Fraternal order of Police, The St. Charles City Police Organization, and the independent police who belong to neither. I know as a retired teacher that school districts had trouble negotiating if there was more than one union. The teachers could either have NEA or MSTA but not both! It’s a miracle to me how they can run that department with three factions. Chief Swope did it and is a hero for the effort.
In the next segment of the letter I am going to pretend I’m like Bill O’Reilly.
These are the facts of the case as I read them are heard them. I will announce a score for the Mayor at then end of each fact.
Fact 1. The Mayor parked her Lexus in the parking lot. True.
Fact 2. She commandeered an office in the building. True.
Fact 3. Told the assembled police she was the police chief while she was there. This is true but she denied. Score PI.
Fact 4. She countermanded all of Chief Swope’s orders. True but she denied claim. Score N.
Fact 5. She called all of the women into “her office” one at a time to ask about sexual harassment. True but she again denied. Score OC.
Fact 6. Gave order to police. Chief Swope was completely out of the loop. He had no control. True but she denied. Score HI.
She stayed 1 1⁄2 weeks. It was total chaos. True but she denied. Score O.
Let me see. Each denial is worth 4 inches. Our Mayor’s nose grew 16 inches. She has out done Pinocchio!!!!
Jane Horning
Dear Editor,
I read your article about Chief Swope with a heavy heart. This young man was a tremendous asset to the City of St. Charles and should have been kept. I say should have been kept because if this was a truly mutual agreement than there wouldn’t be a need for a gag order incorporated into the contract that was signed. I find it amusing that the Mayor would force the Chief out one day then dismantle the upper management of the department the next. “It’s a package deal” looks to be exactly that, a “package deal”. I do feel betrayed by the Post and the Journal for their lack of journalistic ethic in dealing with the Mayor and her statements. They now know the Mayor lied to them and the public, to top it off the Post still perpetuates the lie with the last article about the Chiefs dismissal. Thanks for keeping us informed, and
congratulations on another scoop of the other two papers.
Best Regards,
B. Williams
There goes the neighborhood – but maybe not
Dear Tony,
The “celebration” of the closing of Benton Elementary is premature, since a couple of people had petitions to keep Benton open as a school during the event. And people were signing them. The board will be asked to rescind its decision to close Benton.
In general, people are eager to sign the petitions. Keeping our core neighborhood schools open is easily the most popular idea in town, at least north of I-70. People say, “You bet I do!” when asked if they would like to sign. Or, “I was hoping somebody would get a petition going!” It’s beyond politics. Since joining the “Keep Historic Benton School Teaching” campaign, I’ve also heard how distressed people still are at the closing of Blackhurst. Yet the school district plans to close all the elementary and middle schools, eventually. And build a big box school somewhere? Or privatize the schools?
The only people who won’t sign the Benton petition are connected to the district, or working for the “competition,” private schools. (Speaking of which, school board member Karen Perrone is the business manager for the Academy of the Sacred Heart. And Donna Towers works for Lindenwood, a private university that brokers its own real estate transactions.)
Closing neighborhood schools is an idea that was probably dreamed up when gas was much cheaper. Because, thanks to concern over climate change and rising gas prices, the latest trend in living is the old-fashioned neighborhood, with shopping, restaurants, schools, and services within walking and biking distance. Other cities have embraced the concept. And so has St. Charles, with New Town.
We now know that the school district has the money to justify leaving things as they are, and yes, there are enough students. There is no public support for closing the schools. Some Coverdell School parents are even considering a petition to keep all the “extra” kids out. I’d sign it!
Three school board members will be up for election next spring. I’m not going to speculate why the board chose to treat school children like commodities, and attempt a hostile takeover of the school and, by proxy, our core neighborhoods. However, if I were those board members about to run for office, I’d be thinking, “Wow! We’ve created a public relations nightmare.”
Luckily, they have the power to end it any time, now.
Sincerely,
Peggy Whetzel
The police department is made up of three factions. The Fraternal order of Police, The St. Charles City Police Organization, and the independent police who belong to neither. I know as a retired teacher that school districts had trouble negotiating if there was more than one union. The teachers could either have NEA or MSTA but not both! It’s a miracle to me how they can run that department with three factions. Chief Swope did it and is a hero for the effort.
In the next segment of the letter I am going to pretend I’m like Bill O’Reilly.
These are the facts of the case as I read them are heard them. I will announce a score for the Mayor at then end of each fact.
Fact 1. The Mayor parked her Lexus in the parking lot. True.
Fact 2. She commandeered an office in the building. True.
Fact 3. Told the assembled police she was the police chief while she was there. This is true but she denied. Score PI.
Fact 4. She countermanded all of Chief Swope’s orders. True but she denied claim. Score N.
Fact 5. She called all of the women into “her office” one at a time to ask about sexual harassment. True but she again denied. Score OC.
Fact 6. Gave order to police. Chief Swope was completely out of the loop. He had no control. True but she denied. Score HI.
She stayed 1 1⁄2 weeks. It was total chaos. True but she denied. Score O.
Let me see. Each denial is worth 4 inches. Our Mayor’s nose grew 16 inches. She has out done Pinocchio!!!!
Jane Horning
Dear Editor,
I read your article about Chief Swope with a heavy heart. This young man was a tremendous asset to the City of St. Charles and should have been kept. I say should have been kept because if this was a truly mutual agreement than there wouldn’t be a need for a gag order incorporated into the contract that was signed. I find it amusing that the Mayor would force the Chief out one day then dismantle the upper management of the department the next. “It’s a package deal” looks to be exactly that, a “package deal”. I do feel betrayed by the Post and the Journal for their lack of journalistic ethic in dealing with the Mayor and her statements. They now know the Mayor lied to them and the public, to top it off the Post still perpetuates the lie with the last article about the Chiefs dismissal. Thanks for keeping us informed, and
congratulations on another scoop of the other two papers.
Best Regards,
B. Williams
There goes the neighborhood – but maybe not
Dear Tony,
The “celebration” of the closing of Benton Elementary is premature, since a couple of people had petitions to keep Benton open as a school during the event. And people were signing them. The board will be asked to rescind its decision to close Benton.
In general, people are eager to sign the petitions. Keeping our core neighborhood schools open is easily the most popular idea in town, at least north of I-70. People say, “You bet I do!” when asked if they would like to sign. Or, “I was hoping somebody would get a petition going!” It’s beyond politics. Since joining the “Keep Historic Benton School Teaching” campaign, I’ve also heard how distressed people still are at the closing of Blackhurst. Yet the school district plans to close all the elementary and middle schools, eventually. And build a big box school somewhere? Or privatize the schools?
The only people who won’t sign the Benton petition are connected to the district, or working for the “competition,” private schools. (Speaking of which, school board member Karen Perrone is the business manager for the Academy of the Sacred Heart. And Donna Towers works for Lindenwood, a private university that brokers its own real estate transactions.)
Closing neighborhood schools is an idea that was probably dreamed up when gas was much cheaper. Because, thanks to concern over climate change and rising gas prices, the latest trend in living is the old-fashioned neighborhood, with shopping, restaurants, schools, and services within walking and biking distance. Other cities have embraced the concept. And so has St. Charles, with New Town.
We now know that the school district has the money to justify leaving things as they are, and yes, there are enough students. There is no public support for closing the schools. Some Coverdell School parents are even considering a petition to keep all the “extra” kids out. I’d sign it!
Three school board members will be up for election next spring. I’m not going to speculate why the board chose to treat school children like commodities, and attempt a hostile takeover of the school and, by proxy, our core neighborhoods. However, if I were those board members about to run for office, I’d be thinking, “Wow! We’ve created a public relations nightmare.”
Luckily, they have the power to end it any time, now.
Sincerely,
Peggy Whetzel
THE CITY DESK - Rory Riddler
Cow Bell Rattle Is Call-To-Arms At High School Event
Now I know why they don’t serve beer at High School sporting events.
But I’ve gotten ahead of myself.
Let’s start with how a cow bell came to be at the center of a near death defying trip to a high school sporting event. In retrospect I should have been expecting trouble. We all know how rowdy the crowds can get at women’s junior varsity soccer events.
It was the last away game on one of the few sunny days of the 24 game season. As a soccer dad coming from a parochial school background, it had taken me most of the season to get use to the more aggressive physical contact on the field between players. But some fans at one area high school seemed prepared to extend that physical contact to those sitting in the stands as well.
To protect the innocent let’s just say the game was held at a fictional school I’ll call Wort Zumfalt North. That should throw the lawyers off.
The game was held on what had to have been a practice field at best. The stands are set into the side of what looked like a levee with a moat between us and a track. Then there was a second “drainage ditch” between the track and the field.
The problem is that the out of bounds line was at the bottom of this inner moat, so that approximately three feet of playing area, on both sides of the field, are at a 45 degree angle.
How this passes anyone’s safety regulations is beyond my comprehension. Players are expected to be running flat out to stop a ball at the line only to have the earth drop out from under them. There were plenty of falls, the cause of which was “painfully” obvious to everyone. Despite this badly engineered excuse for a trip to the ER, the game went on.
One of the St. Charles parents, brought an innocent looking cow bell to the game. This they had occasion to ring when our team would score. Though ring isn’t quite the right word for a cow bell. It’s more like a clacking or clunking.
Though not used incessantly or in what I thought of as an offensive manner, the cow bell nonetheless engendered the most hostile feelings from supporters of the home team. It began with a woman yelling at the owner of the cow bell if he knew how “blinkity-blank” annoying that thing was. Gee, I bet it never crossed his mind and thanks for sharing that.
A while later she pressed the point by threatening to call the police as she felt there must be an ordinance against ringing a cow bell in public.
Let’s see. I have a set of O’Fallon ordinances here in my pocket. Cow tipping seems to be a definite infraction. Cow chip throwing from a moving vehicle seems to be prohibited as well. Nope, nothing about cow bells.
Of course the grousing only encouraged louder vocalization in support of good plays by the St. Charles team. That’s when one Wort Zumfalt North fan lost it.
His arms covered in tattoos, a Wort Zumfalt North fan turned around and yelled to the exuberant St. Charles fan that he should shut the @#%! up. That’s when the two coaches and the girls on the bench slowly turned around to watch the fans in the stand instead of the game on the field.
Now in his defense, this St. Charles fan had only been yelling positive encouragement for his own team and had not booed or said anything disparaging about the other team. But being the bearer of the cow bell made him a singular target for the wrath of the opposing team’s overly aggressive fans.
The verbal exchange that erupted between these individuals gave me momentary pause to note the nearest exits. I had almost settled on who to use for a human shield, when a moment of sanity broke out. An older and wiser Wort Zumfalt North fan tapped the tattooed man on the arm with some timely advice. She pointed out the disparity in the relative height and weight between this fan and the man he was challenging.
The now famous Battle of the Cow Bell was over. The crisis had been averted. We all made it out of Wort Zumfalt North alive. Sure there is the battle fatigue to deal with, the waking up in the middle of the night screaming for someone to save the cow bell, but we won and that’s what high school sports is all about anyway.
Of course, for fans of Saturday Night Live this incident is a great example of life imitating art. Comedic actor Will Ferrell once played a character in a sketch who rang a cow bell at the drop of a hat. When others expressed their annoyance, his punch line was, “I’ve got a fever and the only thing that will cure it is…more cow bell!”
I half expected to wake up the next day and read in the newspaper, “Entire City of O’Fallon Awoken At 5 PM By Cow Bell – Police Seek Suspect.”
Now I know why they don’t serve beer at High School sporting events.
But I’ve gotten ahead of myself.
Let’s start with how a cow bell came to be at the center of a near death defying trip to a high school sporting event. In retrospect I should have been expecting trouble. We all know how rowdy the crowds can get at women’s junior varsity soccer events.
It was the last away game on one of the few sunny days of the 24 game season. As a soccer dad coming from a parochial school background, it had taken me most of the season to get use to the more aggressive physical contact on the field between players. But some fans at one area high school seemed prepared to extend that physical contact to those sitting in the stands as well.
To protect the innocent let’s just say the game was held at a fictional school I’ll call Wort Zumfalt North. That should throw the lawyers off.
The game was held on what had to have been a practice field at best. The stands are set into the side of what looked like a levee with a moat between us and a track. Then there was a second “drainage ditch” between the track and the field.
The problem is that the out of bounds line was at the bottom of this inner moat, so that approximately three feet of playing area, on both sides of the field, are at a 45 degree angle.
How this passes anyone’s safety regulations is beyond my comprehension. Players are expected to be running flat out to stop a ball at the line only to have the earth drop out from under them. There were plenty of falls, the cause of which was “painfully” obvious to everyone. Despite this badly engineered excuse for a trip to the ER, the game went on.
One of the St. Charles parents, brought an innocent looking cow bell to the game. This they had occasion to ring when our team would score. Though ring isn’t quite the right word for a cow bell. It’s more like a clacking or clunking.
Though not used incessantly or in what I thought of as an offensive manner, the cow bell nonetheless engendered the most hostile feelings from supporters of the home team. It began with a woman yelling at the owner of the cow bell if he knew how “blinkity-blank” annoying that thing was. Gee, I bet it never crossed his mind and thanks for sharing that.
A while later she pressed the point by threatening to call the police as she felt there must be an ordinance against ringing a cow bell in public.
Let’s see. I have a set of O’Fallon ordinances here in my pocket. Cow tipping seems to be a definite infraction. Cow chip throwing from a moving vehicle seems to be prohibited as well. Nope, nothing about cow bells.
Of course the grousing only encouraged louder vocalization in support of good plays by the St. Charles team. That’s when one Wort Zumfalt North fan lost it.
His arms covered in tattoos, a Wort Zumfalt North fan turned around and yelled to the exuberant St. Charles fan that he should shut the @#%! up. That’s when the two coaches and the girls on the bench slowly turned around to watch the fans in the stand instead of the game on the field.
Now in his defense, this St. Charles fan had only been yelling positive encouragement for his own team and had not booed or said anything disparaging about the other team. But being the bearer of the cow bell made him a singular target for the wrath of the opposing team’s overly aggressive fans.
The verbal exchange that erupted between these individuals gave me momentary pause to note the nearest exits. I had almost settled on who to use for a human shield, when a moment of sanity broke out. An older and wiser Wort Zumfalt North fan tapped the tattooed man on the arm with some timely advice. She pointed out the disparity in the relative height and weight between this fan and the man he was challenging.
The now famous Battle of the Cow Bell was over. The crisis had been averted. We all made it out of Wort Zumfalt North alive. Sure there is the battle fatigue to deal with, the waking up in the middle of the night screaming for someone to save the cow bell, but we won and that’s what high school sports is all about anyway.
Of course, for fans of Saturday Night Live this incident is a great example of life imitating art. Comedic actor Will Ferrell once played a character in a sketch who rang a cow bell at the drop of a hat. When others expressed their annoyance, his punch line was, “I’ve got a fever and the only thing that will cure it is…more cow bell!”
I half expected to wake up the next day and read in the newspaper, “Entire City of O’Fallon Awoken At 5 PM By Cow Bell – Police Seek Suspect.”
Electric Light Rail May Be Coming To St. Charles
Photos & Story by Tony Brockmeyer
New Town At St. Charles Acquires 11 Streetcars
The streetcars pictured above are from a group of eleven which were recently acquired by Greg Whittaker, the developer of New Town at St. Charles and The Plaza at Noah’s Ark. Trucked in on flat beds from Lake Tahoe California it is planned that the vehicles will be refurbished to a like new condition and used throughout New Town. Possible uses include an old-fashioned diner, café, sushi bar or bookstore.
A trolley transportation committee was approved by the previous city council and a study is being conducted on the feasibility of using some of the cars on rails from New Town, to Main Street in downtown St. Charles, to the Casino, the Plaza at Noah’s Ark and then to the St. Charles Convention Center. Maybe to the hospital and Lindenwood University.
Originally built in St. Louis between 1937 and 1946 the streetcars were used daily in St. Louis for 20 years. Their next 20 years were spent in San Francisco where they worked until they were finally retired in 1982.
According to Tim Busse, the New Town architect, this has been a dream of Greg Whittaker who he described as not only a dreamer but a doer.
New Town At St. Charles Acquires 11 Streetcars
The streetcars pictured above are from a group of eleven which were recently acquired by Greg Whittaker, the developer of New Town at St. Charles and The Plaza at Noah’s Ark. Trucked in on flat beds from Lake Tahoe California it is planned that the vehicles will be refurbished to a like new condition and used throughout New Town. Possible uses include an old-fashioned diner, café, sushi bar or bookstore.
A trolley transportation committee was approved by the previous city council and a study is being conducted on the feasibility of using some of the cars on rails from New Town, to Main Street in downtown St. Charles, to the Casino, the Plaza at Noah’s Ark and then to the St. Charles Convention Center. Maybe to the hospital and Lindenwood University.
Originally built in St. Louis between 1937 and 1946 the streetcars were used daily in St. Louis for 20 years. Their next 20 years were spent in San Francisco where they worked until they were finally retired in 1982.
According to Tim Busse, the New Town architect, this has been a dream of Greg Whittaker who he described as not only a dreamer but a doer.
First Capitol News Sports - Mike McMurran Sports Editor
A couple of house cleaning duties: yes I really did have surgery, on my left rotator cuff. I’m back to work, but Mother Nature has a way of getting even with us all. Over the years I’ve had a number of different surgeries, remember, I used to be a pretty good football player. I’d be down from the anesthesia for a day at longest, and pretty much back on my feet with 5 to 7 days. Once I had my knee cut open as opposed to “scoped,” and it took maybe a month to get back to normal. I suspect because I am now 52 instead of 25, my recovery is taking much, much longer. At least that is what the physical therapists are telling me. “You’ll be back to normal in no time,” is the usual response. From what I can best tell, “no time” might just be as long as 2 to 3 months. Such is life.
This will be the last comment from me on April’s election, I promise. A number of my friends have approached me and said, “sure, I voted for you, but Democrats just can’t win in St. Charles. If you want to have any political future in St. Charles you are going to have to change to Republican.” I guess some of my friends just don’t know me as well as they should. I believe the philosophy of the Democratic Party – I cannot go against what I believe in just to get elected. That’s just not me! My recent on the job injury (I fell on the ice at school on February 15) makes me an even stronger Democrat. As I mentioned, it seems I am going to have to have months of physical therapy to get my shoulder back to par. I’m on light duty at school so I pretty much simply file papers and answer the phones – busy work, if you will. Originally I had my therapies scheduled during school hours – after all, it was a work related injury, why not use work time?
Well, as it was explained to me, one of the first pieces of legislation our boy governor pushed for was Workman’s Compensation reform. The legislation and reform require that if injured on the job you must go to any and all therapy AFTER work hours! As I explained to the insurance company, “ I pick my kids up from school; my wife doesn’t get off work until 6 p.m. – how am I to juggle that?” “Not our problem,” is all they could say. I pretty much plan my days, weeks and months from August until May – lining up after school care, working around my kid’s baseball, softball, soccer, volleyball, basketball and football games. Any regular reader of this column knows how hectic my schedule is! “If you miss therapy it simply tells us you don’t care about receiving the proper medical attention. Be there or else!” The last sentence is not an embellishment – that is precisely what they said. “Be there or else.” So much for trying to get me to go to the other side. The policies of republican’s have directly had a negative impact on my family. They talk about things such as “family values,” – Bull! “Be there or else!”
This is not meant to be mean spirited, nor written out of anger; rather it is just an unscientific observation. I can see our boy governor following in the same “family value” footsteps of his father. For those of you who know not what I am talking about, do your own research. The Blunt boys don’t always allow their brain to do their thinking for them. As promised, that’s it for politics.
Amateur sports, which include youth sports, are thriving here in beautiful St. Charles County. The RiverCity Rage have dropped three contests in a row to lower their record to 5-3. On the surface such might seem to be a problem, but I’m not so sure. The past two seasons the Rage have entered the playoffs with the best record in the league; only to loose in the first round of the playoffs. Hopefully the boys will make the necessary adjustments to go a little deeper in the playoffs. Only problem I see is they may not get home field advantage. Time will tell. Presently the Rage are battling Lexington for the top sop in the eastern division of United Indoor Football League. The Rage travel two weeks, and take a week off with a bye week before returning to Family Arena on Saturday, June 2nd to take on the same Ohio Valley Greyhounds that beat them Saturday.
The River City Rascals are looking forward to their home opener on Friday, May 25, as they entertain the Evansville Otters. I know I say it every year, but it warrants repeating: if you like baseball, the Rascals might just be the best kept family value entertainment value. Never have I heard some leave the ball park and say a bad thing about their experience – only positive comments.
This will be the last comment from me on April’s election, I promise. A number of my friends have approached me and said, “sure, I voted for you, but Democrats just can’t win in St. Charles. If you want to have any political future in St. Charles you are going to have to change to Republican.” I guess some of my friends just don’t know me as well as they should. I believe the philosophy of the Democratic Party – I cannot go against what I believe in just to get elected. That’s just not me! My recent on the job injury (I fell on the ice at school on February 15) makes me an even stronger Democrat. As I mentioned, it seems I am going to have to have months of physical therapy to get my shoulder back to par. I’m on light duty at school so I pretty much simply file papers and answer the phones – busy work, if you will. Originally I had my therapies scheduled during school hours – after all, it was a work related injury, why not use work time?
Well, as it was explained to me, one of the first pieces of legislation our boy governor pushed for was Workman’s Compensation reform. The legislation and reform require that if injured on the job you must go to any and all therapy AFTER work hours! As I explained to the insurance company, “ I pick my kids up from school; my wife doesn’t get off work until 6 p.m. – how am I to juggle that?” “Not our problem,” is all they could say. I pretty much plan my days, weeks and months from August until May – lining up after school care, working around my kid’s baseball, softball, soccer, volleyball, basketball and football games. Any regular reader of this column knows how hectic my schedule is! “If you miss therapy it simply tells us you don’t care about receiving the proper medical attention. Be there or else!” The last sentence is not an embellishment – that is precisely what they said. “Be there or else.” So much for trying to get me to go to the other side. The policies of republican’s have directly had a negative impact on my family. They talk about things such as “family values,” – Bull! “Be there or else!”
This is not meant to be mean spirited, nor written out of anger; rather it is just an unscientific observation. I can see our boy governor following in the same “family value” footsteps of his father. For those of you who know not what I am talking about, do your own research. The Blunt boys don’t always allow their brain to do their thinking for them. As promised, that’s it for politics.
Amateur sports, which include youth sports, are thriving here in beautiful St. Charles County. The RiverCity Rage have dropped three contests in a row to lower their record to 5-3. On the surface such might seem to be a problem, but I’m not so sure. The past two seasons the Rage have entered the playoffs with the best record in the league; only to loose in the first round of the playoffs. Hopefully the boys will make the necessary adjustments to go a little deeper in the playoffs. Only problem I see is they may not get home field advantage. Time will tell. Presently the Rage are battling Lexington for the top sop in the eastern division of United Indoor Football League. The Rage travel two weeks, and take a week off with a bye week before returning to Family Arena on Saturday, June 2nd to take on the same Ohio Valley Greyhounds that beat them Saturday.
The River City Rascals are looking forward to their home opener on Friday, May 25, as they entertain the Evansville Otters. I know I say it every year, but it warrants repeating: if you like baseball, the Rascals might just be the best kept family value entertainment value. Never have I heard some leave the ball park and say a bad thing about their experience – only positive comments.
Comments & Commentary by Charles Hill
If you haven’t seen the movie “Liar, Liar” starring Jim Carey you should see it. This column would then make more sense. If you haven’t, let me describe some of the plot. Carey plays an attorney who is a habitual liar. This trait isn’t lost on his young son who uses his birthday wish to correct the behavior his Dad (Carey) demonstrates on a daily basis. You’re probably saying get to the point Charles.
Okay, each of us has a wish each and every birthday. I would ask each of you to wish that the Mayor Of St. Charles, Patti York, would have to tell the truth for 24 hours straight. That would mean we could really find out the answers to these important questions.
1) Why did she run Chief Swope out of town? 2) What is her true relationship with former FOP prez and her top cop Thomas Mayer. 3) Did she tell the St. Charles Police Association that she would fire Swope. 4) Why Dennis Corley for Chief? 5) Did she know about the alleged forgeries before hand on the recall petitions? 6) Why would a night shift cop call Patti to let her know that her daughter was caught cashing alleged forged checks before anyone else? 6) What do the night shift cops have hanging over Patti’s head? 7) What qualifies Lionel to be a construction contractor? 8) Is his new found company doing work for anyone who has contracts with the City or who needed the approval of Patti (City) to build?
Send in your questions the week before your birthday, maybe if we all wish it may come true.
Okay, each of us has a wish each and every birthday. I would ask each of you to wish that the Mayor Of St. Charles, Patti York, would have to tell the truth for 24 hours straight. That would mean we could really find out the answers to these important questions.
1) Why did she run Chief Swope out of town? 2) What is her true relationship with former FOP prez and her top cop Thomas Mayer. 3) Did she tell the St. Charles Police Association that she would fire Swope. 4) Why Dennis Corley for Chief? 5) Did she know about the alleged forgeries before hand on the recall petitions? 6) Why would a night shift cop call Patti to let her know that her daughter was caught cashing alleged forged checks before anyone else? 6) What do the night shift cops have hanging over Patti’s head? 7) What qualifies Lionel to be a construction contractor? 8) Is his new found company doing work for anyone who has contracts with the City or who needed the approval of Patti (City) to build?
Send in your questions the week before your birthday, maybe if we all wish it may come true.
Saturday, May 05, 2007
FRONT PAGE FIRST CAPITOL NEWS - May 5, 2007 - Volume 7 Number 12
(Click On Image to enlarge) Scroll down to read the rest of this edition.
CHIEF ACCEPTS BUYOUT OF CONTRACT
BY TONY BROCKMEYER
The First Capitol News has learned as we were going to press that St. Charles Police Chief Tim Swope has accepted the offer from the Mayor to buyout his contact.
The First Capitol News was unable to obtain comments from the city administration or from Chief Swope. However, city hall sources told us that Swope signed the agreement late Thursday afternoon. His severance agreement, presented to him by Deputy Mayor Ernie Rhodes, provides for one years salary payable in twelve monthly installments plus health care benefits until the end of the year. The agreement apparently prohibits Swope from making any derogatory comments about the city for 365 days.
We reported in earlier editions that at a meeting of the police officers association prior to the April 3rd election the officers in attendance had been told by a police association board member that Mayor York had met with the board and promised them if they supported her in her reelection bid she would remove Swope and relace him to someone of their liking. We also reported that she would also remove Assistant Chief, Major Bob Boerding, Captain Gary Pollard and the Chief’s secretary.
After our paper hit the streets, York called a press conference denying the allegations. She presented a letter from the president of the police association denying she had made such a promise.
The First Capitol News stood by our story which was confirmed by several police officers who had been in attendance at the police association meeting.
Shortly after being sworn in for her third term as Mayor, York went to police headquarters commandeered a office and started meeting with individual employees. She allegedly told the police employees she was to be considered the Police Chief and that she would be running the department.
Sources in the department told the FCN the Mayor’s actions made it extremely difficult for Swope to stay in command of the police officers as he was being undermined by York on a daily basis. To use their words, the Mayor acting as Police Chief was causing a crisis in the department because some employees were ignoring directions that were being given by Chief Swope.
Evidently, seeing the handwriting on the wall and unable to properly command the police department without interference from the Mayor, Swope asked for a buyout of his contract.
Swope has been St. Charles Chief of Police since March 8, 2005. There were three years remaining on his contract. Prior to that he was the St. Charles County Sheriff.
The FCN was also told that police Captain Dennis Corley had recently contacted the police association and had asked for their support for his possible appointment as Chief of Police. Corely was allegedly told by the association that they would not support him as they were committed to supporting a candidate supported by ex-police Sergeant Tommy Mayer. Mayer, the former head of the state Fraternal Order of Police, was fired by Swope after he placed former City Administrator Alan Williams on the ground in the parking lot of police headquarters by gunpoint. Mayer is a friend of the Mayor who has called him, Missouri’s “Top Cop.”
A bill passed by the City Council Tuesday evening gives the Mayor authority to hire interim department directors for any period of time and she can set their salary for any amount from $40,000 to $120,000, all without any input from the city council. She can also appoint them for any period of time and there is nothing the council can do about it.
Under the last city council, the office of Chief of Police stayed vacant for over a year because the council would not approve any of the candidates the Mayor wanted. This is no longer a problem for her. She can now appoint an interim police chief, set any salary she wants up to $120,000 all without approval from the city council.
Information on any of our past stories regarding this matter can be found in our archives at
firstcapitolnews.blogspot.com
The First Capitol News has learned as we were going to press that St. Charles Police Chief Tim Swope has accepted the offer from the Mayor to buyout his contact.
The First Capitol News was unable to obtain comments from the city administration or from Chief Swope. However, city hall sources told us that Swope signed the agreement late Thursday afternoon. His severance agreement, presented to him by Deputy Mayor Ernie Rhodes, provides for one years salary payable in twelve monthly installments plus health care benefits until the end of the year. The agreement apparently prohibits Swope from making any derogatory comments about the city for 365 days.
We reported in earlier editions that at a meeting of the police officers association prior to the April 3rd election the officers in attendance had been told by a police association board member that Mayor York had met with the board and promised them if they supported her in her reelection bid she would remove Swope and relace him to someone of their liking. We also reported that she would also remove Assistant Chief, Major Bob Boerding, Captain Gary Pollard and the Chief’s secretary.
After our paper hit the streets, York called a press conference denying the allegations. She presented a letter from the president of the police association denying she had made such a promise.
The First Capitol News stood by our story which was confirmed by several police officers who had been in attendance at the police association meeting.
Shortly after being sworn in for her third term as Mayor, York went to police headquarters commandeered a office and started meeting with individual employees. She allegedly told the police employees she was to be considered the Police Chief and that she would be running the department.
Sources in the department told the FCN the Mayor’s actions made it extremely difficult for Swope to stay in command of the police officers as he was being undermined by York on a daily basis. To use their words, the Mayor acting as Police Chief was causing a crisis in the department because some employees were ignoring directions that were being given by Chief Swope.
Evidently, seeing the handwriting on the wall and unable to properly command the police department without interference from the Mayor, Swope asked for a buyout of his contract.
Swope has been St. Charles Chief of Police since March 8, 2005. There were three years remaining on his contract. Prior to that he was the St. Charles County Sheriff.
The FCN was also told that police Captain Dennis Corley had recently contacted the police association and had asked for their support for his possible appointment as Chief of Police. Corely was allegedly told by the association that they would not support him as they were committed to supporting a candidate supported by ex-police Sergeant Tommy Mayer. Mayer, the former head of the state Fraternal Order of Police, was fired by Swope after he placed former City Administrator Alan Williams on the ground in the parking lot of police headquarters by gunpoint. Mayer is a friend of the Mayor who has called him, Missouri’s “Top Cop.”
A bill passed by the City Council Tuesday evening gives the Mayor authority to hire interim department directors for any period of time and she can set their salary for any amount from $40,000 to $120,000, all without any input from the city council. She can also appoint them for any period of time and there is nothing the council can do about it.
Under the last city council, the office of Chief of Police stayed vacant for over a year because the council would not approve any of the candidates the Mayor wanted. This is no longer a problem for her. She can now appoint an interim police chief, set any salary she wants up to $120,000 all without approval from the city council.
Information on any of our past stories regarding this matter can be found in our archives at
firstcapitolnews.blogspot.com
POLICE CHIEF GIVEN 48 HOURS TO ACCEPT SEVERANCE PACKAGE
By Tony Brockmeyer
The First Capitol News has learned that St. Charles Police Chief Tim Swope was given 48 hours to accept a severance package Wednesday morning.
In a closed executive session of the City Council Tuesday morning the Council approved a severance package that would remove Swope from the office as Chief of Police but would pay him as a consultant for a year. His health benefits would be continued until the end of this year.
Tim Swope was appointed St. Charles Police Chief on March 8, 2005. He was appointed by former city administrator Alan Williams and his appointment was approved by the Mayor and the City Council. Prior to being appointed Chief of Police, Swope was the St. Charles County Sheriff. He was elected to that office in November of 2002 and was sworn into office in January of 2003.
Tim Swope has three children. Sheriff Swope is a 1984 graduate of St. Charles High School and attended college at Central Missouri State University – Warrensburg on a baseball scholarship. He played peewee football at J.F.L. and the Boy’s Club. In 1982-83 he was a member of the St. Charles High School Pirates who won the State Championship in football. He also played baseball and coached for American Legion Post 312 in St. Charles.
The First Capitol News also learned that in a closed executive session of the city council held on April 24 the city council rejected a proposal to offer Chief Swope a 15 month severance package. We were told a faction of the council lead by Councilwoman Feldman remarked that the Chief could leave but he would leave with nothing. The severance proposal was tabled at that meeting. It was revisited after the regular council meeting Tuesday evening and approved by the council. Swope was to be told he had to accept the offer within 48 hours or it would be taken off the table. Our sources told us they believe Swope would accept the offer.
In the March 31, 2007 edition of the First Capitol News we reported......
Sources at police headquarters have told the First Capitol News, that despite the denials by the Mayor and the police association president, she pledged to fire Police Chief Tim Swope if she is re-elected and they stand by their claim that the statement was made. Asking that their identities be withheld because of fear of their jobs and physical harm, they told the First Capitol News that at a general membership meeting of the police association with more than 25 members present, a member of the executive board told the assembled officers that York pledged to fire the Chief and his staff if she is re-elected. The story was the cover story in our last edition.
Mayor Patti York called a press conference March 26, 2007 to address our story. In the council chambers at City Hall with City Administrator Allan Williams at her side and in a press release distributed by Williams, York claimed, “This press conference was in response to an article written in the First Capitol News last week where it was reported York intended to fire Chief of Police, Tim Swope. The Mayor in the press release said, “I am calling this press conference today to address the unfounded and spurious claims by a local community newspaper that I have pledged to fire our Police Chief, Tim Swope.” She went on to say “I find this disquieting and purposely inflammatory, all in the guise of news, when in reality, it is nothing short of mudslinging at best and politicking at its worst by this local paper. York presented a letter from St. Charles Police Association President, Mark Grothe, it states, “Regarding Mayor York’s pledge to fire Police Chief Tim Swope, the First Capitol News has again been misinformed by their sources.” Both these statements are in direct conflict with sources who attended the police associations meeting on March 8th.
One of our sources told us that if anyone in the association knew who they were it could create issues on the street. The sources told us that an Executive Board member stood up and announced that Mayor Patti York told them during the interview that she would fire Chief of Police, Tim Swope, Major Boerding, Captain Pollard, and the Chiefs secretary Tammy O’Laughlin, it is a package deal.
This is isn’t the first time the Mayor has adversely affected our public safety. For over a year she allowed the City to go without a permanent chief. During this period Major Bob Lowery was presented to the Mayor and Council for approval. York refused to appoint saying Lowery, “Wasn’t a good fit.” Some speculated that she refused to appoint Lowery because the St. Charles Police Association was against him. The Police Association is used to getting it’s way in St. Charles; it worked to remove Chief of Police Dave King, Paul Corbin and now is working against Chief Tim Swope.
The rift between Swope and York began when Swope refused to hand over the investigation into the Dottie Greer recall to the Mayor . The day after Swope turned over the investigation to St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney Jack Banas, York began to require Swope to turn over a weekly activity report letting her know who he spoke to and where he went every day. Members of the Association have family directly involved with the recall. Linda Meyer, wife of Association member Dean Meyer, headed up the recall efforts of Dottie Greer and Councilman Mark Brown. Both recalls were unsuccessful after the investigations turned up forged signatures and widespread fraud.
York was displeased when Swope fired Tommy Mayer, who was president of the state Fraternal Order of Police and who she called her top cop. Mayer was dismissed after an incident in which he ordered City Administrator Williams from his car at gun point and had him drop to the ground.
York was also upset that Swope re-opened an investigation into the alleged cashing of forged checks by her daughter.
“I think this is a lot like baseball, when George Steinbrenner would stand next to Billy Martin and say he would be our manager for the rest of the season, you knew Billy would be gone by the end of the week.” Councilman Mark Brown.
Relating to the use of public facilities for political campaigns, former attorney general Bill Webster went to prison for using a state fax machine during a political campaign. The mayor has used the council chambers and city employees for her campaign.
The First Capitol News has learned that St. Charles Police Chief Tim Swope was given 48 hours to accept a severance package Wednesday morning.
In a closed executive session of the City Council Tuesday morning the Council approved a severance package that would remove Swope from the office as Chief of Police but would pay him as a consultant for a year. His health benefits would be continued until the end of this year.
Tim Swope was appointed St. Charles Police Chief on March 8, 2005. He was appointed by former city administrator Alan Williams and his appointment was approved by the Mayor and the City Council. Prior to being appointed Chief of Police, Swope was the St. Charles County Sheriff. He was elected to that office in November of 2002 and was sworn into office in January of 2003.
Tim Swope has three children. Sheriff Swope is a 1984 graduate of St. Charles High School and attended college at Central Missouri State University – Warrensburg on a baseball scholarship. He played peewee football at J.F.L. and the Boy’s Club. In 1982-83 he was a member of the St. Charles High School Pirates who won the State Championship in football. He also played baseball and coached for American Legion Post 312 in St. Charles.
The First Capitol News also learned that in a closed executive session of the city council held on April 24 the city council rejected a proposal to offer Chief Swope a 15 month severance package. We were told a faction of the council lead by Councilwoman Feldman remarked that the Chief could leave but he would leave with nothing. The severance proposal was tabled at that meeting. It was revisited after the regular council meeting Tuesday evening and approved by the council. Swope was to be told he had to accept the offer within 48 hours or it would be taken off the table. Our sources told us they believe Swope would accept the offer.
In the March 31, 2007 edition of the First Capitol News we reported......
Sources at police headquarters have told the First Capitol News, that despite the denials by the Mayor and the police association president, she pledged to fire Police Chief Tim Swope if she is re-elected and they stand by their claim that the statement was made. Asking that their identities be withheld because of fear of their jobs and physical harm, they told the First Capitol News that at a general membership meeting of the police association with more than 25 members present, a member of the executive board told the assembled officers that York pledged to fire the Chief and his staff if she is re-elected. The story was the cover story in our last edition.
Mayor Patti York called a press conference March 26, 2007 to address our story. In the council chambers at City Hall with City Administrator Allan Williams at her side and in a press release distributed by Williams, York claimed, “This press conference was in response to an article written in the First Capitol News last week where it was reported York intended to fire Chief of Police, Tim Swope. The Mayor in the press release said, “I am calling this press conference today to address the unfounded and spurious claims by a local community newspaper that I have pledged to fire our Police Chief, Tim Swope.” She went on to say “I find this disquieting and purposely inflammatory, all in the guise of news, when in reality, it is nothing short of mudslinging at best and politicking at its worst by this local paper. York presented a letter from St. Charles Police Association President, Mark Grothe, it states, “Regarding Mayor York’s pledge to fire Police Chief Tim Swope, the First Capitol News has again been misinformed by their sources.” Both these statements are in direct conflict with sources who attended the police associations meeting on March 8th.
One of our sources told us that if anyone in the association knew who they were it could create issues on the street. The sources told us that an Executive Board member stood up and announced that Mayor Patti York told them during the interview that she would fire Chief of Police, Tim Swope, Major Boerding, Captain Pollard, and the Chiefs secretary Tammy O’Laughlin, it is a package deal.
This is isn’t the first time the Mayor has adversely affected our public safety. For over a year she allowed the City to go without a permanent chief. During this period Major Bob Lowery was presented to the Mayor and Council for approval. York refused to appoint saying Lowery, “Wasn’t a good fit.” Some speculated that she refused to appoint Lowery because the St. Charles Police Association was against him. The Police Association is used to getting it’s way in St. Charles; it worked to remove Chief of Police Dave King, Paul Corbin and now is working against Chief Tim Swope.
The rift between Swope and York began when Swope refused to hand over the investigation into the Dottie Greer recall to the Mayor . The day after Swope turned over the investigation to St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney Jack Banas, York began to require Swope to turn over a weekly activity report letting her know who he spoke to and where he went every day. Members of the Association have family directly involved with the recall. Linda Meyer, wife of Association member Dean Meyer, headed up the recall efforts of Dottie Greer and Councilman Mark Brown. Both recalls were unsuccessful after the investigations turned up forged signatures and widespread fraud.
York was displeased when Swope fired Tommy Mayer, who was president of the state Fraternal Order of Police and who she called her top cop. Mayer was dismissed after an incident in which he ordered City Administrator Williams from his car at gun point and had him drop to the ground.
York was also upset that Swope re-opened an investigation into the alleged cashing of forged checks by her daughter.
“I think this is a lot like baseball, when George Steinbrenner would stand next to Billy Martin and say he would be our manager for the rest of the season, you knew Billy would be gone by the end of the week.” Councilman Mark Brown.
Relating to the use of public facilities for political campaigns, former attorney general Bill Webster went to prison for using a state fax machine during a political campaign. The mayor has used the council chambers and city employees for her campaign.
RAMBLING With The Editor Tony Brockmeyer
In elections you really have to take a leap of faith and trust that the person running is telling you the truth. I think those of you who truly believed it when the Mayor said she intends to keep all the department heads for a least a year might be feeling violated right now. Maybe violated is too soft of a term. You should be feeling betrayed, lied to might be a better description. Since being reelected, the Mayor has fired Brent Schultz a 37-year tenured employee who was the assistant city administrator. She told him there wasn’t a job available for him or his $85,000 salary. Now she has created not one but three new positions to take his place and do his job. The positions were unanimously approved by the city council Tuesday evening. She will have a transitional director, a post she appointed former City Administrator Alan Williams to at a salary of $112,000 per year, considerably less than he was being paid as City Administrator. Word around city hall is that she gave the position to Williams so that he could continue his health insurance for several months making him eligible for health insurance for life with the cost being born by the taxpayers. She was given the authority to make the police community relations specialist into a citywide public relations person and she was also given the authority to hire a governmental liaison. That liaison will represent the Mayor with the council and the public. She is apparently too busy to worry about dealing with or interacting with the council or the taxpayers.
The day after the election the Human Resource Director resigned. This past week the Public Works director tendered his resignation. Now the Mayor and the city council have offered to buy out the contract of the Chief of Police and as of press time we have been told he has accepted.
I’m sure you remember the heart felt press conference when York told us all how she wouldn’t let anyone go for at least a year. The first action she took as Mayor was to take over as Chief of Police and set up an office in the police department. She apparently was looking for cause to get rid of the Chief; she interviewed all the female staff trying to dig up any type of harassment. She failed to find anything other than a well-run police department, something we haven’t had in a long time. The Mayor needed to find a way to get rid of the Chief to fulfill her promise to the St. Charles Police Association to fire him.
Chief Swope, the City of St. Charles truly appreciated your efforts and leadership. You did something the Mayor hasn’t been able to do, provide leadership. York is handing the reigns of our public safety back to the police association; the same people who said that they were mentally stressed over comments made in this paper by former Councilman Bob Hoepfner. Makes you wonder what is being held over her head.
Got any inside information on what the Mayor is up to. Call us at 636 724-1955. We guarantee confidentiality. You do not even need to identify yourself. Just provide the information and we will check it out and report.
The day after the election the Human Resource Director resigned. This past week the Public Works director tendered his resignation. Now the Mayor and the city council have offered to buy out the contract of the Chief of Police and as of press time we have been told he has accepted.
I’m sure you remember the heart felt press conference when York told us all how she wouldn’t let anyone go for at least a year. The first action she took as Mayor was to take over as Chief of Police and set up an office in the police department. She apparently was looking for cause to get rid of the Chief; she interviewed all the female staff trying to dig up any type of harassment. She failed to find anything other than a well-run police department, something we haven’t had in a long time. The Mayor needed to find a way to get rid of the Chief to fulfill her promise to the St. Charles Police Association to fire him.
Chief Swope, the City of St. Charles truly appreciated your efforts and leadership. You did something the Mayor hasn’t been able to do, provide leadership. York is handing the reigns of our public safety back to the police association; the same people who said that they were mentally stressed over comments made in this paper by former Councilman Bob Hoepfner. Makes you wonder what is being held over her head.
Got any inside information on what the Mayor is up to. Call us at 636 724-1955. We guarantee confidentiality. You do not even need to identify yourself. Just provide the information and we will check it out and report.
EDITORIAL
GUEST EDITORIAL
TRY MANAGING THAT!
By David Cox, Managing Editor
The South Missourian News, Thayer
Even though public officials attend workshops entitled “How to Manage the Media,” or more innocuously, “Media Relations,” the surest way for a public official to get on the wrong side of the press is to see the press as something to manage. As if it could be.
It’s called the “free press” for a reason. The press is sometimes too intrusive, occasionally irresponsible and always unpredictable. But while it sometimes abuses its freedom, the press remains a free nation’s best safeguard against tyranny.
That’s not true in other countries. In Russia the state does indeed manage the press; in fact, the state owns the press. Since President Vladimir Putin took control, the Kremlin has managed to drive the free press out of business and seized all the major media outlets.
The good news for Putin is he gets only good press. The bad news is the Russian people, who briefly tasted freedom in the 1990s, don’t believe Putin or the press he controls. They’re comfortable with that, strange as it sounds to our ears. Russians expect their leaders to lie to them and are amused that we naive Americans expect the truth from our leaders (there is a ray of hope;
Internet bloggers are an active force in Russia and, to a limited degree, expose the media’s most blatant whoppers, just as they do in the United States).
The First Amendment to the Constitution grants freedom of the press. Freedom of the press is, in reality, freedom of access for every American. When the independent, privately held press acts, it acts on behalf of the people. It may be a reporter who files a Freedom of Information complaint to gain access to an illegally closed meeting or to see illegally withheld public records, but every citizen has the same right of access as the press.
We do speak on behalf of the people when we demand access under the law. And when access is denied, we are compelled (not by law, but by principle) to expose the official who denied it.
A tip for public officials, especially those who have just taken office: The most effective formula for getting good press is to do good work.
We can hear the groans from veteran politicians who read this and are ready to retort with a story about how the press “done me wrong.” We would be dishonest to deny that many in this profession sully their credibility by unfairly attacking public officials. But for every innocent elected official (no, that’s really not an oxymoron) harmed by an overly aggressive press, a dozen politicians get away with abusing the public trust because of a too-timid press.
The Missouri Sunshine Law is among the strongest sunshine laws in the country. This has helped not only the press but every citizen gain access to meetings and records. Now it’s a new year and a new crop of officials has been sworn in.
We in the press are always uneasy when we see all the new faces, knowing from experience that most of them don’t know what the Freedom of Information Act requires. So, Mr. or Ms. Public Servant, here it is, in a nutshell: You are a public servant, and therefore whatever you say and whatever you do when it comes to the public’s business must be done in public.
There are a few specific, narrowly defined exceptions, but whenever there is a question over whether or not something is public, state law falls on the side of openness. We urge you to take time to familiarize yourself with state law governing freedom of information so you know exactly what is demanded. And if you, for whatever reason, try to conceal public information or conduct
public business in private, we will assume the worst — that whatever you’re up to does not serve the public good. You can count on us and our reckless colleagues to hound you — publicly — until you obey the law.
Try managing that.
TRY MANAGING THAT!
By David Cox, Managing Editor
The South Missourian News, Thayer
Even though public officials attend workshops entitled “How to Manage the Media,” or more innocuously, “Media Relations,” the surest way for a public official to get on the wrong side of the press is to see the press as something to manage. As if it could be.
It’s called the “free press” for a reason. The press is sometimes too intrusive, occasionally irresponsible and always unpredictable. But while it sometimes abuses its freedom, the press remains a free nation’s best safeguard against tyranny.
That’s not true in other countries. In Russia the state does indeed manage the press; in fact, the state owns the press. Since President Vladimir Putin took control, the Kremlin has managed to drive the free press out of business and seized all the major media outlets.
The good news for Putin is he gets only good press. The bad news is the Russian people, who briefly tasted freedom in the 1990s, don’t believe Putin or the press he controls. They’re comfortable with that, strange as it sounds to our ears. Russians expect their leaders to lie to them and are amused that we naive Americans expect the truth from our leaders (there is a ray of hope;
Internet bloggers are an active force in Russia and, to a limited degree, expose the media’s most blatant whoppers, just as they do in the United States).
The First Amendment to the Constitution grants freedom of the press. Freedom of the press is, in reality, freedom of access for every American. When the independent, privately held press acts, it acts on behalf of the people. It may be a reporter who files a Freedom of Information complaint to gain access to an illegally closed meeting or to see illegally withheld public records, but every citizen has the same right of access as the press.
We do speak on behalf of the people when we demand access under the law. And when access is denied, we are compelled (not by law, but by principle) to expose the official who denied it.
A tip for public officials, especially those who have just taken office: The most effective formula for getting good press is to do good work.
We can hear the groans from veteran politicians who read this and are ready to retort with a story about how the press “done me wrong.” We would be dishonest to deny that many in this profession sully their credibility by unfairly attacking public officials. But for every innocent elected official (no, that’s really not an oxymoron) harmed by an overly aggressive press, a dozen politicians get away with abusing the public trust because of a too-timid press.
The Missouri Sunshine Law is among the strongest sunshine laws in the country. This has helped not only the press but every citizen gain access to meetings and records. Now it’s a new year and a new crop of officials has been sworn in.
We in the press are always uneasy when we see all the new faces, knowing from experience that most of them don’t know what the Freedom of Information Act requires. So, Mr. or Ms. Public Servant, here it is, in a nutshell: You are a public servant, and therefore whatever you say and whatever you do when it comes to the public’s business must be done in public.
There are a few specific, narrowly defined exceptions, but whenever there is a question over whether or not something is public, state law falls on the side of openness. We urge you to take time to familiarize yourself with state law governing freedom of information so you know exactly what is demanded. And if you, for whatever reason, try to conceal public information or conduct
public business in private, we will assume the worst — that whatever you’re up to does not serve the public good. You can count on us and our reckless colleagues to hound you — publicly — until you obey the law.
Try managing that.
Lawsuit For New Ward 9 Election Goes to Franklin County Judge - Stivison’s Attorney May Have a Conflict Of Interest
By Phyllis Schaltenbrand
A lawsuit calling for a new election or a recount of the election results in the Ward 9 City Council race has been assigned to Franklin County Associate Circuit Judge Stanley Williams.
Incumbent Councilman Joe Koester was defeated by challenger Ron Stivison in the April 3rd election by six votes. It was then discovered that voters from Ward 10 had been given Ward 9 ballots.
Upon discovering the error, St. Charles County Director of Elections Rich Chrismer filed a petition in St. Charles County Court asking for a new election to be held. Later that evening he changed his mind and amended his petition to call only for a recount, not a recall. Sources at the County Government Center told us Chrismer had received a great amount of pressure to drop his request for a new election from local politicians and developers. Later that evening Chrismer withdrew his new election request and asked only for a recount.
The assignment of Judge Williams was made by the Missouri Supreme Court after four St. Charles County Judges recused themselves from hearing the case. A request was then made to the Supreme Court for an assignment of the case. They assigned it to Associate Circuit Judge T. Bennett Burkemper of Lincoln County. A lawyer representing Stivison, Dan Barklage (who is also the elected municipal judge for St. Charles) filed a motion disqualifying the Lincoln County Judge. Each party is entitled to one disqualification of a judge.
A date for the hearing has not yet been set by Judge Williams.
Area lawyers have told the First Capitol News they believe a conflict of interest exists with Barklage representing Stivison. They pointed out that it is in violation of the separation of powers. The Judiciary should not be involved in representing the legislative branch of government. Barklage as St. Charles Municipal Judge is part of the judiciary and he is representing Stivison a member of the legislative branch of government against Joe Koester who was a member of the legislative branch and may well be once again depending upon the outcome of the lawsuit.
The Code of Judicial Conduct Canon 2 states. ‘A Judge should avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety in his official activities. Public confidence in the judiciary is eroded by irresponsible or improper conduct by judges. A judge must void all impropriety and appearance of impropriety in his official activities.’ Our sources tell us that even though Barklage is acting in his capacity as a lawyer they believe it is a conflict of interest for him to represent a member of the legislative branch of government in which he serves as an elected judge.
Joe Koester was a member of the St. Charles City Council the council cut the budget for the Municipal Court headed by Judge Dan Barklage because of what they believed was an excessive amount of overtime and what they considered a failure by Judge Dan Barklage to properly administer his staff.
Barklage then filed suit against the city council to have his court budget reinstated.
Our sources also pointed out Canon 1 of the Missouri Bar and Judiciary rules that says, “A judge should uphold the integrity and independence of the Judiciary. An independent and honorable judiciary is indispensable to justice in our society. A judge should participate in establishing, maintaining, and enforcing, and should himself observe high standards of conduct so that the integrity and independence of the judiciary may be preserved.The provisions of this Code should be construed and applied to further that objective.”
Our sources believe that if a complaint was brought before the bar association Barklage may be found to have a conflict of interest by involving himself in this lawsuit.
An earlier charge of conflict of interest was leveled against Barklage several years ago by then Councilman Bob Hoepfner, Ward 10 who believed there was a conflict when Barklage was serving as the elected Municipal Judge for the City of St. Charles while also serving as an elected member of the Board of Trustees of the St. Charles Community College. Hoepfner thought Barklage should resign one of the positions.
See our June 11, 2005 edition at ...
firstcapitolnews.blogspot.com
A lawsuit calling for a new election or a recount of the election results in the Ward 9 City Council race has been assigned to Franklin County Associate Circuit Judge Stanley Williams.
Incumbent Councilman Joe Koester was defeated by challenger Ron Stivison in the April 3rd election by six votes. It was then discovered that voters from Ward 10 had been given Ward 9 ballots.
Upon discovering the error, St. Charles County Director of Elections Rich Chrismer filed a petition in St. Charles County Court asking for a new election to be held. Later that evening he changed his mind and amended his petition to call only for a recount, not a recall. Sources at the County Government Center told us Chrismer had received a great amount of pressure to drop his request for a new election from local politicians and developers. Later that evening Chrismer withdrew his new election request and asked only for a recount.
The assignment of Judge Williams was made by the Missouri Supreme Court after four St. Charles County Judges recused themselves from hearing the case. A request was then made to the Supreme Court for an assignment of the case. They assigned it to Associate Circuit Judge T. Bennett Burkemper of Lincoln County. A lawyer representing Stivison, Dan Barklage (who is also the elected municipal judge for St. Charles) filed a motion disqualifying the Lincoln County Judge. Each party is entitled to one disqualification of a judge.
A date for the hearing has not yet been set by Judge Williams.
Area lawyers have told the First Capitol News they believe a conflict of interest exists with Barklage representing Stivison. They pointed out that it is in violation of the separation of powers. The Judiciary should not be involved in representing the legislative branch of government. Barklage as St. Charles Municipal Judge is part of the judiciary and he is representing Stivison a member of the legislative branch of government against Joe Koester who was a member of the legislative branch and may well be once again depending upon the outcome of the lawsuit.
The Code of Judicial Conduct Canon 2 states. ‘A Judge should avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety in his official activities. Public confidence in the judiciary is eroded by irresponsible or improper conduct by judges. A judge must void all impropriety and appearance of impropriety in his official activities.’ Our sources tell us that even though Barklage is acting in his capacity as a lawyer they believe it is a conflict of interest for him to represent a member of the legislative branch of government in which he serves as an elected judge.
Joe Koester was a member of the St. Charles City Council the council cut the budget for the Municipal Court headed by Judge Dan Barklage because of what they believed was an excessive amount of overtime and what they considered a failure by Judge Dan Barklage to properly administer his staff.
Barklage then filed suit against the city council to have his court budget reinstated.
Our sources also pointed out Canon 1 of the Missouri Bar and Judiciary rules that says, “A judge should uphold the integrity and independence of the Judiciary. An independent and honorable judiciary is indispensable to justice in our society. A judge should participate in establishing, maintaining, and enforcing, and should himself observe high standards of conduct so that the integrity and independence of the judiciary may be preserved.The provisions of this Code should be construed and applied to further that objective.”
Our sources believe that if a complaint was brought before the bar association Barklage may be found to have a conflict of interest by involving himself in this lawsuit.
An earlier charge of conflict of interest was leveled against Barklage several years ago by then Councilman Bob Hoepfner, Ward 10 who believed there was a conflict when Barklage was serving as the elected Municipal Judge for the City of St. Charles while also serving as an elected member of the Board of Trustees of the St. Charles Community College. Hoepfner thought Barklage should resign one of the positions.
See our June 11, 2005 edition at ...
firstcapitolnews.blogspot.com
UMB Bank Robbed In O’Fallon
Photo showing police vehicles at the UMB Bank in the Monticello Plaza Shopping Center in O'Fallon that was robbed Tuesday morning.
FIRST CAPITOL NEWS PHOTO BY TONY BROCKMEYER
Shortly after 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, the UMB Bank in the Monticello Plaza Shopping Center on O'Fallon Road at Highway K in O'Fallon, Missouri was held-up.
Police are looking for a white, male, 25 to 30 years of age, 6 foot, slender build wearing a long sleeve olive shirt with a white T shirt underneath.
The subject handed the teller a note and left with approximately $2,000 in 50s and 100s in a black bag. He left the center in a white late 90's Mustang with a black convertible top. He was last seen going East on O'Fallon Road.
This story was reported Tuesday on our daily web log
firstcapitolnews-today.blogspot.com
FIRST CAPITOL NEWS PHOTO BY TONY BROCKMEYER
Shortly after 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, the UMB Bank in the Monticello Plaza Shopping Center on O'Fallon Road at Highway K in O'Fallon, Missouri was held-up.
Police are looking for a white, male, 25 to 30 years of age, 6 foot, slender build wearing a long sleeve olive shirt with a white T shirt underneath.
The subject handed the teller a note and left with approximately $2,000 in 50s and 100s in a black bag. He left the center in a white late 90's Mustang with a black convertible top. He was last seen going East on O'Fallon Road.
This story was reported Tuesday on our daily web log
firstcapitolnews-today.blogspot.com
The View From The Cheap Seats by Jerry Hafferkamp
The View From The Cheap Seats
By Jerry Haferkamp
The other day, I was asked how I liked the city election. My reply probably wasn’t what the questioner expected. I liked the election just fine. The people were given the chance to voice their choices, and they did. Should I be happy with the results? My answer would be “some yes and some no”, but you can’t always win.
Should we be happy with the way the campaigns went? That’s an emphatic “no”. While I had hoped the ‘For Sale’ sign would be removed from the mayor’s office, I wanted it to be removed because it was not for sale. Quite the opposite occurred. The sign came down because the purchase was completed. It was replaced with a “Sold” sign. One would have to wonder what benefits would be coming to Mayor York’s supporter that was willing to spend fifty eight thousand dollars to get control of this office and the majority on the City Council.
There also has to be some concern when wrong ballots were given to voters. Even worse was that some lifelong residents were turned away and told they couldn’t vote because they didn’t live in the city. This wasn’t an isolated individual. Several city residents received this treatment, even though they presented valid voter cards and an I.D. proving city residence. I don’t know how this happened, but I’m sure steps are being taken to prevent a recurrence of the problem. In elections that were decided with fewer than ten votes (in some cases), these votes could have made a change in the outcome.
Then there are also the problems caused by such “groups” as Citizens for Responsible Government, which wasn’t really a citizen, and certainly not a group, but an individual infusing money into a campaign under this name to keep the real purchaser of the election at least partially hidden. When these distortions and lies were mailed, wouldn’t it have been more intellectually honest to say “Paid for by One Man Wanting to buy The Mayor and The Council”? Then again, expecting honesty from the faction that mailed this garbage is like expecting a blind man to see.
There is one particular falsehood that the mayor perpetrated on the voters that needs to be corrected. She claimed credit for the “successful” Convention Center. It must be the “new math”, but a venture that loses $200,000 annually is not a success in my book. They claim success because it loses less than they projected it would. Now that’s spin if I have ever heard it. She also failed to mention that the Convention Center is failing miserably in attracting tourism, one of the big selling points used to get voters to approve its construction.
If the old chide “Liar. Liar. Pants on fire “ is true, it is no wonder Patti wants the Fire Chief to be close by.
That’s the view from the cheap seats
By Jerry Haferkamp
The other day, I was asked how I liked the city election. My reply probably wasn’t what the questioner expected. I liked the election just fine. The people were given the chance to voice their choices, and they did. Should I be happy with the results? My answer would be “some yes and some no”, but you can’t always win.
Should we be happy with the way the campaigns went? That’s an emphatic “no”. While I had hoped the ‘For Sale’ sign would be removed from the mayor’s office, I wanted it to be removed because it was not for sale. Quite the opposite occurred. The sign came down because the purchase was completed. It was replaced with a “Sold” sign. One would have to wonder what benefits would be coming to Mayor York’s supporter that was willing to spend fifty eight thousand dollars to get control of this office and the majority on the City Council.
There also has to be some concern when wrong ballots were given to voters. Even worse was that some lifelong residents were turned away and told they couldn’t vote because they didn’t live in the city. This wasn’t an isolated individual. Several city residents received this treatment, even though they presented valid voter cards and an I.D. proving city residence. I don’t know how this happened, but I’m sure steps are being taken to prevent a recurrence of the problem. In elections that were decided with fewer than ten votes (in some cases), these votes could have made a change in the outcome.
Then there are also the problems caused by such “groups” as Citizens for Responsible Government, which wasn’t really a citizen, and certainly not a group, but an individual infusing money into a campaign under this name to keep the real purchaser of the election at least partially hidden. When these distortions and lies were mailed, wouldn’t it have been more intellectually honest to say “Paid for by One Man Wanting to buy The Mayor and The Council”? Then again, expecting honesty from the faction that mailed this garbage is like expecting a blind man to see.
There is one particular falsehood that the mayor perpetrated on the voters that needs to be corrected. She claimed credit for the “successful” Convention Center. It must be the “new math”, but a venture that loses $200,000 annually is not a success in my book. They claim success because it loses less than they projected it would. Now that’s spin if I have ever heard it. She also failed to mention that the Convention Center is failing miserably in attracting tourism, one of the big selling points used to get voters to approve its construction.
If the old chide “Liar. Liar. Pants on fire “ is true, it is no wonder Patti wants the Fire Chief to be close by.
That’s the view from the cheap seats
THE CITY DESK - Rory Riddler
Getting The Best From Students
Starts With Teachers Who Care
Wednesday evening was the All-District Orchestra Concert at St. Charles High School. It was also a very moving surprise tribute to long-time orchestra teacher Mrs. Margaret Bush who is retiring at the end of this school year.
Approximately three-hundred parents were on hand for the musical performances of the combined grade school, Hardin, Jefferson, West and St. Charles High Orchestra members. From the plucked staccato strains of familiar tunes by the grade school virtuosos, to the higher brow sampling of classical renditions by the more finely tuned and confident upper classmen, it was a delightful and entertaining concert by some of the best and brightest of our St. Charles School District.
Just before the last number by the High School Orchestra, Hardin’s musical director Mrs. Veil announced that the students had something special to present to Mrs. Bush. At the appointed signal, forty-one orchestra members sprang from their seats and music stands to dash across the gym floor to each retrieve a single red rose.
They lined up in single file to present their tokens of appreciation to Mrs. Bush. Tied to each rose was a slip of paper on which they had written ways that Mrs. Bush had helped them to improve. Each rose was received with a warm hug from their teary eyed teacher, a heart-felt show of public affection not every teenage boy was wholly prepared for. The crowd was visibly moved as well by this demonstration by her students of their appreciation and gratitude for her years of service.
Mrs. Bush was ending her teaching career on a high note at several levels. The High School Orchestra this year received a one in regional competition and they walked away with a one at a music festival they attended in San Antonio, Texas. For those who may not know, a one is a high mark of distinction in such music competitions – the equivalent of making it to the State Basketball championships, but without the cheerleaders and the whole school getting out to watch you play.
Earlier this school year, with the help of a major fundraising efforts of many orchestra parents and members, Mrs. Bush brought famous instrumentalist Mark Wood to St. Charles High School to perform with the students. Mark Wood is one of the founding members and plays with the world famous Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
He has invented his own “electric” violins and brings a powerful sound, stage presence and showmanship to his upbeat performances. One of his missions in life is to make himself available to high school orchestra’s across the country for one day seminars, where he works all day with the local students and then puts on a first-class demonstration of all they’ve learned in the evening.
Mark Wood knew how to put fun into learning and the performance featured sounds and lights, comedy and choreography that are normally foreign to more staid or conservative orchestra performances. The end product was every bit as good as a top flight Las Vegas or New York revue, using high school students he had just one day to practice with.
Through Mrs. Bush’s efforts, the orchestra bought two of these electric violins and they were featured during the final number at the All-District Orchestra concert. They played Eleanor Rigby by the Beatles. Not exactly what you expect to hear out of a high school orchestra.
In case you’ve forgotten a few of the words over the years:
Ah, look at all the lonely people
Ah, look at all the lonely people
Eleanor Rigby picks up the rice in the church where a wedding has been
Lives in a dream
Waits at the window, wearing the face that she keeps in a jar by the door
Who is it for?
All the lonely people
Where do they all come from ?
All the lonely people
Where do they all belong ?
Father McKenzie writing the words of a sermon that no one will hear
No one comes near.
Look at him working. Darning his socks in the night when there’s nobody there
What does he care?
All the lonely people
Where do they all come from?
All the lonely people
Where do they all belong?
Eleanor Rigby died in the church and was buried along with her name
Nobody came
Father McKenzie wiping the dirt from his hands as he walks from the grave
No one was saved
All the lonely people
Where do they all come from?
All the lonely people
Where do they all belong?
The gym erupted in thunderous applause to the stirring tempo and gave the orchestra and Mrs. Bush a sustained standing ovation. No lonely or forgotten people, but a celebration of a life where children and music mattered.
ttt
Starts With Teachers Who Care
Wednesday evening was the All-District Orchestra Concert at St. Charles High School. It was also a very moving surprise tribute to long-time orchestra teacher Mrs. Margaret Bush who is retiring at the end of this school year.
Approximately three-hundred parents were on hand for the musical performances of the combined grade school, Hardin, Jefferson, West and St. Charles High Orchestra members. From the plucked staccato strains of familiar tunes by the grade school virtuosos, to the higher brow sampling of classical renditions by the more finely tuned and confident upper classmen, it was a delightful and entertaining concert by some of the best and brightest of our St. Charles School District.
Just before the last number by the High School Orchestra, Hardin’s musical director Mrs. Veil announced that the students had something special to present to Mrs. Bush. At the appointed signal, forty-one orchestra members sprang from their seats and music stands to dash across the gym floor to each retrieve a single red rose.
They lined up in single file to present their tokens of appreciation to Mrs. Bush. Tied to each rose was a slip of paper on which they had written ways that Mrs. Bush had helped them to improve. Each rose was received with a warm hug from their teary eyed teacher, a heart-felt show of public affection not every teenage boy was wholly prepared for. The crowd was visibly moved as well by this demonstration by her students of their appreciation and gratitude for her years of service.
Mrs. Bush was ending her teaching career on a high note at several levels. The High School Orchestra this year received a one in regional competition and they walked away with a one at a music festival they attended in San Antonio, Texas. For those who may not know, a one is a high mark of distinction in such music competitions – the equivalent of making it to the State Basketball championships, but without the cheerleaders and the whole school getting out to watch you play.
Earlier this school year, with the help of a major fundraising efforts of many orchestra parents and members, Mrs. Bush brought famous instrumentalist Mark Wood to St. Charles High School to perform with the students. Mark Wood is one of the founding members and plays with the world famous Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
He has invented his own “electric” violins and brings a powerful sound, stage presence and showmanship to his upbeat performances. One of his missions in life is to make himself available to high school orchestra’s across the country for one day seminars, where he works all day with the local students and then puts on a first-class demonstration of all they’ve learned in the evening.
Mark Wood knew how to put fun into learning and the performance featured sounds and lights, comedy and choreography that are normally foreign to more staid or conservative orchestra performances. The end product was every bit as good as a top flight Las Vegas or New York revue, using high school students he had just one day to practice with.
Through Mrs. Bush’s efforts, the orchestra bought two of these electric violins and they were featured during the final number at the All-District Orchestra concert. They played Eleanor Rigby by the Beatles. Not exactly what you expect to hear out of a high school orchestra.
In case you’ve forgotten a few of the words over the years:
Ah, look at all the lonely people
Ah, look at all the lonely people
Eleanor Rigby picks up the rice in the church where a wedding has been
Lives in a dream
Waits at the window, wearing the face that she keeps in a jar by the door
Who is it for?
All the lonely people
Where do they all come from ?
All the lonely people
Where do they all belong ?
Father McKenzie writing the words of a sermon that no one will hear
No one comes near.
Look at him working. Darning his socks in the night when there’s nobody there
What does he care?
All the lonely people
Where do they all come from?
All the lonely people
Where do they all belong?
Eleanor Rigby died in the church and was buried along with her name
Nobody came
Father McKenzie wiping the dirt from his hands as he walks from the grave
No one was saved
All the lonely people
Where do they all come from?
All the lonely people
Where do they all belong?
The gym erupted in thunderous applause to the stirring tempo and gave the orchestra and Mrs. Bush a sustained standing ovation. No lonely or forgotten people, but a celebration of a life where children and music mattered.
ttt
THE PEOPLE SPEAK - Letters To The Editor
Dear Editor
As Congress sets terms of Iraq exit, the Taliban takeover again in yet another district in Afghanistan is one more reminder to us that we are not only embroiled in a disastrous civil war in Iraq created by our current administration because this administration was so hell bent on taking out Sadam Hussein that it would go to any lengths to do it including lying to the American people to sell it to us, but that in doing so we have lost much momentum and control over the real war where we actually had a chance of winning and helping the Afghan people. We could have even captured Osama bin Laden perhaps. But then that was never what this war was about, was it? As we near the half trillion dollar mark on war spending in Iraq, our men and women are dying, their men, women and children are dying, the administration keeps telling us month after month and year after year how much things are improving and that we are winning this bloodbath and how we need to continue it on and on until God knows when while the country that really needed our help is also being lost. Two entire countries being destroyed by war, no affordable healthcare in our own country, tax cuts for the rich continue and war profiteering at an all time high. Why aren’t all Americans calling, writing and demanding that this administration stop this madness. Diplomacy! Where have all the diplomats gone?
Sandra Vago
Dear First Capitol News,
JOURNAL SHOWS POOR TASTE
I have always found it distasteful that when reporting the closures of Saint Charles’s elementary schools, the Journal feels it must include the fact “it was because the taxpayers did not pass the 50-cent tax increase.” Although I cannot argue with this sound bite, I believe it does an injustice to the taxpayers of our district and only serves to obscure those responsible.
To begin, the Saint Charles School Board did not demand just a 50-cent tax increase ($4 million/year), but also required the passage of the Tax levy transfer as well ($2.5 million/year). The School Board claimed they needed 6.5 million dollars/year to keep our schools open, even though their own “Option Plan #4” showed that closing down Benton and Blackhurst and reconfiguring the middle school only saved the district $1.59 million/year. When taxpayers tried to clarify this discrepancy the Board suddenly began claiming that it cost $2 million/year to keep each elementary school open (their first cost vs. savings misrepresentation).
Although the taxpayers provided the 2.5 million dollar/year tax levy transfer concession, the Saint Charles School Board has refused to provide anything in return. Instead they implemented every “Option” to cut expenses and even came up with more “Options” like kicking out the non-resident teacher’s children. The Saint Charles School Board demonstrated that even though the taxpayers’ survey told them we didn’t want them to shut down our schools and even though the taxpayers voted to provide extra funding for our children, this board took our money and is completely unwilling to provide anything in return. They claim they are doing this for the taxpayers when the taxpayers clearly told them otherwise.
It is, therefore, not the taxpayers that caused this tragedy, but instead a school board that has shown a complete unwillingness to listen. So, every time the Journal reports, “… because the taxpayers...” I want this community to realize we did do the right thing, and the real responsibility of this ill-conceived reorganization falls on the heads of those board members, and of course the Journal.
Jim DuMontelle
Dear Editor,
I think someone needs to look more closely into the Saint Charles school board and administration. At first it was said it would cost about $600,000 to move the administration office to Benton. Now it is my understanding that it is closer to 2 million and growing. For the fiber optics alone is about a million. Also, they have to put an elevator into Benton to make it handicap accessible. All of which they already have at their currant location. I thought the reorganization is to save money, not to spend it all so wastefully. Not only are they wasting money there, but they wish to put a road in by Monroe/ Jefferson schools on property that is owned by the city. I believe that to be $200,000 more? What disturbs me even more was to learn that Ms. Perrone on the school board works as business manager at the academy of Sacred Heart. Closing Benton and Blackhurst would help their enrollment I’m sure. I think a closer look is in order. Thanks!
Vicki DuMontelle
As Congress sets terms of Iraq exit, the Taliban takeover again in yet another district in Afghanistan is one more reminder to us that we are not only embroiled in a disastrous civil war in Iraq created by our current administration because this administration was so hell bent on taking out Sadam Hussein that it would go to any lengths to do it including lying to the American people to sell it to us, but that in doing so we have lost much momentum and control over the real war where we actually had a chance of winning and helping the Afghan people. We could have even captured Osama bin Laden perhaps. But then that was never what this war was about, was it? As we near the half trillion dollar mark on war spending in Iraq, our men and women are dying, their men, women and children are dying, the administration keeps telling us month after month and year after year how much things are improving and that we are winning this bloodbath and how we need to continue it on and on until God knows when while the country that really needed our help is also being lost. Two entire countries being destroyed by war, no affordable healthcare in our own country, tax cuts for the rich continue and war profiteering at an all time high. Why aren’t all Americans calling, writing and demanding that this administration stop this madness. Diplomacy! Where have all the diplomats gone?
Sandra Vago
Dear First Capitol News,
JOURNAL SHOWS POOR TASTE
I have always found it distasteful that when reporting the closures of Saint Charles’s elementary schools, the Journal feels it must include the fact “it was because the taxpayers did not pass the 50-cent tax increase.” Although I cannot argue with this sound bite, I believe it does an injustice to the taxpayers of our district and only serves to obscure those responsible.
To begin, the Saint Charles School Board did not demand just a 50-cent tax increase ($4 million/year), but also required the passage of the Tax levy transfer as well ($2.5 million/year). The School Board claimed they needed 6.5 million dollars/year to keep our schools open, even though their own “Option Plan #4” showed that closing down Benton and Blackhurst and reconfiguring the middle school only saved the district $1.59 million/year. When taxpayers tried to clarify this discrepancy the Board suddenly began claiming that it cost $2 million/year to keep each elementary school open (their first cost vs. savings misrepresentation).
Although the taxpayers provided the 2.5 million dollar/year tax levy transfer concession, the Saint Charles School Board has refused to provide anything in return. Instead they implemented every “Option” to cut expenses and even came up with more “Options” like kicking out the non-resident teacher’s children. The Saint Charles School Board demonstrated that even though the taxpayers’ survey told them we didn’t want them to shut down our schools and even though the taxpayers voted to provide extra funding for our children, this board took our money and is completely unwilling to provide anything in return. They claim they are doing this for the taxpayers when the taxpayers clearly told them otherwise.
It is, therefore, not the taxpayers that caused this tragedy, but instead a school board that has shown a complete unwillingness to listen. So, every time the Journal reports, “… because the taxpayers...” I want this community to realize we did do the right thing, and the real responsibility of this ill-conceived reorganization falls on the heads of those board members, and of course the Journal.
Jim DuMontelle
Dear Editor,
I think someone needs to look more closely into the Saint Charles school board and administration. At first it was said it would cost about $600,000 to move the administration office to Benton. Now it is my understanding that it is closer to 2 million and growing. For the fiber optics alone is about a million. Also, they have to put an elevator into Benton to make it handicap accessible. All of which they already have at their currant location. I thought the reorganization is to save money, not to spend it all so wastefully. Not only are they wasting money there, but they wish to put a road in by Monroe/ Jefferson schools on property that is owned by the city. I believe that to be $200,000 more? What disturbs me even more was to learn that Ms. Perrone on the school board works as business manager at the academy of Sacred Heart. Closing Benton and Blackhurst would help their enrollment I’m sure. I think a closer look is in order. Thanks!
Vicki DuMontelle
Tom Wapelhorst Small Business Person of the Year
Tom Wapelhorst
Named 2007
Small Business Person
of the Year
Tom Wapelhorst has been selected as this year’s recipient of the Small Business Person of the Year award by the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce. Tom is the owner of Walters’ Jewelry, Inc., located at 230 North Main Street in historic St. Charles.
In earlier days, Walters’ Jewelry carried items such as gifts, crystal, china, silver, clocks and costume jewelry along with fine diamonds and gold jewelry. The store has evolved into a fine jewelry store, narrowing the focus of its business to high quality diamonds, gold and colored stones.
The jewelry business is a very competitive marketplace. More and more people are making their purchasing decisions based on the convenience of catalog and online shopping, TV advertisements and the variety of businesses located in shopping malls.
Walters’ Jewelry has prospered by providing their clientele with honesty, integrity and personal service to meet their needs.
Tom Wapelhorst is also an active participant in the St. Charles community, volunteering his time with the Parish Council of St. Peter Church and the Greater St. Charles Convention and Visitors Bureau. Tom and Walters’ Jewelry have also been a member of the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce since 1998.
Tom will be recognized at the May General Membership Meeting on Wednesday, May 16, 2007 at The Columns Banquet and Conference Center located at 711 Veterans Memorial Parkway in St. Charles.
Reservations are requested as the Chamber expects a large turnout. Lunch is $20. For more information or to make reservations, please contact the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce at 636-946-0633 or register on the Chamber’s online calendar at www.stcharleschamber.org.
Named 2007
Small Business Person
of the Year
Tom Wapelhorst has been selected as this year’s recipient of the Small Business Person of the Year award by the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce. Tom is the owner of Walters’ Jewelry, Inc., located at 230 North Main Street in historic St. Charles.
In earlier days, Walters’ Jewelry carried items such as gifts, crystal, china, silver, clocks and costume jewelry along with fine diamonds and gold jewelry. The store has evolved into a fine jewelry store, narrowing the focus of its business to high quality diamonds, gold and colored stones.
The jewelry business is a very competitive marketplace. More and more people are making their purchasing decisions based on the convenience of catalog and online shopping, TV advertisements and the variety of businesses located in shopping malls.
Walters’ Jewelry has prospered by providing their clientele with honesty, integrity and personal service to meet their needs.
Tom Wapelhorst is also an active participant in the St. Charles community, volunteering his time with the Parish Council of St. Peter Church and the Greater St. Charles Convention and Visitors Bureau. Tom and Walters’ Jewelry have also been a member of the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce since 1998.
Tom will be recognized at the May General Membership Meeting on Wednesday, May 16, 2007 at The Columns Banquet and Conference Center located at 711 Veterans Memorial Parkway in St. Charles.
Reservations are requested as the Chamber expects a large turnout. Lunch is $20. For more information or to make reservations, please contact the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce at 636-946-0633 or register on the Chamber’s online calendar at www.stcharleschamber.org
Director Of Public Works Resigns
Director Of Public Works Resigns
Maesh Sharma, the St. Charles Director of Public Works will be leaving that position on June 15. Sharma is the third director level employee to leave since the Mayor was reelected. Celeste Armstrong, the Director of Human resources, resigned and Brent Schultz, the assistant city administrator and 27 year city employee, was fired by the Mayor.
A bill to allow the Mayor to have a public relations aide and another aide to act as a liaison between her and the city council will be voted on at the City Council meeting on Tuesday. The bill would also allow the Mayor to appoint interim department directors and select a salary for them from between $40,000 to $120,000 all without approval from the council. Sources at city hall told the First Capitol News that the bill, if approved, would give the Mayor the authority to appoint interim directors for any department for a indefinite time at any salary she decides up to $120,000 and the council would have no say.
Director positions had been held open for some time during her last term because the council would not accept some of her appointments.
She has appointed former Councilman Richard Baum to the Planning and Zoning Commission. Baum lost in his last bid for re-election and was also defeated when he ran for a county council seat.
Lynn Porterfield, former city attorney and city administrator has been appointed to the park board. An attempt by the mayor to appoint Porterfield to the park board during her previous term was unsuccessful when that city council refused to approve his appointment.
This story was reported on our web log on Saturday, April 28th.
firstcapitolnews-today.blogspot.com
Maesh Sharma, the St. Charles Director of Public Works will be leaving that position on June 15. Sharma is the third director level employee to leave since the Mayor was reelected. Celeste Armstrong, the Director of Human resources, resigned and Brent Schultz, the assistant city administrator and 27 year city employee, was fired by the Mayor.
A bill to allow the Mayor to have a public relations aide and another aide to act as a liaison between her and the city council will be voted on at the City Council meeting on Tuesday. The bill would also allow the Mayor to appoint interim department directors and select a salary for them from between $40,000 to $120,000 all without approval from the council. Sources at city hall told the First Capitol News that the bill, if approved, would give the Mayor the authority to appoint interim directors for any department for a indefinite time at any salary she decides up to $120,000 and the council would have no say.
Director positions had been held open for some time during her last term because the council would not accept some of her appointments.
She has appointed former Councilman Richard Baum to the Planning and Zoning Commission. Baum lost in his last bid for re-election and was also defeated when he ran for a county council seat.
Lynn Porterfield, former city attorney and city administrator has been appointed to the park board. An attempt by the mayor to appoint Porterfield to the park board during her previous term was unsuccessful when that city council refused to approve his appointment.
This story was reported on our web log on Saturday, April 28th.
firstcapitolnews-today.blogspot.com
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