Williams Was Investigating Complaints Mayer Was At Home Of Female Acquaintance While He Was On Duty
By Tony Brockmeyer
The First Capitol News has been told shortly after Midnight March 24th City Administrator Dr. Allan Williams was ordered out of his vehicle at gun point and forced to lie face down on the ground in the parking lot of St. Charles Police Headquarters by Police Sgt. Tommy Mayer.
Dr. Williams, who has been St. Charles City Administrator since the end of December, had been investigating numerous complaints Sgt. Mayer was visiting the home of a female acquaintance while he was suppossed to be on duty. Our sources told us Mayer had been told earlier not to visit at the home while on duty.
After receiving the complaints, Dr. Williams drove by the home on Sibley to see if a police vehicle was there. As he left the area he observed a police vehicle aggressively chasing him. The vehicle came quickly up on his bumper and stayed there for several blocks. At the stop light at Duchesne and Droste, the pursuing police officer turned on his flashing lights. Fearful and afraid to stop, Dr. Williams used his cell phone to contact Chief Tim Swope at home. Swope told Dr. Williams he was caring for his children and could not leave. Swope advised Dr. Williams to drive to the parking lot of Police Headquarters, on Zumbehl and Greystone, at the posted speed limit. Williams heard Chief Swope tell the dispatcher to advise the pursing police car Dr. Williams would meet him in the parking lot of headquarters. He also heard the dispatcher notify the officer, who was later determined to be Sgt. Mayer, of what the Chief had said.We were told by our sources Mayer did not stand down but continued to aggressively pursue Williams with his lights flashing and siren sounding. Our source said Chief Swope also called Mayer on his cell phone to tell him to stand down but Mayer informed the Chief he was in a pursuit, put the phone down and never picked it back up. Dr. Williams continued driving towards police headquarters at a speed estimated to be approximately 25 miles per hour, now with three police cars in pursuit.
Upon exiting his vehicle on the parking lot at police headquarters, Dr. Williams was ordered at gun point by Sgt. Mayer, to lie face down on the ground. Williams was released with no charges.
When contacted by the First Capitol News Dr. Williams said, “This is a personnel matter and is under investigation. I do not think it would be proper for me to make any comments regarding it at this time.”
The police department is making no comment due to the ongoing investigation. No estimates were made as to how long the investigation will take.
Allegations have been made recently that Mayer and other officers close to Sgt. Mayer have been following City Councilmen and illegally using police computers and facilities to do background investigations on City Council members, newspaper people, and others thought to be enemies of the Mayor. Inquiries are being conducted and it is expected several law suits and charges will be filed regarding the illegal actions of those officers.
Sgt. Mayer is the State President of the Fraternal Order of Police and is closely associated with St. Charles Mayor Patti York. York has called Mayer, “The Top Cop In Missouri.” She has traveled the state promoting Sgt. Mayer and the FOP. During her last reelection campaign she was endorsed and supported by Sgt.
M ayer and the FOP.
Mayer had earlier filed a $104 million law suit against the Council members and former acting City Administrator Mike Valenti claiming harrassment. York was not named in the suit. The Council members and Valenti have filed a counter suit against Mayer.
Saturday, April 02, 2005
Freedom of Information Request Filed For Chase Tapes, Incident Report
Freedom of Information Request Filed For Chase Tapes, Incident Report
The First Capitol News has filed a Freedom of Information Request with the City of St. Charles requesting a copy of the Police Incident Report and copies of the dispatch audio tape and parking lot surveillance tapes regarding the pursuit of City Administrator Dr. Allan Williams by Police Sgt. Tommy Mayer.
Publisher, Phyllis Schaltenbrand said, “Our legal counsel has advised us the incident report and tapes are public information as outlined by the sunshine law and must be released.
As of press time the city had not yet responded to our request for the copies.”
The First Capitol News has filed a Freedom of Information Request with the City of St. Charles requesting a copy of the Police Incident Report and copies of the dispatch audio tape and parking lot surveillance tapes regarding the pursuit of City Administrator Dr. Allan Williams by Police Sgt. Tommy Mayer.
Publisher, Phyllis Schaltenbrand said, “Our legal counsel has advised us the incident report and tapes are public information as outlined by the sunshine law and must be released.
As of press time the city had not yet responded to our request for the copies.”
Unions Threaten Pickets At Convention Center Opening
By Phyllis Schaltenbrand
Fireworks erupted during the convention center oversight committee held on Tuesday April 29th. The convention center oversight committee held its first meeting in the new St. Charles Convention Center.
The meeting became heated when a letter was read from Dan McKay, President of Teamsters Joint Council #13 and President of Teamsters Local Union 600, announcing they, along with Decorators and Displaymens Local 39 and Stagehands Local 6, were planning to set up pickets starting opening day. Larry Sachse, Vice President of the Sports Authority spoke out against Roger Pryor and Chairman Ken Kielty for refusing to communicate with the unions. Sache stated, “I talked to Dan McKay twice today and he is upset because Global Spectrum (the company contracted to run the convention center) has refused to return any of his phone calls. Sache said it was his understanding our contract with Global Spectrum required they negotiate in good faith with all unions.
Mayor York said, “ we built this convention center using union labor.” She stated it was her understanding after the center was built, “We were through dealing with the unions.” The Mayor went on to say she was against dealing with three or four unions when it comes to running the center. Mayor York indicated the Teamsters were the demise of the convention center in St. Louis.
Dan Mckay said he objected strongly to York’s statement and pointed out two months ago he received a commodation from the St. Louis Convention and Business Center for his willingness to work them and make concessions in order to generate more business for the convention and tourism products. Frank Condellire, Business Agent for U.S.W.A. Local 39, who was in the audience, received the same award. McKay went on to say the St. Louis Business Journal is also featuring a story on how they have been working as a team for the betterment of St. Louis. Mr. McKay said, “We have been a strong supporter of St. Charles and we represent over 26,000 members throughout St. Charles and surrounding areas.” McKay said, “If St. Charles refuses to meet and discuss the issues at hand, I guarantee you we will set up pickets on opening day. This will include the Mayor’s Ball.”
Councilman Mark Brown who also sits on the oversight committee said, “I was not on the board when all this started. “If this committee is about to spend $500,000 on a grand opening party and have unions picketing the entrance they are out right crazy.” Brown continued, “This is the most ludicrous thing they have done. Brown stated, “You guys need to get this worked out before April the 7th.” Brown went on to say, “This is what happened at the Family Arena and to this day, they have never recovered. We don’t need two white elephant’s in this city.”
Ken Kielty, Sports Authority Chairman, said as far as he was concerned we can open this center with just five janitors and he was not in favor of negotiating with three different unions. Councilman Hoepfner said, “Don’t forget, if it was not for these unions we would not have a convention center.” Kielty commented, “They only gave us $75,000 to run the campaign, we are not going to let them ruin this center like they did in St. Louis.” Councilman Brown said McKay told him Local 600 wanted to work with St. Charles and he was willing to make great concessions to help see that our center is a big success.
The committee then voted to make Roger Pryor and Shrura Lundgren, Global Spectrum Manager, sit down with the unions and listen to their concerns. Pryor balked, but agreed to comply with the committees wishes. Sache said, “We hired Pryor as a consultant to work this out and I assumed it was taken care of.” Sache clarified Pryors consulting work was done during the few months he was off the committee. Pryor said he would not charge the committee for his additional services.
In addition to the convention center opening under union pickets, numerous items were discussed concerning last minute preparations for the grand opening scheduled for this Thursday.
The committee also argued with Paric the construction management company. Paric was requesting $146,000 extra because there were so many change work orders. Sache, Brown and Hoepfner said the contract was to see the project through to completion and pointed out most of the change orders were not the fault of the City. Councilman Hoepfner has been critical of Paric’s Business practices concerning the justice center.
Also, Allowing John Hammond, the hotel operator, to break his contract in which he agreed to pay the convention center $250,0000 to operate the food and beverage service during the first year. The contract provided each year there after would increase by $50,000. Mark Brown pointed out Hammond was responsible for most of the increased construction cost. (Hammond is about four months behind on their construction and has cost the convention center extra money to work around them.). Brown said, “Allowing them to break their contract not only cost us money but now we have to pay Global to operate the food and beverage. Councilman Hoepfner and Brown voted no.
More fireworks are expected at Tuesday’s meeting of the Convention oversite committee.
Fireworks erupted during the convention center oversight committee held on Tuesday April 29th. The convention center oversight committee held its first meeting in the new St. Charles Convention Center.
The meeting became heated when a letter was read from Dan McKay, President of Teamsters Joint Council #13 and President of Teamsters Local Union 600, announcing they, along with Decorators and Displaymens Local 39 and Stagehands Local 6, were planning to set up pickets starting opening day. Larry Sachse, Vice President of the Sports Authority spoke out against Roger Pryor and Chairman Ken Kielty for refusing to communicate with the unions. Sache stated, “I talked to Dan McKay twice today and he is upset because Global Spectrum (the company contracted to run the convention center) has refused to return any of his phone calls. Sache said it was his understanding our contract with Global Spectrum required they negotiate in good faith with all unions.
Mayor York said, “ we built this convention center using union labor.” She stated it was her understanding after the center was built, “We were through dealing with the unions.” The Mayor went on to say she was against dealing with three or four unions when it comes to running the center. Mayor York indicated the Teamsters were the demise of the convention center in St. Louis.
Dan Mckay said he objected strongly to York’s statement and pointed out two months ago he received a commodation from the St. Louis Convention and Business Center for his willingness to work them and make concessions in order to generate more business for the convention and tourism products. Frank Condellire, Business Agent for U.S.W.A. Local 39, who was in the audience, received the same award. McKay went on to say the St. Louis Business Journal is also featuring a story on how they have been working as a team for the betterment of St. Louis. Mr. McKay said, “We have been a strong supporter of St. Charles and we represent over 26,000 members throughout St. Charles and surrounding areas.” McKay said, “If St. Charles refuses to meet and discuss the issues at hand, I guarantee you we will set up pickets on opening day. This will include the Mayor’s Ball.”
Councilman Mark Brown who also sits on the oversight committee said, “I was not on the board when all this started. “If this committee is about to spend $500,000 on a grand opening party and have unions picketing the entrance they are out right crazy.” Brown continued, “This is the most ludicrous thing they have done. Brown stated, “You guys need to get this worked out before April the 7th.” Brown went on to say, “This is what happened at the Family Arena and to this day, they have never recovered. We don’t need two white elephant’s in this city.”
Ken Kielty, Sports Authority Chairman, said as far as he was concerned we can open this center with just five janitors and he was not in favor of negotiating with three different unions. Councilman Hoepfner said, “Don’t forget, if it was not for these unions we would not have a convention center.” Kielty commented, “They only gave us $75,000 to run the campaign, we are not going to let them ruin this center like they did in St. Louis.” Councilman Brown said McKay told him Local 600 wanted to work with St. Charles and he was willing to make great concessions to help see that our center is a big success.
The committee then voted to make Roger Pryor and Shrura Lundgren, Global Spectrum Manager, sit down with the unions and listen to their concerns. Pryor balked, but agreed to comply with the committees wishes. Sache said, “We hired Pryor as a consultant to work this out and I assumed it was taken care of.” Sache clarified Pryors consulting work was done during the few months he was off the committee. Pryor said he would not charge the committee for his additional services.
In addition to the convention center opening under union pickets, numerous items were discussed concerning last minute preparations for the grand opening scheduled for this Thursday.
The committee also argued with Paric the construction management company. Paric was requesting $146,000 extra because there were so many change work orders. Sache, Brown and Hoepfner said the contract was to see the project through to completion and pointed out most of the change orders were not the fault of the City. Councilman Hoepfner has been critical of Paric’s Business practices concerning the justice center.
Also, Allowing John Hammond, the hotel operator, to break his contract in which he agreed to pay the convention center $250,0000 to operate the food and beverage service during the first year. The contract provided each year there after would increase by $50,000. Mark Brown pointed out Hammond was responsible for most of the increased construction cost. (Hammond is about four months behind on their construction and has cost the convention center extra money to work around them.). Brown said, “Allowing them to break their contract not only cost us money but now we have to pay Global to operate the food and beverage. Councilman Hoepfner and Brown voted no.
More fireworks are expected at Tuesday’s meeting of the Convention oversite committee.
Saint Charles Municipal Band to Open 135th Season
The Saint Charles Municipal Band will open its 135th season Sunday, April 3, with its Annual Spring Concert at 2 p.m. at the Lindenwood University Cultural Center, Kingshighway and Adams Street in St. Charles.
“The Municipal Band has been a part of St. Charles for 134 years, and is looking forward to this special anniversary season of music,” said Nancy Garza, the band’s musical director. The Saint Charles Municipal Band traces its roots back to a performance on July 4, 1870, by the Union Volunteer Fire Company of St. Charles.
Musical selections will include Hallelujah Trombone by Henry Fillmore, Big Cage Galop by Karl King, selections from H.M.S. Pinafore, Pirates of Penzance and the Kikado by Gilbert and Sullivan.
Admission to the concert is free. Following a reception immediately after the Municipal Band’s concert, the St. Charles Community Big Band, directed by Earl Kreder, will perform.
For more information about the concerts, contact Earl Kreder at 314-878-5296.
“The Municipal Band has been a part of St. Charles for 134 years, and is looking forward to this special anniversary season of music,” said Nancy Garza, the band’s musical director. The Saint Charles Municipal Band traces its roots back to a performance on July 4, 1870, by the Union Volunteer Fire Company of St. Charles.
Musical selections will include Hallelujah Trombone by Henry Fillmore, Big Cage Galop by Karl King, selections from H.M.S. Pinafore, Pirates of Penzance and the Kikado by Gilbert and Sullivan.
Admission to the concert is free. Following a reception immediately after the Municipal Band’s concert, the St. Charles Community Big Band, directed by Earl Kreder, will perform.
For more information about the concerts, contact Earl Kreder at 314-878-5296.
Way beyond the obvious: The Psychological reasons why men and women take steroids- Dr. Howard Rosenthal
Way beyond the obvious: The psychological reasons why men and women take steroids
Dr. Howard Rosenthal
Feature Article
Angelo Siciliano’s adopted name was Charles Atlas. He stood precisely five feet ten inches tall and tipped the scales at exactly 180 pounds. Atlas was so good at winning the America’s Most Perfectly Developed Man Contest that the promoter of the contest Bernarr MacFadden commented in 1922, “What’s the use of holding them? Atlas will win every time.”
Now fast forward to the year 2005. If we could magically place the mighty Atlas on the field of a major league baseball game he would look average at best. Worse yet, if we could take Atlas in his prime and stick him in an NFL game or worse yet a professional wrestling ring he would look like a peanut. He might even (dare I say it) just get a little sand kicked in his face. Doesn’t that strike you as a little odd?
Do human genetics really change that rapidly? Not on this planet. Then why are athletes so much bigger, better, and stronger than in years past?
It must be better training routines, you say. Not according to the late, great Vince Gironda, who purportedly could whip a body into shape faster than possibly any trainer in history. Gironda, who trained scores of top bodybuilders, and a string of actors far too lengthy to include in this article, would not agree. Well what about those big, burly, high tech glistening chrome machines in our modern gyms? Maybe they are responsible for our new improved super athletes. Here again, Gironda tells us the answer is an unequivocal no, pointing out he was offered nearly every new piece of apparatus on the market. To quote Gironda, aka the iron guru, “you would get more out of trying to lift the machine than work on it according to the designer’s directions.” So what is the answer?
Surprise, surprise, surprise, according to Gironda — who himself was in perfect shape and at the height of his career weighed in at 15 pounds less than Atlas — it is steroids. Now there’s a shocker. And no my friend, I’m not referring to Andro, which not long ago was available at nearly any health food store or pharmacy chain. In fact, a number of athletes I have counseled were adamant they wouldn’t take Andro because it was way too weak. Nevertheless, they said it was rumored Andro would foil tests for other serious steroids. Hmm, I wonder why that would be so important to them?
For those of you who believe ingesting of steroids is new, I can only say wake up and smell the coffee. Steroids, discovered in 1935, are synthetic derivatives of the male hormone testosterone. Historians believe the first steroid users were soldiers given the drug in WWII to increase aggressiveness. They made a comeback the 1950s when they were used by Russian weightlifters.
In 1961 top bodybuilder Bill Pearl reports he was trying to ferret out how the Russians were so strong. His investigation led him to see a veterinarian who gave him a steroid t used at the time to fatten up bulls. The drug worked well on Pearl too.
When the first Mr. Olympia 1965 and 1966, Larry Scott (who looked like the All-American boy you would kill for your daughter would bring home on a date), was asked whether he took steroids he replied, “Sure, doesn’t everyone?”
Football Player Steve Courson blew the whistle on his profession when he wrote False Glory: Steelers and Steroids. In this 1991 book he calls the Pittsburgh Steelers “the steroid team of the 70s”, and estimated that 65 to 95% of the top lineman of the era took steroids and related substances.
Football legend Lyle Alzado, who passed away at age 43 in 1992 with a brain tumor, admitted before his death he was ingesting $30,000 a year in performance drugs and dangerous growth hormone. He recalled one period in which he dropped $4000 for human growth hormone alone during a sixteen- week period. Alzado admitted he began using performance drugs in 1969 and “never stopped.” Alzado was a victim of so-called roid rage in which the person harbors extremely aggressive tendencies. Alzado purportedly stated he never met a man he didn’t want to fight!
On the juice: now and then
In no way, shape or form is the problem getting any better. Rather than talking about Atlas or Gironda, let’s take Arnold as a much more recent example. At his peak as a bodybuilder, Arnold was six feet two inches tall and weighed 235 pounds. He was seemingly unstoppable. Experts at the time suggested Arnold had reached the limits of human physical development. Today opponents competing for the same titles weigh about 50 pounds more and are much leaner than Arnold! Again, genetics? Well let’s just say I wouldn’t bet the farm on it!
Why are the steroid monsters getting bigger? Better living through chemistry. Today, athletes — rather than using one or two popular steroids like the champions of yesteryears, which was dangerous enough – are stacking (i.e., combining) all kinds of steroids and growth hormones that make the drugs taken thirty or forty years ago look like a child’s dosage. Some bodybuilders are spending $5000 a month on muscle building drugs and taking over 100 times what a physician would prescribe for a medical condition!
What in the world does abuse have to do with all of this?
So why do people take massive doses of dangerous steroids? Needless to say, the obvious answer is to run faster, jump higher or hit more home runs. For others, teens included, the practice is purely cosmetic, piling an extra six inches of intimidating rock hard muscle on your biceps.
But there is another, less obvious, recently discovered psychological motive. In interviews with male weightlifters it was discovered 1 out of every 4 had memories of childhood physical or sexual abuse. When interviewing weightlifters that did not use steroids, none had such memories.
Steroids: It’s not just a guy thing
Volume 69, number 1, 2000 of the journal of “Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics” featured a landmark article by Amanda J. Gruber and Harrison G. Pope Jr. The article titled “Psychiatric and Medical Effects of Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid Use in Women” did something no previous study had ever done: It investigated the use of steroids in women. 75 women athletes were recruited via advertisement. An alarming 33% reported current or past use! Sixty-five out of 75 women reported extreme dissatisfaction with their bodies or what behavioral scientists call muscle dysmorphia. In this condition athletes and bodybuilders feel small and weak even when they sport a nearly perfect body. It can occur in men and women and on the street it is referred to as “bigorexia.” Roughly speaking, this affliction is roughly the opposite of anorexia.
Just for the record, the general public often suffers from body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) in which an individual often obsesses about his or her looks or a given body part for an hour or more each day.
Some research has also indicated in women weightlifters a high percentage that used steroids had been raped. A fact not true of women weightlifters clean and steroid free. Of those women using steroids, virtually none ever considered “using” prior to the attack. Interviews revealed the women felt their superior strength would intimidate men or men would simply find them unattractive.
Hence, in both men and women, the drugs were providing a psychological shield against the horrors of physical and sexual abuse.
Perhaps Dr. John Ziegler, who is accredited with discovering the popular steroid Dianabol, or D-bol for short, summed the situation up best. He allegedly said on his deathbed, “I wish I had never discovered steroids.”
As for me, well, I’ve chosen to carry my ailing dog up and down the stairs. It doesn’t cost a dime, it’s an excellent form of static contraction exercise, and unless she decides to bite me it’s a heck of a lot safer than steroids!
Dr. Howard Rosenthal is Professor and Program Coordinator of Human Services at St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley. He is the author a number of books including the Encyclopedia of Counseling, the Human Services Dictionary, and Help Yourself to Positive Mental Health. His website is www.counselingshop.com.
Dr. Howard Rosenthal
Feature Article
Angelo Siciliano’s adopted name was Charles Atlas. He stood precisely five feet ten inches tall and tipped the scales at exactly 180 pounds. Atlas was so good at winning the America’s Most Perfectly Developed Man Contest that the promoter of the contest Bernarr MacFadden commented in 1922, “What’s the use of holding them? Atlas will win every time.”
Now fast forward to the year 2005. If we could magically place the mighty Atlas on the field of a major league baseball game he would look average at best. Worse yet, if we could take Atlas in his prime and stick him in an NFL game or worse yet a professional wrestling ring he would look like a peanut. He might even (dare I say it) just get a little sand kicked in his face. Doesn’t that strike you as a little odd?
Do human genetics really change that rapidly? Not on this planet. Then why are athletes so much bigger, better, and stronger than in years past?
It must be better training routines, you say. Not according to the late, great Vince Gironda, who purportedly could whip a body into shape faster than possibly any trainer in history. Gironda, who trained scores of top bodybuilders, and a string of actors far too lengthy to include in this article, would not agree. Well what about those big, burly, high tech glistening chrome machines in our modern gyms? Maybe they are responsible for our new improved super athletes. Here again, Gironda tells us the answer is an unequivocal no, pointing out he was offered nearly every new piece of apparatus on the market. To quote Gironda, aka the iron guru, “you would get more out of trying to lift the machine than work on it according to the designer’s directions.” So what is the answer?
Surprise, surprise, surprise, according to Gironda — who himself was in perfect shape and at the height of his career weighed in at 15 pounds less than Atlas — it is steroids. Now there’s a shocker. And no my friend, I’m not referring to Andro, which not long ago was available at nearly any health food store or pharmacy chain. In fact, a number of athletes I have counseled were adamant they wouldn’t take Andro because it was way too weak. Nevertheless, they said it was rumored Andro would foil tests for other serious steroids. Hmm, I wonder why that would be so important to them?
For those of you who believe ingesting of steroids is new, I can only say wake up and smell the coffee. Steroids, discovered in 1935, are synthetic derivatives of the male hormone testosterone. Historians believe the first steroid users were soldiers given the drug in WWII to increase aggressiveness. They made a comeback the 1950s when they were used by Russian weightlifters.
In 1961 top bodybuilder Bill Pearl reports he was trying to ferret out how the Russians were so strong. His investigation led him to see a veterinarian who gave him a steroid t used at the time to fatten up bulls. The drug worked well on Pearl too.
When the first Mr. Olympia 1965 and 1966, Larry Scott (who looked like the All-American boy you would kill for your daughter would bring home on a date), was asked whether he took steroids he replied, “Sure, doesn’t everyone?”
Football Player Steve Courson blew the whistle on his profession when he wrote False Glory: Steelers and Steroids. In this 1991 book he calls the Pittsburgh Steelers “the steroid team of the 70s”, and estimated that 65 to 95% of the top lineman of the era took steroids and related substances.
Football legend Lyle Alzado, who passed away at age 43 in 1992 with a brain tumor, admitted before his death he was ingesting $30,000 a year in performance drugs and dangerous growth hormone. He recalled one period in which he dropped $4000 for human growth hormone alone during a sixteen- week period. Alzado admitted he began using performance drugs in 1969 and “never stopped.” Alzado was a victim of so-called roid rage in which the person harbors extremely aggressive tendencies. Alzado purportedly stated he never met a man he didn’t want to fight!
On the juice: now and then
In no way, shape or form is the problem getting any better. Rather than talking about Atlas or Gironda, let’s take Arnold as a much more recent example. At his peak as a bodybuilder, Arnold was six feet two inches tall and weighed 235 pounds. He was seemingly unstoppable. Experts at the time suggested Arnold had reached the limits of human physical development. Today opponents competing for the same titles weigh about 50 pounds more and are much leaner than Arnold! Again, genetics? Well let’s just say I wouldn’t bet the farm on it!
Why are the steroid monsters getting bigger? Better living through chemistry. Today, athletes — rather than using one or two popular steroids like the champions of yesteryears, which was dangerous enough – are stacking (i.e., combining) all kinds of steroids and growth hormones that make the drugs taken thirty or forty years ago look like a child’s dosage. Some bodybuilders are spending $5000 a month on muscle building drugs and taking over 100 times what a physician would prescribe for a medical condition!
What in the world does abuse have to do with all of this?
So why do people take massive doses of dangerous steroids? Needless to say, the obvious answer is to run faster, jump higher or hit more home runs. For others, teens included, the practice is purely cosmetic, piling an extra six inches of intimidating rock hard muscle on your biceps.
But there is another, less obvious, recently discovered psychological motive. In interviews with male weightlifters it was discovered 1 out of every 4 had memories of childhood physical or sexual abuse. When interviewing weightlifters that did not use steroids, none had such memories.
Steroids: It’s not just a guy thing
Volume 69, number 1, 2000 of the journal of “Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics” featured a landmark article by Amanda J. Gruber and Harrison G. Pope Jr. The article titled “Psychiatric and Medical Effects of Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid Use in Women” did something no previous study had ever done: It investigated the use of steroids in women. 75 women athletes were recruited via advertisement. An alarming 33% reported current or past use! Sixty-five out of 75 women reported extreme dissatisfaction with their bodies or what behavioral scientists call muscle dysmorphia. In this condition athletes and bodybuilders feel small and weak even when they sport a nearly perfect body. It can occur in men and women and on the street it is referred to as “bigorexia.” Roughly speaking, this affliction is roughly the opposite of anorexia.
Just for the record, the general public often suffers from body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) in which an individual often obsesses about his or her looks or a given body part for an hour or more each day.
Some research has also indicated in women weightlifters a high percentage that used steroids had been raped. A fact not true of women weightlifters clean and steroid free. Of those women using steroids, virtually none ever considered “using” prior to the attack. Interviews revealed the women felt their superior strength would intimidate men or men would simply find them unattractive.
Hence, in both men and women, the drugs were providing a psychological shield against the horrors of physical and sexual abuse.
Perhaps Dr. John Ziegler, who is accredited with discovering the popular steroid Dianabol, or D-bol for short, summed the situation up best. He allegedly said on his deathbed, “I wish I had never discovered steroids.”
As for me, well, I’ve chosen to carry my ailing dog up and down the stairs. It doesn’t cost a dime, it’s an excellent form of static contraction exercise, and unless she decides to bite me it’s a heck of a lot safer than steroids!
Dr. Howard Rosenthal is Professor and Program Coordinator of Human Services at St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley. He is the author a number of books including the Encyclopedia of Counseling, the Human Services Dictionary, and Help Yourself to Positive Mental Health. His website is www.counselingshop.com.
THE CITY DESK by Rory Riddler, City Council President
Annexation Best Way To Lessen Burden On Residential Taxpayers
People tend to vote in their own enlightened self-interest, when given all the facts and when issues are presented in a straightforward manner on the ballot. Thanks to confusing ballot language and an attempt to put out false and misleading information, some issues on this April’s ballot promise to be anything but straightforward.
Let me start by giving everyone a “cheat sheet” to help you with the ten annexation issues on the ballot Tuesday. Vote nine times YES and the last time NO. Of course, you only have to remember this formula if you’re planning on voting in your own self-interest.
The first nine annexation areas are “pockets”, some nearly surrounded by our city limits. They are mainly commercial and undeveloped properties. I won’t test your patience trying to write a legal description of each of the proposed annexation areas. Besides, the legal descriptions already ran in a lengthy (multiple page) legal notice required by law. It was so riveting you probably couldn’t put it down.
The easiest way to tell what areas we’re talking about is to look at any map of the City. See those gaping holes that look like someone got tired of coloring in the map? The commercial and undeveloped properties in these areas, are what the ten ballot issues are all about.
One of these pockets is St. Andrews Plaza, just West of Zumbehl on Interstate 70. Most people aren’t aware this retail area isn’t in the City of St. Charles. Yet you have to drive past it to get to our City Limits at Cave Springs. Once in the City of St. Charles, these commercial areas will help expand our tax base. That’s good for residential property owners like you and me. The more commercial, office and industrial property we have paying taxes and supporting municipal services, the less of a burden there has to be on residential property tax payers.
Another important factor is the City of St. Charles will have more to say about what type of development occurs on these properties. It is an opportunity for the City of St. Charles to control its own destiny. Currently we’re forced to play Let’s Make A Deal with developers as they decide whether or not it is in their economic interest to annex into our community. If they don’t come into the City, they develop under County standards, which are less strict than those in the City. For example, the County still allows metal buildings and puts no restrictions on used car lots. What develops around the City is important because it affects people’s image of our community and impacts our property values.
This is one of those issues where the Mayor, City Administrator and majority of the City Council agree. There was some false and misleading information circulated in an attempt by some opponents (mainly County residents) to derail our annexation issues. A ridiculous estimate for raising a two lane road was put into a draft report. I say ridiculous because for about a four block stretch of road, this person had estimated it would cost $10.5 million. What’s more, we never agreed to raise the road and the property owners along the road never asked for it to be raised. All they wanted was a larger culvert and some street lights on existing telephone poles…a minimal cost.
This report had never been approved, or signed off on, by the City Administrator. It was never accepted by the City Council. So we have a horribly inflated and inaccurate figure, about a non-existent project nobody wants, asked for, or authorized, being the subject of two articles in the local press. The mind boggles.
Which brings me to the reason you should vote NO on the tenth, or final, annexation issue. This is one of those instances voters universally hate…the notorious “opposite” of what you mean ballot language. You know the kind I’m talking about, where YES means NO and NO means YES.
The final annexation ballot issue concerns the St. Charles Golf Course. A YES vote would repeal the voluntary annexation of the property into the City of St. Charles and keep it in the County. A NO vote expresses your desire for the property to be in the City of St. Charles.
I say “expresses” your opinion because the voluntary annexation agreement this refers to was withdrawn and the development that prompted citizens to circulate petitions for this vote, was also withdrawn. Meanwhile, a new developer, with far less density and far greater public support from neighbors of the development, has petitioned to the City for voluntary annexation.
While in fact, the issue being voted on is probably null and void, your NO vote will be a positive statement in support of a developer who went to great lengths to accommodate neighbors. In some instances, adjacent property owners were given up to 25 feet of additional property to add to their own backyards as a buffer.
City Councilman Mark Brown, whose ward the development would be located in, also negotiated a tough, but fair, deal where the citizens of St. Charles will be given a ten acre public park complete with amenities. This is a $2 MILLION GIFT to the taxpayers of St. Charles in an area of the City badly in need of additional public park land.
In addition, the developers agreed to front the City’s portion of the extension of Fairgrounds Road South to Friedens Road. For anyone who has tried to get to the Family Arena or travel North or South on Arena Parkway at rush hour, this project will be a great reliever road for traffic. Finally, this developer has set aside a large portion of the land for commercial development, including a new grocery store, badly needed by residents in that area of the City.
St. Charles Golf Course is closed and will not be reopened. Voting YES (against annexation of this property) will not bring back the golf course. Voting NO (against repeal of the annexation) is in the self-interest of all taxpayers and residents of St. Charles. These new residents, who will use our parks, drive on our streets and use other City services, should be in the City, paying City taxes and sharing those costs with you and me.
All we have to remember Tuesday is to Vote nine times YES and the last time NO. And, as always, watch out for hanging chad.
People tend to vote in their own enlightened self-interest, when given all the facts and when issues are presented in a straightforward manner on the ballot. Thanks to confusing ballot language and an attempt to put out false and misleading information, some issues on this April’s ballot promise to be anything but straightforward.
Let me start by giving everyone a “cheat sheet” to help you with the ten annexation issues on the ballot Tuesday. Vote nine times YES and the last time NO. Of course, you only have to remember this formula if you’re planning on voting in your own self-interest.
The first nine annexation areas are “pockets”, some nearly surrounded by our city limits. They are mainly commercial and undeveloped properties. I won’t test your patience trying to write a legal description of each of the proposed annexation areas. Besides, the legal descriptions already ran in a lengthy (multiple page) legal notice required by law. It was so riveting you probably couldn’t put it down.
The easiest way to tell what areas we’re talking about is to look at any map of the City. See those gaping holes that look like someone got tired of coloring in the map? The commercial and undeveloped properties in these areas, are what the ten ballot issues are all about.
One of these pockets is St. Andrews Plaza, just West of Zumbehl on Interstate 70. Most people aren’t aware this retail area isn’t in the City of St. Charles. Yet you have to drive past it to get to our City Limits at Cave Springs. Once in the City of St. Charles, these commercial areas will help expand our tax base. That’s good for residential property owners like you and me. The more commercial, office and industrial property we have paying taxes and supporting municipal services, the less of a burden there has to be on residential property tax payers.
Another important factor is the City of St. Charles will have more to say about what type of development occurs on these properties. It is an opportunity for the City of St. Charles to control its own destiny. Currently we’re forced to play Let’s Make A Deal with developers as they decide whether or not it is in their economic interest to annex into our community. If they don’t come into the City, they develop under County standards, which are less strict than those in the City. For example, the County still allows metal buildings and puts no restrictions on used car lots. What develops around the City is important because it affects people’s image of our community and impacts our property values.
This is one of those issues where the Mayor, City Administrator and majority of the City Council agree. There was some false and misleading information circulated in an attempt by some opponents (mainly County residents) to derail our annexation issues. A ridiculous estimate for raising a two lane road was put into a draft report. I say ridiculous because for about a four block stretch of road, this person had estimated it would cost $10.5 million. What’s more, we never agreed to raise the road and the property owners along the road never asked for it to be raised. All they wanted was a larger culvert and some street lights on existing telephone poles…a minimal cost.
This report had never been approved, or signed off on, by the City Administrator. It was never accepted by the City Council. So we have a horribly inflated and inaccurate figure, about a non-existent project nobody wants, asked for, or authorized, being the subject of two articles in the local press. The mind boggles.
Which brings me to the reason you should vote NO on the tenth, or final, annexation issue. This is one of those instances voters universally hate…the notorious “opposite” of what you mean ballot language. You know the kind I’m talking about, where YES means NO and NO means YES.
The final annexation ballot issue concerns the St. Charles Golf Course. A YES vote would repeal the voluntary annexation of the property into the City of St. Charles and keep it in the County. A NO vote expresses your desire for the property to be in the City of St. Charles.
I say “expresses” your opinion because the voluntary annexation agreement this refers to was withdrawn and the development that prompted citizens to circulate petitions for this vote, was also withdrawn. Meanwhile, a new developer, with far less density and far greater public support from neighbors of the development, has petitioned to the City for voluntary annexation.
While in fact, the issue being voted on is probably null and void, your NO vote will be a positive statement in support of a developer who went to great lengths to accommodate neighbors. In some instances, adjacent property owners were given up to 25 feet of additional property to add to their own backyards as a buffer.
City Councilman Mark Brown, whose ward the development would be located in, also negotiated a tough, but fair, deal where the citizens of St. Charles will be given a ten acre public park complete with amenities. This is a $2 MILLION GIFT to the taxpayers of St. Charles in an area of the City badly in need of additional public park land.
In addition, the developers agreed to front the City’s portion of the extension of Fairgrounds Road South to Friedens Road. For anyone who has tried to get to the Family Arena or travel North or South on Arena Parkway at rush hour, this project will be a great reliever road for traffic. Finally, this developer has set aside a large portion of the land for commercial development, including a new grocery store, badly needed by residents in that area of the City.
St. Charles Golf Course is closed and will not be reopened. Voting YES (against annexation of this property) will not bring back the golf course. Voting NO (against repeal of the annexation) is in the self-interest of all taxpayers and residents of St. Charles. These new residents, who will use our parks, drive on our streets and use other City services, should be in the City, paying City taxes and sharing those costs with you and me.
All we have to remember Tuesday is to Vote nine times YES and the last time NO. And, as always, watch out for hanging chad.
LET THEM BUILD OUTHOUSES! - Joe Koester
“Let Them Build Outhouses!”
by Joe Koester
If you read the papers, then by now you have probably heard my quote, “Let them build outhouses...” referring to the St. Andrews development that refuses to annex into the City, but wants to hook up to our already taxed sewer system. The City of Saint Charles needs to guard its sewer processing system for its residents — after all, each Councilman has been elected to do right for the City and its residents, not for developers. So, I think it is really rich when some on Council accuse those opposed to St. Andrews hooking into our sewer system to be politically motivated. They are correct, however, in making this claim. I am politically motivated to help the City. Had I been elected to County Council, then I would have different interests to serve. What is really meant by those taking this, “that’s-politically-motivated stance” is this because T.R. Hughes opposed the election of several on the Council, our stance on St. Andrews can only be political payback. The opposite stance, of course, can be taken and claims could better be made that those who were supported by T.R. Hughes are wanting to help him regardless of the cost to our City. Mayor York was supportive of the annexation issues until, it seems, very recently. I wonder what or who changed her mind?
Ask the Council members supporting this hook up how it will benefit you as a tax payer! They will not have a good answer if they are being honest. The fact of the matter is, those outside the corporate limits pay less than those of us in the City for the same sewage treatment and we as a City do not make money from this service!
A further fact is, growth in tax base and population is important for our city regardless of the developer’s name attached! I spearheaded the annexation issue on the ballot in order to help St. Charles clean up its borders and hopefully bring into its jurisdiction more than 1,000 acres. By the way, most all of these areas are already served by our sewer system, so they do not add any burden to the system.
This brings up another point: you may see advertisement opposing the annexation. Remember, always look at the funding source and you will have a better idea who is behind these ads and maybe understand these interests are self-serving. Oh, don’t worry, these folks will spin things to make you believe Saint Charles will spend $30 million or more if we annex! Maybe these are the same people who didn’t want us to annex the Venture store at Cave Springs because it would cost too much! Truth is, this figure has been inflated by presenting these areas with every possible improvement we offer as a City. Do you know Hawning Road doesn’t need curbs and sidewalks because no one lives there!
Oh, and by the way - originally, my statement to, “Let them build outhouses!” was meant to indicate it was none of our concern how T.R. Hughes was going to get sewer service if he wasn’t a part of our City. You will be happy to know there has been word a sewer line costing $1.5M will carry St. Andrew’s waste to St. Peters which would help reduce the sewer system and maybe extend the time we have to get our system improved. Councilman Riddler pointed out when a private developer wants to build a 2 mile long pipe it costs $1.5 million, but if St. Charles wants to build one 3 blocks long, it costs ten times that much! Maybe we should contract with Hughes for future sewer work! So, if you were waxing nostalgic for little outhouse doors with a crescent moon cutout, I’m sorry. It looks like Hughes figured out a way to take care of his problem for only $1.5M!
by Joe Koester
If you read the papers, then by now you have probably heard my quote, “Let them build outhouses...” referring to the St. Andrews development that refuses to annex into the City, but wants to hook up to our already taxed sewer system. The City of Saint Charles needs to guard its sewer processing system for its residents — after all, each Councilman has been elected to do right for the City and its residents, not for developers. So, I think it is really rich when some on Council accuse those opposed to St. Andrews hooking into our sewer system to be politically motivated. They are correct, however, in making this claim. I am politically motivated to help the City. Had I been elected to County Council, then I would have different interests to serve. What is really meant by those taking this, “that’s-politically-motivated stance” is this because T.R. Hughes opposed the election of several on the Council, our stance on St. Andrews can only be political payback. The opposite stance, of course, can be taken and claims could better be made that those who were supported by T.R. Hughes are wanting to help him regardless of the cost to our City. Mayor York was supportive of the annexation issues until, it seems, very recently. I wonder what or who changed her mind?
Ask the Council members supporting this hook up how it will benefit you as a tax payer! They will not have a good answer if they are being honest. The fact of the matter is, those outside the corporate limits pay less than those of us in the City for the same sewage treatment and we as a City do not make money from this service!
A further fact is, growth in tax base and population is important for our city regardless of the developer’s name attached! I spearheaded the annexation issue on the ballot in order to help St. Charles clean up its borders and hopefully bring into its jurisdiction more than 1,000 acres. By the way, most all of these areas are already served by our sewer system, so they do not add any burden to the system.
This brings up another point: you may see advertisement opposing the annexation. Remember, always look at the funding source and you will have a better idea who is behind these ads and maybe understand these interests are self-serving. Oh, don’t worry, these folks will spin things to make you believe Saint Charles will spend $30 million or more if we annex! Maybe these are the same people who didn’t want us to annex the Venture store at Cave Springs because it would cost too much! Truth is, this figure has been inflated by presenting these areas with every possible improvement we offer as a City. Do you know Hawning Road doesn’t need curbs and sidewalks because no one lives there!
Oh, and by the way - originally, my statement to, “Let them build outhouses!” was meant to indicate it was none of our concern how T.R. Hughes was going to get sewer service if he wasn’t a part of our City. You will be happy to know there has been word a sewer line costing $1.5M will carry St. Andrew’s waste to St. Peters which would help reduce the sewer system and maybe extend the time we have to get our system improved. Councilman Riddler pointed out when a private developer wants to build a 2 mile long pipe it costs $1.5 million, but if St. Charles wants to build one 3 blocks long, it costs ten times that much! Maybe we should contract with Hughes for future sewer work! So, if you were waxing nostalgic for little outhouse doors with a crescent moon cutout, I’m sorry. It looks like Hughes figured out a way to take care of his problem for only $1.5M!
RAMBLING WITH THE EDITOR - Tony Brockmeyer
JOE MC CULLOCH
FOR COUNTY COUNCIL
DISTRICT 5
On April 5th the voters in St. Charles County Council District 5 will be voting for a new Councilman to fill the unexpired term of Sally Faith who gave up the position when she was elected as state representative.
JOE MC CULLOCH is the ideal choice for the Council seat. Joe and his wife Pat, have three children; Shannon, Joseph Jr. and Zachary. The family belongs to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish.
Joe McCulloch was raised in the Florissant area, graduating from Rosary High School in 1974. Following in his father’s footsteps, he joined the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. His father, Paul McCulloch was a police officer who in 1964 was killed in the line of duty when Joe was seven years old. Joe served as a uniformed officer, detective and Homicide investigator before being promoted in 1990 to Sergeant, where he served over a Special Narcotics task Force untill 1993.
Joe has a Bachelor Degree from Webster University and earned his Law Degree from St. Louis University School of Law in 1998. Joe retired from police work after 24 years and served as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in St. Charles County from 2000 - 2002 before joining the law firm of Todt, Ryan & McCulloch in the City of St. Charles.
When the voters of St. Charles County Council District Five go to the polls on Tuesday, April 5th we urge them to vote for Joe McCulloch for County Councilman.
JUST THE FACTS CHIEF
With just a few days on the job, newly appointed Chief of Police Tim Swope already has his hands full.
It is common for police officers to want to band together and protect each other. There is a syndrome commonly referred to as the “Blue Line” whereby they tend to rally behind a fellow officer no matter if that officer is right or wrong. Supervisors usually do not like to hear complaints about anyone under their supervision. They tend to want to protect their officers from criticism.
You and I were not there last Thursday evening when Sgt. Mayer pursued City Administrator Dr. Williams to the police parking lot. We were not there when he allegedly drew his weapon and ordered Dr. Williams face down on the ground (procedure for a felony stop). Neither was Chief Swope. This matter cannot be whitewashed or swept under the rug. A complete and thorough investigation needs to be conducted and the citizens of St. Charles need to know the facts.
The public has been told by numerous police officials if a police car attempts to stop you at night and you are fearful you should drive at the speed limit to a service station or a place where there are people before coming to a stop. That was what Dr. Williams did. If a frightened resident does that some evening, what action will be taken against them?
FOR COUNTY COUNCIL
DISTRICT 5
On April 5th the voters in St. Charles County Council District 5 will be voting for a new Councilman to fill the unexpired term of Sally Faith who gave up the position when she was elected as state representative.
JOE MC CULLOCH is the ideal choice for the Council seat. Joe and his wife Pat, have three children; Shannon, Joseph Jr. and Zachary. The family belongs to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish.
Joe McCulloch was raised in the Florissant area, graduating from Rosary High School in 1974. Following in his father’s footsteps, he joined the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. His father, Paul McCulloch was a police officer who in 1964 was killed in the line of duty when Joe was seven years old. Joe served as a uniformed officer, detective and Homicide investigator before being promoted in 1990 to Sergeant, where he served over a Special Narcotics task Force untill 1993.
Joe has a Bachelor Degree from Webster University and earned his Law Degree from St. Louis University School of Law in 1998. Joe retired from police work after 24 years and served as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in St. Charles County from 2000 - 2002 before joining the law firm of Todt, Ryan & McCulloch in the City of St. Charles.
When the voters of St. Charles County Council District Five go to the polls on Tuesday, April 5th we urge them to vote for Joe McCulloch for County Councilman.
JUST THE FACTS CHIEF
With just a few days on the job, newly appointed Chief of Police Tim Swope already has his hands full.
It is common for police officers to want to band together and protect each other. There is a syndrome commonly referred to as the “Blue Line” whereby they tend to rally behind a fellow officer no matter if that officer is right or wrong. Supervisors usually do not like to hear complaints about anyone under their supervision. They tend to want to protect their officers from criticism.
You and I were not there last Thursday evening when Sgt. Mayer pursued City Administrator Dr. Williams to the police parking lot. We were not there when he allegedly drew his weapon and ordered Dr. Williams face down on the ground (procedure for a felony stop). Neither was Chief Swope. This matter cannot be whitewashed or swept under the rug. A complete and thorough investigation needs to be conducted and the citizens of St. Charles need to know the facts.
The public has been told by numerous police officials if a police car attempts to stop you at night and you are fearful you should drive at the speed limit to a service station or a place where there are people before coming to a stop. That was what Dr. Williams did. If a frightened resident does that some evening, what action will be taken against them?
The People Speak - Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor
At last we have a permanent police chief! Many thanks to The First Capitol News staff for staying on this extremely important issue.
I was wondering if the ever-vigilant defender of St. Charles would publish the new chief’s resume, as a public service for all those who faithfully read your paper?
Thanks again,
Derek L. Herbert
Editor
I totally disagree with your opinion about elected officials’ salaries. Mayors, Councilmen, Aldermen and other elected officials make million dollar decisions everyday. These officials make personnel decisions. These officials are our elected stewards of our finances. These officials need to be the best and the brightest our community has to offer.
The current system basically mandates a volunteer system. Paying $25,000 per year for the Mayoral position and $6,000 per year for a Councilman is ridiculous. You will never entice the best and the brightest to lead our City at these rates. Unfortunately most people have families, cars, and houses which need to be paid for. Only people who are retired, have a job which allows them free time, or have an agenda, will volunteer their services to our government. We need the best and the brightest.
In 2007 we should raise the Mayor’s salary to at least $100,000 per year and we should also raise the Councilperson’s salary to at least $35,000 per year. By the way, the sooner the better. People have lives to live and need to plan these things out.
I’d like to see more candidates for Mayor and Council. Not the same people who seem to run for these positions decade after decade.
Thanks
Tony Bethmann
First Capitol News
Loved your spread of the closed restaurants in this weeks issue (March 19 - 25). I have enclosed an image of the A&W store on North Second Street that you did not show. I think it would qualify as the oldest of the stores that have recently closed (50+ years at that location?).
I think it is interesting to note that following the closure of this store, the one on Droste was opened. Then, about 6 months later, you show a picture of it now closed for business (along with the attached Long John Silvers)! I wonder what that was all about?
Keep up the good work and I will continue to support you and your advertisers.
Grant Martin
To The Editor:
I’ve been a business owner in St. Charles County for 21 years and am very excited about our new Convention Center.
During the past 10 years we have participated in events at the convention center downtown St. Louis.
When we heard about the Business Expo for our convention center we definitely wanted to be part of this.
I went to the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce and signed up a week ago. They had 100 businesses registered, hoping for 120, what a great opportunity for the public to come out and learn about businesses in our county and to see our new, beautiful convention center.
We would have liked to participated in the Home and Garden show scheduled for the end of April, however, it had already been totally booked two months ago.
Anyone who has attended the Home and Garden Show at the convention center downtown St. Louis, knows the huge crowd it draws. From my past experience as a vendor I can tell you there were many attendees from St. Charles County. Sales are conducted with sales tax being collected. Business will be conducted at
our St. Charles County convention center with a portion of these funds collected benefiting the City of St. Charles, St. Charles County and the state of Missouri.
Let’s get the word out about this wonderful event . The Business Expo will be on Saturday, April 9 from 10-4 at the St. Charles Convention Center, located between 5th Street and Hwy 94 on the South Service Road, next to Cracker Barrel. Hoping to see you there!
Pat Hamilton
Aaron’s Birkenstock Sales
& All Brand Shoe Repair
Tony,
Did you see the Wed. Journal yet? If not you will have to check out the new news paper inside that will run every other Wed. It is called “The Citizen.” It will tell everyone the truth about what’s happening in St. Charles, NOT like that other newspaper the First Capitol News that does nothing but lie about everything. I noticed that one of the advertisers is the Boones Lick bed and breakfast, wow what a eye opener that was ! I wonder if people should send anonymous letters that we will not ever go into their places of business if they advertise in that rag that puts out that special kind of imaginative truth, you know the one,
Your Only Real Knavish “The Citizen”
Scott K
Dear Valued Donors:
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul St. Louis Council office would like to say “thank you” to all our generous donors in the St. Charles and surrounding area for their donations to our Thrift Stores. We would like to say “thank you” to all of you who have so faithfully supported our mission to help the poor and the needy right in your own community.
Our thrift stores provide low income individuals a dignified choice when shopping for their own and their family’s needs. Without the support of YOU - our generous donors, we would not be able to fulfill our mission.
Thank you again and may God bless you.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul – St. Louis Council
4127 Forest Park Ave
St. Louis, MO 63108
Open Letter to Ed Watkins
Come in Ed Watkins there is plenty of room at the city trough for you and Pattie’s out of town moneyed friends as well as your contributors to your publication. “Democracy At Its Best.”
Let’s talk about what’s right and not about who’s right. Is it right for any Mayor to call a special meeting to sell the old police station for 100’s of thousand of dollars less that what it is worth? Probably legal, but highly unethical, and not good for the taxpayers.
Seeing you are so interested in what’s right for this town I would suggest you get all the past copies of the First Capitol news and let us taxpaying citizens, as well as the moneyed friends of the Mayor know what’s right with this publication and or what’s wrong and who’s right and who’s wrong. I would think if anyone were not being truthful about what is happening in this town they would be a stand up guy like you are (I guess) trying to be. Print the WHOLE TRUTH seeing how the publications other than the First Capitol News have trouble doing this. If this doesn’t work talk to the Mayor, she knows about the courts and lawsuits. Ask her about Mr. Ziegler and Mr. Kielty and Mr. Mayer’s suits. I think she probably can give you some inside info. What’s right or who’s right.
Is it right for any Mayor to transfer large sums of money from one department to another without council approval? ($200,000 Lewis & Clark).
Is it right for any Mayor to issue Executive orders violating our City Charter?
Is it right for any Mayor to sign contracts for very large sums of money without Council approval?
Is it right for any Mayor to lie to the taxpaying citizens as well as her moneyed friends saying she cannot be IMPEACHED?
Is it right for any Mayor to be able to control the news publications (except the First Capitol News) in this town for any reason when it is NEGATIVE to her agenda, be it illegal or just unethical? Is it right for any Mayor, especially Patti, to be involved in another city’s residency policy concerning their police officers? Especially when 2/3’s of our police officers do not live in our fine city and the majority of all city employees do not live in our city? But they take our taxpayer funds for their extravagant raises (police & fire), want to drive our police cars back and forth to work and give the head of the Fraternal order of Police (Top Cop) Tommy Mayer, 200 hours pay to do FOP business, or is it wrong Mr. Ed?
Is it right for Tom Hughes to play the County against the City when it came to developing St. Andrews? The storm water problems could be a very big problem in the future. And then for Hughes to suggest that the people are the ones getting hurt by our Council’s action to keep him from connecting to our sanitary sewer lines when his development is not in our city? Mr. Hughes, the developer who worked against our Council members and spent money, unsuccessfully, to keep them from getting elected and then says they are politically motivated when they do not want county residents hooking up to our already overloaded sewer system.
Is it right the fence straddling restaurateur and license bureau executive, Mr. Sly Corporate xx, Mr. I’ll charge you hotel people $5 per night CVB Director, Mr. Ex Union Leader, Mr. Chairman of Convention Center Commission and the Charter Preservation Committee and others in this community who believe that Liberty & Justice for themselves should come first and then if anything is left the taxpayers can have it.
When the Pledge of Allegiance is said at each Council meeting the last five words say it all – LIBERTY & JUSTICE FOR ALL. That means all taxpayers, movers and shakers included. No more – No less. Simple – Very Simple it’s either like you say Mr. Ed, What’s right or who’s wrong.
I wish your publication could have been around five years ago when the First Capitol News started up and began looking into how our city was being run by our Mayor and the lockstep six. When we had a City Administrator who couldn’t wait for Patti to bring anything forward to help the movers and shakers so he could put his John Henry on it to make it all legal but very unethical in my eyes. We’ve come a long way since the CEO of the CVB was spending taxpayer’s money for concert tickets and giving them to whomever he wanted . He was Mr. “everything will be OK if you just let me operate my way.” I as a taxpayer don’t recall ever being asked if I would like to attend a concert by Mr. Powell at our City’s expense.
Two of the lockstep six are still on the Council as well as Mr. Powell, the CVB Director. I think the CEO of the CVB has bitten off more than he can chew and his little friend has just about lost all her fight. (Amen!)
So you see Mr. Ed, The First Capitol News has been printing what’s Wrong and who was doing what to make it wrong in my eyes and a lot of the taxpaying residents of this fine city. We’ve already got two publications that don’t print what’s wrong and who was wrong in doing what’s wrong be it one person, “Lets say Patti” and or a whole bunch of people – be it our Community leaders and or a big bunch of movers and shakers. Money! Money! Money!
I read your quote by Norman Vincent Peale, I have a quote for you and anyone who would care to read it. It is by John Doe in a book written in 1955 – the 9th printing in 1969.
“IT MAKES LITTLE DIFFERENCE WETHER MEN CONFUSE ARISTOTLE WITH ARISTIDES, BUT IT MAKES A LOT OF DIFFERENCE WHETHER MEN CONFUSE GOLD WITH GOD.”
Respectfully
Bob Bredensteiner
At last we have a permanent police chief! Many thanks to The First Capitol News staff for staying on this extremely important issue.
I was wondering if the ever-vigilant defender of St. Charles would publish the new chief’s resume, as a public service for all those who faithfully read your paper?
Thanks again,
Derek L. Herbert
Editor
I totally disagree with your opinion about elected officials’ salaries. Mayors, Councilmen, Aldermen and other elected officials make million dollar decisions everyday. These officials make personnel decisions. These officials are our elected stewards of our finances. These officials need to be the best and the brightest our community has to offer.
The current system basically mandates a volunteer system. Paying $25,000 per year for the Mayoral position and $6,000 per year for a Councilman is ridiculous. You will never entice the best and the brightest to lead our City at these rates. Unfortunately most people have families, cars, and houses which need to be paid for. Only people who are retired, have a job which allows them free time, or have an agenda, will volunteer their services to our government. We need the best and the brightest.
In 2007 we should raise the Mayor’s salary to at least $100,000 per year and we should also raise the Councilperson’s salary to at least $35,000 per year. By the way, the sooner the better. People have lives to live and need to plan these things out.
I’d like to see more candidates for Mayor and Council. Not the same people who seem to run for these positions decade after decade.
Thanks
Tony Bethmann
First Capitol News
Loved your spread of the closed restaurants in this weeks issue (March 19 - 25). I have enclosed an image of the A&W store on North Second Street that you did not show. I think it would qualify as the oldest of the stores that have recently closed (50+ years at that location?).
I think it is interesting to note that following the closure of this store, the one on Droste was opened. Then, about 6 months later, you show a picture of it now closed for business (along with the attached Long John Silvers)! I wonder what that was all about?
Keep up the good work and I will continue to support you and your advertisers.
Grant Martin
To The Editor:
I’ve been a business owner in St. Charles County for 21 years and am very excited about our new Convention Center.
During the past 10 years we have participated in events at the convention center downtown St. Louis.
When we heard about the Business Expo for our convention center we definitely wanted to be part of this.
I went to the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce and signed up a week ago. They had 100 businesses registered, hoping for 120, what a great opportunity for the public to come out and learn about businesses in our county and to see our new, beautiful convention center.
We would have liked to participated in the Home and Garden show scheduled for the end of April, however, it had already been totally booked two months ago.
Anyone who has attended the Home and Garden Show at the convention center downtown St. Louis, knows the huge crowd it draws. From my past experience as a vendor I can tell you there were many attendees from St. Charles County. Sales are conducted with sales tax being collected. Business will be conducted at
our St. Charles County convention center with a portion of these funds collected benefiting the City of St. Charles, St. Charles County and the state of Missouri.
Let’s get the word out about this wonderful event . The Business Expo will be on Saturday, April 9 from 10-4 at the St. Charles Convention Center, located between 5th Street and Hwy 94 on the South Service Road, next to Cracker Barrel. Hoping to see you there!
Pat Hamilton
Aaron’s Birkenstock Sales
& All Brand Shoe Repair
Tony,
Did you see the Wed. Journal yet? If not you will have to check out the new news paper inside that will run every other Wed. It is called “The Citizen.” It will tell everyone the truth about what’s happening in St. Charles, NOT like that other newspaper the First Capitol News that does nothing but lie about everything. I noticed that one of the advertisers is the Boones Lick bed and breakfast, wow what a eye opener that was ! I wonder if people should send anonymous letters that we will not ever go into their places of business if they advertise in that rag that puts out that special kind of imaginative truth, you know the one,
Your Only Real Knavish “The Citizen”
Scott K
Dear Valued Donors:
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul St. Louis Council office would like to say “thank you” to all our generous donors in the St. Charles and surrounding area for their donations to our Thrift Stores. We would like to say “thank you” to all of you who have so faithfully supported our mission to help the poor and the needy right in your own community.
Our thrift stores provide low income individuals a dignified choice when shopping for their own and their family’s needs. Without the support of YOU - our generous donors, we would not be able to fulfill our mission.
Thank you again and may God bless you.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul – St. Louis Council
4127 Forest Park Ave
St. Louis, MO 63108
Open Letter to Ed Watkins
Come in Ed Watkins there is plenty of room at the city trough for you and Pattie’s out of town moneyed friends as well as your contributors to your publication. “Democracy At Its Best.”
Let’s talk about what’s right and not about who’s right. Is it right for any Mayor to call a special meeting to sell the old police station for 100’s of thousand of dollars less that what it is worth? Probably legal, but highly unethical, and not good for the taxpayers.
Seeing you are so interested in what’s right for this town I would suggest you get all the past copies of the First Capitol news and let us taxpaying citizens, as well as the moneyed friends of the Mayor know what’s right with this publication and or what’s wrong and who’s right and who’s wrong. I would think if anyone were not being truthful about what is happening in this town they would be a stand up guy like you are (I guess) trying to be. Print the WHOLE TRUTH seeing how the publications other than the First Capitol News have trouble doing this. If this doesn’t work talk to the Mayor, she knows about the courts and lawsuits. Ask her about Mr. Ziegler and Mr. Kielty and Mr. Mayer’s suits. I think she probably can give you some inside info. What’s right or who’s right.
Is it right for any Mayor to transfer large sums of money from one department to another without council approval? ($200,000 Lewis & Clark).
Is it right for any Mayor to issue Executive orders violating our City Charter?
Is it right for any Mayor to sign contracts for very large sums of money without Council approval?
Is it right for any Mayor to lie to the taxpaying citizens as well as her moneyed friends saying she cannot be IMPEACHED?
Is it right for any Mayor to be able to control the news publications (except the First Capitol News) in this town for any reason when it is NEGATIVE to her agenda, be it illegal or just unethical? Is it right for any Mayor, especially Patti, to be involved in another city’s residency policy concerning their police officers? Especially when 2/3’s of our police officers do not live in our fine city and the majority of all city employees do not live in our city? But they take our taxpayer funds for their extravagant raises (police & fire), want to drive our police cars back and forth to work and give the head of the Fraternal order of Police (Top Cop) Tommy Mayer, 200 hours pay to do FOP business, or is it wrong Mr. Ed?
Is it right for Tom Hughes to play the County against the City when it came to developing St. Andrews? The storm water problems could be a very big problem in the future. And then for Hughes to suggest that the people are the ones getting hurt by our Council’s action to keep him from connecting to our sanitary sewer lines when his development is not in our city? Mr. Hughes, the developer who worked against our Council members and spent money, unsuccessfully, to keep them from getting elected and then says they are politically motivated when they do not want county residents hooking up to our already overloaded sewer system.
Is it right the fence straddling restaurateur and license bureau executive, Mr. Sly Corporate xx, Mr. I’ll charge you hotel people $5 per night CVB Director, Mr. Ex Union Leader, Mr. Chairman of Convention Center Commission and the Charter Preservation Committee and others in this community who believe that Liberty & Justice for themselves should come first and then if anything is left the taxpayers can have it.
When the Pledge of Allegiance is said at each Council meeting the last five words say it all – LIBERTY & JUSTICE FOR ALL. That means all taxpayers, movers and shakers included. No more – No less. Simple – Very Simple it’s either like you say Mr. Ed, What’s right or who’s wrong.
I wish your publication could have been around five years ago when the First Capitol News started up and began looking into how our city was being run by our Mayor and the lockstep six. When we had a City Administrator who couldn’t wait for Patti to bring anything forward to help the movers and shakers so he could put his John Henry on it to make it all legal but very unethical in my eyes. We’ve come a long way since the CEO of the CVB was spending taxpayer’s money for concert tickets and giving them to whomever he wanted . He was Mr. “everything will be OK if you just let me operate my way.” I as a taxpayer don’t recall ever being asked if I would like to attend a concert by Mr. Powell at our City’s expense.
Two of the lockstep six are still on the Council as well as Mr. Powell, the CVB Director. I think the CEO of the CVB has bitten off more than he can chew and his little friend has just about lost all her fight. (Amen!)
So you see Mr. Ed, The First Capitol News has been printing what’s Wrong and who was doing what to make it wrong in my eyes and a lot of the taxpaying residents of this fine city. We’ve already got two publications that don’t print what’s wrong and who was wrong in doing what’s wrong be it one person, “Lets say Patti” and or a whole bunch of people – be it our Community leaders and or a big bunch of movers and shakers. Money! Money! Money!
I read your quote by Norman Vincent Peale, I have a quote for you and anyone who would care to read it. It is by John Doe in a book written in 1955 – the 9th printing in 1969.
“IT MAKES LITTLE DIFFERENCE WETHER MEN CONFUSE ARISTOTLE WITH ARISTIDES, BUT IT MAKES A LOT OF DIFFERENCE WHETHER MEN CONFUSE GOLD WITH GOD.”
Respectfully
Bob Bredensteiner
The Conservative Factor by Alex Spencer
The long talked about creation of a new newspaper to confront the facts printed in the First Capitol News has finally reached fruition. The first issue of The Citizen was delivered to our doors as an insert in the ad-paper, The St. Charles Journal.
The publisher is Ed Watkins, and contrary to his statement on the front page of his chronicle, he is not a “new voice” in town. He is a public relations person and has been seen and heard by us for more than 20 years—backslapping and glad-handing—at any and all events and happenings of major and or economic importance.
During the 1980’s we remember him as a close ally of Bill Weber and his son, Randolph, who was actively involved in the local Republican Party. These were the years the homebuilders and developers were kings and appeared to control our County government. Many of the same individuals who were involved with this “elite” group who spent large sums of money to elect “their candidates” to public office back then are the same ones who supported Patti York for Mayor. The object was to “get Riddler” and control the City Council. The old alliances are still intact.
We wish Mr. Watkins the very best in his newest business endeavor. It is the true American spirit to aspire to climb new mountains and reach new heights of excellence. We look forward to the future debates about public policy. An informed public makes fewer mistakes at the polls.
Unfortunately, Mr. Watkins’s virgin voyage through the journalistic waters fell short of any altruistic purpose or meaningful goals. The front page of his first issue concentrated on promoting Mayor York and her latest agenda, and attacked The First Capitol News.
It was a pleasant surprise to see a recent column by Alex Spencer from The First Capitol News reproduced on the front page of The Citizen. Until Mr. Watkins reprinted the Spencer column, the rest of St. Charles County was unaware our mayor enjoys hugging and squeezing over shaking hands. The First Capitol News is a local City newspaper and is distributed only to the City. The Citizen is printed and delivered to every household in St. Charles County by the St. Charles Journal. It is an ad-paper and we will see the same advertisers in both papers as it reaches our doors on a bi-weekly basis. At the very least, this new paper should provide a powerful tool to the investors who wish to promote not only their businesses, but will be attempting to sway the public to vote for their selected candidates and issues in all future elections.
It appears our Mayor has made a real believer out of Mr. Watkins, and he will continue to serve her well in future issues.
Mr. Watkins’ motto is, “An Honest Voice About Honest Issues.” It has been my observation honesty gets rather blurred when the stakes are high and big money is on the line. Exactly which issues are “honest” and whose “honest voice” are we listening to?
Mr. Watkins appears to believe the public should not hear the truth. Truth may very well be unpleasant to bear at times, but truth is never “unfair or unbalanced.” Individuals who respect others do attempt to tell the truth. It is the only true basis upon which we can logically determine our decisions.
Mr. Watkins, you are correct in stating our city has been shamed. It is the same pervasive shame that has gone unchecked for decades. There is an increasing groundswell of public opinion that truly believes a small minority should not be allowed to feed at the public trough at the expense of the taxpayers. I believe this sort of activity is best defined by your words, “asinine, acrimonious, absurd, arrogant, and abhorrent.” Some believe such activities are outright morally reprehensible, if not actually outright illegal.
It is a foolish ignoble goal to attempt to save the honor of our Mayor. The only person who can demean the Office of the Mayor is the Mayor herself, a task which she has accomplished rather admirably. It is the opinion of many that our Mayor suffers from the “Elliot Ness Syndrome.” She thinks she is above the law and therefore untouchable. This type of arrogance never produces positive results for anybody, especially the Mayor.
The stark reality of this particularl debate is, due to the Mayor’s inappropriate conduct and behavior, “all the king’s horses and all the king’s men may not be able to put Humpty Dumpty together again.”
The publisher is Ed Watkins, and contrary to his statement on the front page of his chronicle, he is not a “new voice” in town. He is a public relations person and has been seen and heard by us for more than 20 years—backslapping and glad-handing—at any and all events and happenings of major and or economic importance.
During the 1980’s we remember him as a close ally of Bill Weber and his son, Randolph, who was actively involved in the local Republican Party. These were the years the homebuilders and developers were kings and appeared to control our County government. Many of the same individuals who were involved with this “elite” group who spent large sums of money to elect “their candidates” to public office back then are the same ones who supported Patti York for Mayor. The object was to “get Riddler” and control the City Council. The old alliances are still intact.
We wish Mr. Watkins the very best in his newest business endeavor. It is the true American spirit to aspire to climb new mountains and reach new heights of excellence. We look forward to the future debates about public policy. An informed public makes fewer mistakes at the polls.
Unfortunately, Mr. Watkins’s virgin voyage through the journalistic waters fell short of any altruistic purpose or meaningful goals. The front page of his first issue concentrated on promoting Mayor York and her latest agenda, and attacked The First Capitol News.
It was a pleasant surprise to see a recent column by Alex Spencer from The First Capitol News reproduced on the front page of The Citizen. Until Mr. Watkins reprinted the Spencer column, the rest of St. Charles County was unaware our mayor enjoys hugging and squeezing over shaking hands. The First Capitol News is a local City newspaper and is distributed only to the City. The Citizen is printed and delivered to every household in St. Charles County by the St. Charles Journal. It is an ad-paper and we will see the same advertisers in both papers as it reaches our doors on a bi-weekly basis. At the very least, this new paper should provide a powerful tool to the investors who wish to promote not only their businesses, but will be attempting to sway the public to vote for their selected candidates and issues in all future elections.
It appears our Mayor has made a real believer out of Mr. Watkins, and he will continue to serve her well in future issues.
Mr. Watkins’ motto is, “An Honest Voice About Honest Issues.” It has been my observation honesty gets rather blurred when the stakes are high and big money is on the line. Exactly which issues are “honest” and whose “honest voice” are we listening to?
Mr. Watkins appears to believe the public should not hear the truth. Truth may very well be unpleasant to bear at times, but truth is never “unfair or unbalanced.” Individuals who respect others do attempt to tell the truth. It is the only true basis upon which we can logically determine our decisions.
Mr. Watkins, you are correct in stating our city has been shamed. It is the same pervasive shame that has gone unchecked for decades. There is an increasing groundswell of public opinion that truly believes a small minority should not be allowed to feed at the public trough at the expense of the taxpayers. I believe this sort of activity is best defined by your words, “asinine, acrimonious, absurd, arrogant, and abhorrent.” Some believe such activities are outright morally reprehensible, if not actually outright illegal.
It is a foolish ignoble goal to attempt to save the honor of our Mayor. The only person who can demean the Office of the Mayor is the Mayor herself, a task which she has accomplished rather admirably. It is the opinion of many that our Mayor suffers from the “Elliot Ness Syndrome.” She thinks she is above the law and therefore untouchable. This type of arrogance never produces positive results for anybody, especially the Mayor.
The stark reality of this particularl debate is, due to the Mayor’s inappropriate conduct and behavior, “all the king’s horses and all the king’s men may not be able to put Humpty Dumpty together again.”
Put St. Charles First
By Jerry Haferkamp
There will be some confusing wording on the ballot in reference to the annexation of the golf course property. It is probably explained elsewhere in today’s paper, but I’m going to “pile on”. If you want the city to have some control over what is done there, you must vote NO on the ballot. The ballot question is (paraphrased) “do you want to rescind the annexation”. The proper vote for the good of the residents of the city is “NO”.
You know you’re winning when someone from the opposing camp crosses over and joins your ranks. This unexpected support came from a speaker at last week’s council meeting. A woman (who I won’t identify so her friends don’t shun her) stated that the closing of the Jack-In-The-Box and the A&W on West Clay might be due to the way the “City” treats businesses. We couldn’t agree more. She obviously was referring to the way the “City” dumps literally millions into subsidizing South Main Street and spends virtually nothing supporting other businesses in the city. This was an amazing switch since it came from a woman whose daughter constantly comes to City Hall with her hand out for more money for South Main Street. Could it be that she has seen how her daughter’s constant begging and whining has been detrimental to the other 90% of our businesses? In any case, we welcome her to the fold. Maybe she can convince her daughter to stop the begging. It is rather undignified and not equal treatment to our other businesses.
It sounds like Rory Riddler wants to revisit the City’s sign ordinance. Good for you, Rory. This joke has been a pain in the “fourth point of contact” ever since Richard “I want St. Charles to be Chesterfield” Baum pushed it through the previous Council and down our throats. Take a look at the bank sign on 5th and First Capitol. It looks like it is trying to escape by going “over the wall”. The lack of easy to see, noticeable signage (as well as lack of displayed addresses) has always been a pain to travelers and delivery persons. Monument signs are great for new, open development like Fountain Lakes, but don’t work well in older, tighter developed areas. Let’s stop choking our businesses.
Be informed and VOTE- it’s your city!
Has Steve Powell been fired yet? Why not?
There will be some confusing wording on the ballot in reference to the annexation of the golf course property. It is probably explained elsewhere in today’s paper, but I’m going to “pile on”. If you want the city to have some control over what is done there, you must vote NO on the ballot. The ballot question is (paraphrased) “do you want to rescind the annexation”. The proper vote for the good of the residents of the city is “NO”.
You know you’re winning when someone from the opposing camp crosses over and joins your ranks. This unexpected support came from a speaker at last week’s council meeting. A woman (who I won’t identify so her friends don’t shun her) stated that the closing of the Jack-In-The-Box and the A&W on West Clay might be due to the way the “City” treats businesses. We couldn’t agree more. She obviously was referring to the way the “City” dumps literally millions into subsidizing South Main Street and spends virtually nothing supporting other businesses in the city. This was an amazing switch since it came from a woman whose daughter constantly comes to City Hall with her hand out for more money for South Main Street. Could it be that she has seen how her daughter’s constant begging and whining has been detrimental to the other 90% of our businesses? In any case, we welcome her to the fold. Maybe she can convince her daughter to stop the begging. It is rather undignified and not equal treatment to our other businesses.
It sounds like Rory Riddler wants to revisit the City’s sign ordinance. Good for you, Rory. This joke has been a pain in the “fourth point of contact” ever since Richard “I want St. Charles to be Chesterfield” Baum pushed it through the previous Council and down our throats. Take a look at the bank sign on 5th and First Capitol. It looks like it is trying to escape by going “over the wall”. The lack of easy to see, noticeable signage (as well as lack of displayed addresses) has always been a pain to travelers and delivery persons. Monument signs are great for new, open development like Fountain Lakes, but don’t work well in older, tighter developed areas. Let’s stop choking our businesses.
Be informed and VOTE- it’s your city!
Has Steve Powell been fired yet? Why not?
Straight Talk by Councilman Bob Hoepfner
Hello again out there. Did you get your present in the mail like I did? that being the assessment on my house went up 28 percent. Isn’t it wonderful how the government, local and state, just keeps taxing the hell out of us? I mentioned a year ago I needed help to start a state wide referendum on property taxes. Are you ready to help now? I am ready to go but I can’t do it by myself. I need volunteers. The number is 949-0956. Lets get that referendum started out there to do something for our property tax. Folks it is not going to go away on its own. You are going to have to work to get action on this matter.
About vicious dogs. My bill will be voted on for final approval this coming Tuesday. We will now have the means to take these vicious animals permanently off the street. This is a public safety issue.
There has been an increase by our police department in writing traffic tickets. I applaud their efforts. To those of you who do not like to stop at stop signs your turn is coming. Stop signs are there for a reason. Be a good citizen. Obey the speed limits and the stop signs.
You resident tax payers need to stay in touch with your Councilpersons . You need to let us know how you feel about various issues. I always say stay in touch with your Councilperson because without your input we don’t know what your concerns are. We are here to work with you and for you. As you know, I have an open invitation for you stop by my house and a open invitation for you to call me at 949-0956.
You may not always agree with what I do. I want you to let me know about that too. Let the other Councilpersons know if you are happy or unhappy.
You always have the option to come to a Council meeting. You can step up to the microphone, be on TV and explain to your Councilperson, eyeball to eyeball, what your concerns are about what is happening in the City government. We have a very large budget, $99 million roughly, and we want to make sure you understand where all this money is going.
As usual God bless you God bless America. Stay in tune stay in touch 949-0956.
About vicious dogs. My bill will be voted on for final approval this coming Tuesday. We will now have the means to take these vicious animals permanently off the street. This is a public safety issue.
There has been an increase by our police department in writing traffic tickets. I applaud their efforts. To those of you who do not like to stop at stop signs your turn is coming. Stop signs are there for a reason. Be a good citizen. Obey the speed limits and the stop signs.
You resident tax payers need to stay in touch with your Councilpersons . You need to let us know how you feel about various issues. I always say stay in touch with your Councilperson because without your input we don’t know what your concerns are. We are here to work with you and for you. As you know, I have an open invitation for you stop by my house and a open invitation for you to call me at 949-0956.
You may not always agree with what I do. I want you to let me know about that too. Let the other Councilpersons know if you are happy or unhappy.
You always have the option to come to a Council meeting. You can step up to the microphone, be on TV and explain to your Councilperson, eyeball to eyeball, what your concerns are about what is happening in the City government. We have a very large budget, $99 million roughly, and we want to make sure you understand where all this money is going.
As usual God bless you God bless America. Stay in tune stay in touch 949-0956.
MIKE MCMURRAN - Sports Editor
By Mike McMurran
The very first article I ever had published was in the Current, UMSL’s student newspaper. The article had to do with how a life long Cardinal fan was being deprived the time of attending Cardinal games due to the demands of studying English. It was rather crudely written with a number of mistakes. Some things never change.
It told of my fondest Cardinal memories which included Lou Brock’s 3000th hit, Ozzie Smith’s back flips, and my all time Cardinal highlight, game 7 of the 1982 World Series (I still have my ticket stubs). I can remember the time my wife-to-be and I were leaving a Cardinal game and I saw the Missouri license plate number “3000.” Immediately I began yelling “Stan, Stan,” to which my wife-to-be told me (for the first of many times) what a fool I was making of my self. True to his personality, the driver of the car rolled his window down and gave me an autographed card of Stan Musial. Yes, it was “Stan the Man,” arguably the best, and without a doubt the most approachable, baseball player in the long history of the Cardinals.
To this day it is not uncommon to run in to Stan, even for me, a common, if not low- life type person. Most recently it was at a Rams game. I introduced my oldest son Joe to “the greatest Cardinal of all time.” “Better than Mark McGuire?” Joe wanted to know.
Being a father is the most rewarding, and at the same time the toughest, job I have ever had. How did I break the news to my son that McGuire didn’t belong in the same sentence, let alone the same page, as Stan Musial. As far as that goes, for my money he doesn’t rank up there with Ozzie Smith, Bob Gibson or Saint Charles City’s own Lou Brock.
McGuire’s recent embarrassment in front of Congress only reinforced my theory. I can only wonder what would happened if the average “Joe” would have responded as McQuire did; “I don’t wish to talk about the past.” Pardon me, but is not that the entire point of the investigation?
The investigation tugs at my heart for another reason. As a child growing up I remember how excited I was when the Cardinals traded for Roger Maris. I always thought it was an injustice that “the mark” was next to Maris’ name in the record book. In that magical year McQuire broke “the record” I had mixed emotions. Sure McQuire was a Cardinal, but we were talking Roger Maris. As a kid I always wore the number “9” out of respect for Roger. Ah the memories it brings back. My 8th grade girlfriend, Chris Eisenbseis always wore “27” for Dal Maxvill and I wore “9” for Maris.
Seldom do I agree with the politics of Lacey Clay; this time I must. It is a disgrace that Interstate 70 bears the name of Mark McQuire highway. Much like the youngsters once coined the phrase in reference of the Black Sox, I suspect it is only time before kids start uttering the phrase “Say it ain’t so Mark, say it ain’t so.”
MIKE McCURR
The very first article I ever had published was in the Current, UMSL’s student newspaper. The article had to do with how a life long Cardinal fan was being deprived the time of attending Cardinal games due to the demands of studying English. It was rather crudely written with a number of mistakes. Some things never change.
It told of my fondest Cardinal memories which included Lou Brock’s 3000th hit, Ozzie Smith’s back flips, and my all time Cardinal highlight, game 7 of the 1982 World Series (I still have my ticket stubs). I can remember the time my wife-to-be and I were leaving a Cardinal game and I saw the Missouri license plate number “3000.” Immediately I began yelling “Stan, Stan,” to which my wife-to-be told me (for the first of many times) what a fool I was making of my self. True to his personality, the driver of the car rolled his window down and gave me an autographed card of Stan Musial. Yes, it was “Stan the Man,” arguably the best, and without a doubt the most approachable, baseball player in the long history of the Cardinals.
To this day it is not uncommon to run in to Stan, even for me, a common, if not low- life type person. Most recently it was at a Rams game. I introduced my oldest son Joe to “the greatest Cardinal of all time.” “Better than Mark McGuire?” Joe wanted to know.
Being a father is the most rewarding, and at the same time the toughest, job I have ever had. How did I break the news to my son that McGuire didn’t belong in the same sentence, let alone the same page, as Stan Musial. As far as that goes, for my money he doesn’t rank up there with Ozzie Smith, Bob Gibson or Saint Charles City’s own Lou Brock.
McGuire’s recent embarrassment in front of Congress only reinforced my theory. I can only wonder what would happened if the average “Joe” would have responded as McQuire did; “I don’t wish to talk about the past.” Pardon me, but is not that the entire point of the investigation?
The investigation tugs at my heart for another reason. As a child growing up I remember how excited I was when the Cardinals traded for Roger Maris. I always thought it was an injustice that “the mark” was next to Maris’ name in the record book. In that magical year McQuire broke “the record” I had mixed emotions. Sure McQuire was a Cardinal, but we were talking Roger Maris. As a kid I always wore the number “9” out of respect for Roger. Ah the memories it brings back. My 8th grade girlfriend, Chris Eisenbseis always wore “27” for Dal Maxvill and I wore “9” for Maris.
Seldom do I agree with the politics of Lacey Clay; this time I must. It is a disgrace that Interstate 70 bears the name of Mark McQuire highway. Much like the youngsters once coined the phrase in reference of the Black Sox, I suspect it is only time before kids start uttering the phrase “Say it ain’t so Mark, say it ain’t so.”
MIKE McCURR
Saturday, March 26, 2005
HAPPY EASTER - Our next edition on April 2nd.
The staff of the First Capitol News wishes you a very Happy Easter. Our next edition will be published on April 2, 2005.
Thank you for reading the First Capitol News.
Thank you for reading the First Capitol News.
Friday, March 18, 2005
Unauthorized Signing of Contract By Mayor Could Result In Her Impeachment
By Tony Brockmeyer
On February 22, 2005, by a vote of 10-0 the St. Charles City Council, while sitting in Executive session, authorized an investigation into the apparent unauthorized signing of a contract by the Mayor. The City Charter gives the Council authority to conduct investigations and to subpoena.
As reported on February 5, 2005, we were told by our source that Express Scripts, the company the Mayor signed the contract with, was expected to ask for damages in excess of $200,000.
On February 5, 2005, the First Capitol News reported; ..... Recently the St. Charles City Council asked the City Administration to bid the City’s health insurance. Since the polices were due for renewal, the administration informed the City Council there were out clauses and the policies in force would be renewed. The companies would be told the Council was taking bids and would exercise the out clauses provided for in the policies if they were able to obtain better rates.
After appointing a new broker of record and obtaining quotes from several companies, the Council members determined the City could save between $700,000 and $1 million in insurance premiums by changing companies. The City Council members asked the administration to notify the insurance companies the City was exercising their right to cancel the policies.
After the companies were notified, the City was contacted by Express Scripts, who provided prescription drugs to the employees. The City was told there was no out clause in their contract. In fact, their contract had been renewed in June of 2004 and had been signed by Mayor York.
A search of City Hall failed to locate any such contract. The City Clerk, who by state law is the keeper of all city records, could not locate a contract with Express Scripts and claimed no knowledge of it. The City’s legal department was not aware the contract existed and could not locate a copy. Express Scripts provided the City a copy of the contract, which was signed by Mayor York.
Sources say on June 22, 2004, Carrie Caskey, former St. Charles City Human Resources Director, requested and received Mayor Patti York’s signature on a contract with Express Scripts Inc. (ESI). The contract was for a three-year period and was part of the City’s prescription drug benefit plan.
Seabury Smith and Marsh Advantage, who were previously handling the insurance for the City, both recommended this program and documents show Seabury would be paid .35 cents to $1 for each prescription filled by Express Scripts. ESI also promised numerous rebates that would be paid for special prescriptions.
The contract with ESI was signed and dated, yet no record of the contract existed at City Hall. Council President Rory Riddler told the First Capitol News, “It is highly unusual for no one in City Hall to be in possession of the City’s copy of a signed contract. Our City Clerk’s office and City Attorney’s office are both extremely careful about how records are kept and would have a copy on file if it had gone through proper channels.” State Law requires the City Clerk to be the keeper of all records and this contract was never submitted to her office.
Sources within City Hall tell us Caskey did not follow the proper protocol which requires the City’s legal department to review the contract before passing it on to the Mayor. Also, it appears York violated a City Ordinance by executing the contract without the approval of the City Council.
Section 40.23 of the City’s code of ordinances states “No contract for the provision of any services, materials, supplies, or equipment shall be extended for a period in excess of one year without an opportunity for public bidding or a request for proposals, unless the extension is by the Mayor and City Council by ordinances.”
This section also provides for a penalty if any violation occurs, 10.99 of the code of ordinances says, (A) “Whenever in this code or in any ordinance of the city, any act is prohibited or is made or declared to be unlawful or an offense, or the doing of any act is required or the failure to do any act is declared to be unlawful or a misdemeanor, except where a specific statutory penalty is provided for, the violation of any such provision shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $500 or by imprisonment not exceeding three months, or both such fine and imprisonment, as may be just for any offense, recoverable with cost of suit: provided, however, that, where the city and the state both prescribe the same offense, the penalty for violating the city provision shall be the same. (B) Each act of violation and every day upon which a violation occurs or continues shall constitute a separate offense. (C) The failure of any officer or employee of the city to perform any official duty imposed by this code shall not subject such officer or employee to the penalty imposed by this section unless a penalty is specifically provided.” The ordinance provides the above penalty. City Hall sources said both Mayor York and Caskey could be prosecuted under this section.
If it is determined there was a charter violation by the Mayor, then impeachment proceedings can be initiated. This is allowed for in the City Charter.
A number of our readers have asked how this process develops? So there is no confusion, the Charter outlines the procedure for removal from office and impeachment.
The City Council, may remove from office, for cause shown, any elective officer of the city, such officer being first given opportunity, together with his witnesses, to be heard before the Council sitting as a court of impeachment. Any elective officer may, in like manner, for cause shown, be removed from office by a two-thirds vote of all the members elected to the City Council.
Section 3.13 of the Charter reads:
Investigations. The council may make investigations into the affairs of the city and the conduct of any city department office or agency and for this purpose may subpoena witnesses, administer oaths, take testimony and require th production of evidence. Any person who fails or refuses to obey a lawful order issued in the exercise of these powers by the council shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and punished as may be prescribed by ordinance.
I,f after holding hearings and questioning witnesses, the City Council determines a violation has occurred and the Mayor should be impeached, the Charter outlines the procedure they are required to follow.
(A) The suspension of an elective officer shall be effected by a written order to that effect, signed by the President of the City Council and filed by him in the office of the City Clerk. Such order shall be accompanied by a written specification of the charges on which such order is founded, formulated in such manner and with such reasonable precision and detail as shall fully apprise the accused of the particular charges she is to defend against and signed by the Council President, a certified copy of which order and specifications of charges shall be forthwith made by the Clerk, under the seal of the city, and delivered to the Chief of Police, who shall forthwith deliver the same to the officer suspended, or leave the same at the usual place of abode of such suspended officer, or with a member of her family over the age of 15 years. Upon the filing by the President of the City Council of such order of suspension and such specification of charges and service of the same on the accused as herein directed, such accused officer shall stand suspended from office until reinstated as provided by § 31.27. ('81 Code, § 2-94)
§ 31.23 TRIAL OF SUSPENDED OFFICER.
Whenever any elective officer has been suspended, the City Council President shall lay the specification of charges filed by him with the City Clerk before the City Council at the first regular meeting thereafter, or at a special meeting of the Council called for that purpose, and the Council shall, without unnecessary delay, proceed to investigate the charges upon a day fixed by them. Such day shall be fixed by resolution of the Council entered upon the journal, whereupon the City Clerk shall forthwith make out a certified copy of the resolution as well as another certified copy of such specifications of charges, all under the seal of the city, and deliver the same to the Chief of Police, who shall forthwith deliver the same to the officer suspended, or leave the same at the usual place of abode of such suspended officer with a member of his family over the age of 15 years, and the officer serving the same shall make his written return of such service opposite such resolution, on the margin of the journal of the Council, how, when and where he served the same and subscribe his name thereto.
TRIALS PROCEDURES.
(A) Procedure generally. At the time set for the hearing, the Council shall meet, and proceed, according to such rules as they may adopt and as provided by this division, to hear the evidence against and in favor of the accused, and may adjourn from time to time, if necessary, until all the evidence is heard. The City Council shall determine all questions of law arising during the trial upon the admission of evidence, the competency of evidence and otherwise.
(B) Failure of accused to appear. If the accused shall have been notified as provided in § 31.23, but shall not appear or, appearing, shall fail or refuse to make defense to the charges preferred against him, the Council may proceed ex parte.
(C) Oath to be administered. At the time and place appointed for the trial, and before proceeding therewith, the President pro tem of the Council, shall administer to the members of the Council there present, and the Municipal Judge shall, at the same time, administer to the President pro tem of the Council, an oath or affirmation, impartially to try and determine the charges and do justice according to law and the evidence.
(D) Depositions. Depositions of witnesses beyond the jurisdiction of the Council, or prevented by sickness, or other sufficient cause from attendance, may be read at the trial and investigation, if taken in conformity with the laws of this state. The notice of the taking thereof, when taken on behalf of the accused, shall be served upon the City Attorney or President of the Council.
(E) Issuance and service of subpoenas. Subpoenas for witnesses to testify at any trial provided for by this division may be issued by the President pro tem of the Council and shall be served and returned by the Chief of Police or any police officer of this city in the same manner as if issued by the Municipal Judge.
(F) Attendance of witnesses and production of papers. The Council shall have power by a two-thirds vote of its members to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of papers relating to any subject under consideration in which the interests of the City are involved, or for the purpose of such investigation, and shall have a right to issue an attachment and call on the proper officer of the City, or any sheriff, or constable in the County, to execute such process. The President pro tem of the Council, shall have power to administer oaths to witnesses in all proceedings before the Council under this division.
(G) Accused entitled to counsel. Upon any trial for removal from elective office, the accused shall be entitled to be heard, whether in person or by counsel, in his or her defense.
(H) City Attorney to prosecute. It shall be the duty of the City Attorney to manage and prosecute all trials on behalf of the city for the removal of any elective city officer, unless he is the accused, in which event the Council shall appoint a competent attorney, a qualified voter of such city, to act in his stead during the trial proceedings.
Since City Attorney Mike Valenti was acting as City Administrator during the period this act was allegedly committed it is believed he will be excused and another attorney would act as prosecutor during the hearing.
(I) Proceedings to be entered on Council journal. The City Clerk shall cause to be recorded the proceedings of the Council in all cases for the removal of any elective city officer.
(J) Determination of guilty. As soon as all the evidence has been taken, and the case submitted, the Council shall vote by “yeas” and “nays” upon the charges separately. The question upon each charge shall be “Is the accused guilty?” If the Council, by a majority vote of all the members elected to the City Council, and who heard all the evidence, find the accused guilty of either of the charges, the President of the City Council, if a majority of all the members elected to the City Council by resolution concur in the same, remove the accused from office, and declare his or her office vacant.
(K) Accused not to take part in proceedings. Should any charges, under this division, be preferred against the Mayor, or any other elective city officer, such accused officer shall not participate as such officer in the trial proceedings or issue, or serve any process in relation thereto, and if the Mayor be the accused, the president pro tem of the Council shall preside and discharge the duties of the Mayor under this chapter.
§ 31.25 ACTION AGAINST ELECTIVE OFFICERS.
The City Council, by a resolution adopted by a two-thirds vote of all the members elected to the Council, may prefer any one or more of the charges authorizing removal, against any elective officer of this city. Such resolution shall specify the charges with the same particularity and detail and shall specify the time when such charges will be investigated by the Council and shall be spread at large upon the journal of the Council. The City Clerk shall, without delay, make out a certified copy of such resolution, under the seal of the city, and deliver the same to the Chief of Police, who shall forthwith deliver the same to the accused, or leave the same at his usual place of abode, with a member of his family over the age of 15 years. The officer serving such resolution shall certify in writing, opposite the same on the margin of the journal of the Council, how, when and where he served the resolution and subscribe his name thereto. From the time of such service on him of such resolution, such accused officer shall stand suspended from office until reinstated as provided in § 31.27. The conduct and proceedings pertaining to an investigation under this section shall be carried on in the same manner as is provided by this division for investigation of charges preferred by the Mayor. As soon as all the evidence has been taken on charges preferred by the Council and the case submitted, the Council shall vote by “yeas” and “nays” upon the charges separately. The question upon each charge shall be: “Is the accused guilty?” If the Council, by a two-thirds vote of all the members elected to the City Council, and who hear all of the evidence, find the accused guilty, such Council may then, by resolution of a two-thirds vote of all the members elected to the Council, remove the accused from office and declare his or her office vacant.
§ 31.26 SUSPENDED OR REMOVED OFFICERS PROHIBITED FROM PERFORMING OFFICIAL DUTIES.
(A) It shall be unlawful for any officer of the City, during a suspension from office, to perform or attempt to perform any official duty. (B) Every elective or appointive officer of this city, after being removed from office, shall be notified of such fact in writing, by the President pro tem of the Council, in case the Mayor is the accused, and it shall be unlawful for any such officer, after having been legally removed from office, and having notice of such removal, to perform any official act, or attempt to perform any official act, as such officer.
REINSTATEMENT.
If the accused shall be found not guilty, or shall not be removed from office, as provided by this section, he or she shall be reinstated by the Council. If the Council brings charges against the Mayor she will be suspended from office until the hearings have been completed and a determination on guilt or innocence is determined by the Council.
If found guilty the Mayor will be impreached. During the time she would be suspended from office the President of the City Council would act as Mayor.
A hearing is expected to start soon.
On February 22, 2005, by a vote of 10-0 the St. Charles City Council, while sitting in Executive session, authorized an investigation into the apparent unauthorized signing of a contract by the Mayor. The City Charter gives the Council authority to conduct investigations and to subpoena.
As reported on February 5, 2005, we were told by our source that Express Scripts, the company the Mayor signed the contract with, was expected to ask for damages in excess of $200,000.
On February 5, 2005, the First Capitol News reported; ..... Recently the St. Charles City Council asked the City Administration to bid the City’s health insurance. Since the polices were due for renewal, the administration informed the City Council there were out clauses and the policies in force would be renewed. The companies would be told the Council was taking bids and would exercise the out clauses provided for in the policies if they were able to obtain better rates.
After appointing a new broker of record and obtaining quotes from several companies, the Council members determined the City could save between $700,000 and $1 million in insurance premiums by changing companies. The City Council members asked the administration to notify the insurance companies the City was exercising their right to cancel the policies.
After the companies were notified, the City was contacted by Express Scripts, who provided prescription drugs to the employees. The City was told there was no out clause in their contract. In fact, their contract had been renewed in June of 2004 and had been signed by Mayor York.
A search of City Hall failed to locate any such contract. The City Clerk, who by state law is the keeper of all city records, could not locate a contract with Express Scripts and claimed no knowledge of it. The City’s legal department was not aware the contract existed and could not locate a copy. Express Scripts provided the City a copy of the contract, which was signed by Mayor York.
Sources say on June 22, 2004, Carrie Caskey, former St. Charles City Human Resources Director, requested and received Mayor Patti York’s signature on a contract with Express Scripts Inc. (ESI). The contract was for a three-year period and was part of the City’s prescription drug benefit plan.
Seabury Smith and Marsh Advantage, who were previously handling the insurance for the City, both recommended this program and documents show Seabury would be paid .35 cents to $1 for each prescription filled by Express Scripts. ESI also promised numerous rebates that would be paid for special prescriptions.
The contract with ESI was signed and dated, yet no record of the contract existed at City Hall. Council President Rory Riddler told the First Capitol News, “It is highly unusual for no one in City Hall to be in possession of the City’s copy of a signed contract. Our City Clerk’s office and City Attorney’s office are both extremely careful about how records are kept and would have a copy on file if it had gone through proper channels.” State Law requires the City Clerk to be the keeper of all records and this contract was never submitted to her office.
Sources within City Hall tell us Caskey did not follow the proper protocol which requires the City’s legal department to review the contract before passing it on to the Mayor. Also, it appears York violated a City Ordinance by executing the contract without the approval of the City Council.
Section 40.23 of the City’s code of ordinances states “No contract for the provision of any services, materials, supplies, or equipment shall be extended for a period in excess of one year without an opportunity for public bidding or a request for proposals, unless the extension is by the Mayor and City Council by ordinances.”
This section also provides for a penalty if any violation occurs, 10.99 of the code of ordinances says, (A) “Whenever in this code or in any ordinance of the city, any act is prohibited or is made or declared to be unlawful or an offense, or the doing of any act is required or the failure to do any act is declared to be unlawful or a misdemeanor, except where a specific statutory penalty is provided for, the violation of any such provision shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $500 or by imprisonment not exceeding three months, or both such fine and imprisonment, as may be just for any offense, recoverable with cost of suit: provided, however, that, where the city and the state both prescribe the same offense, the penalty for violating the city provision shall be the same. (B) Each act of violation and every day upon which a violation occurs or continues shall constitute a separate offense. (C) The failure of any officer or employee of the city to perform any official duty imposed by this code shall not subject such officer or employee to the penalty imposed by this section unless a penalty is specifically provided.” The ordinance provides the above penalty. City Hall sources said both Mayor York and Caskey could be prosecuted under this section.
If it is determined there was a charter violation by the Mayor, then impeachment proceedings can be initiated. This is allowed for in the City Charter.
A number of our readers have asked how this process develops? So there is no confusion, the Charter outlines the procedure for removal from office and impeachment.
The City Council, may remove from office, for cause shown, any elective officer of the city, such officer being first given opportunity, together with his witnesses, to be heard before the Council sitting as a court of impeachment. Any elective officer may, in like manner, for cause shown, be removed from office by a two-thirds vote of all the members elected to the City Council.
Section 3.13 of the Charter reads:
Investigations. The council may make investigations into the affairs of the city and the conduct of any city department office or agency and for this purpose may subpoena witnesses, administer oaths, take testimony and require th production of evidence. Any person who fails or refuses to obey a lawful order issued in the exercise of these powers by the council shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and punished as may be prescribed by ordinance.
I,f after holding hearings and questioning witnesses, the City Council determines a violation has occurred and the Mayor should be impeached, the Charter outlines the procedure they are required to follow.
(A) The suspension of an elective officer shall be effected by a written order to that effect, signed by the President of the City Council and filed by him in the office of the City Clerk. Such order shall be accompanied by a written specification of the charges on which such order is founded, formulated in such manner and with such reasonable precision and detail as shall fully apprise the accused of the particular charges she is to defend against and signed by the Council President, a certified copy of which order and specifications of charges shall be forthwith made by the Clerk, under the seal of the city, and delivered to the Chief of Police, who shall forthwith deliver the same to the officer suspended, or leave the same at the usual place of abode of such suspended officer, or with a member of her family over the age of 15 years. Upon the filing by the President of the City Council of such order of suspension and such specification of charges and service of the same on the accused as herein directed, such accused officer shall stand suspended from office until reinstated as provided by § 31.27. ('81 Code, § 2-94)
§ 31.23 TRIAL OF SUSPENDED OFFICER.
Whenever any elective officer has been suspended, the City Council President shall lay the specification of charges filed by him with the City Clerk before the City Council at the first regular meeting thereafter, or at a special meeting of the Council called for that purpose, and the Council shall, without unnecessary delay, proceed to investigate the charges upon a day fixed by them. Such day shall be fixed by resolution of the Council entered upon the journal, whereupon the City Clerk shall forthwith make out a certified copy of the resolution as well as another certified copy of such specifications of charges, all under the seal of the city, and deliver the same to the Chief of Police, who shall forthwith deliver the same to the officer suspended, or leave the same at the usual place of abode of such suspended officer with a member of his family over the age of 15 years, and the officer serving the same shall make his written return of such service opposite such resolution, on the margin of the journal of the Council, how, when and where he served the same and subscribe his name thereto.
TRIALS PROCEDURES.
(A) Procedure generally. At the time set for the hearing, the Council shall meet, and proceed, according to such rules as they may adopt and as provided by this division, to hear the evidence against and in favor of the accused, and may adjourn from time to time, if necessary, until all the evidence is heard. The City Council shall determine all questions of law arising during the trial upon the admission of evidence, the competency of evidence and otherwise.
(B) Failure of accused to appear. If the accused shall have been notified as provided in § 31.23, but shall not appear or, appearing, shall fail or refuse to make defense to the charges preferred against him, the Council may proceed ex parte.
(C) Oath to be administered. At the time and place appointed for the trial, and before proceeding therewith, the President pro tem of the Council, shall administer to the members of the Council there present, and the Municipal Judge shall, at the same time, administer to the President pro tem of the Council, an oath or affirmation, impartially to try and determine the charges and do justice according to law and the evidence.
(D) Depositions. Depositions of witnesses beyond the jurisdiction of the Council, or prevented by sickness, or other sufficient cause from attendance, may be read at the trial and investigation, if taken in conformity with the laws of this state. The notice of the taking thereof, when taken on behalf of the accused, shall be served upon the City Attorney or President of the Council.
(E) Issuance and service of subpoenas. Subpoenas for witnesses to testify at any trial provided for by this division may be issued by the President pro tem of the Council and shall be served and returned by the Chief of Police or any police officer of this city in the same manner as if issued by the Municipal Judge.
(F) Attendance of witnesses and production of papers. The Council shall have power by a two-thirds vote of its members to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of papers relating to any subject under consideration in which the interests of the City are involved, or for the purpose of such investigation, and shall have a right to issue an attachment and call on the proper officer of the City, or any sheriff, or constable in the County, to execute such process. The President pro tem of the Council, shall have power to administer oaths to witnesses in all proceedings before the Council under this division.
(G) Accused entitled to counsel. Upon any trial for removal from elective office, the accused shall be entitled to be heard, whether in person or by counsel, in his or her defense.
(H) City Attorney to prosecute. It shall be the duty of the City Attorney to manage and prosecute all trials on behalf of the city for the removal of any elective city officer, unless he is the accused, in which event the Council shall appoint a competent attorney, a qualified voter of such city, to act in his stead during the trial proceedings.
Since City Attorney Mike Valenti was acting as City Administrator during the period this act was allegedly committed it is believed he will be excused and another attorney would act as prosecutor during the hearing.
(I) Proceedings to be entered on Council journal. The City Clerk shall cause to be recorded the proceedings of the Council in all cases for the removal of any elective city officer.
(J) Determination of guilty. As soon as all the evidence has been taken, and the case submitted, the Council shall vote by “yeas” and “nays” upon the charges separately. The question upon each charge shall be “Is the accused guilty?” If the Council, by a majority vote of all the members elected to the City Council, and who heard all the evidence, find the accused guilty of either of the charges, the President of the City Council, if a majority of all the members elected to the City Council by resolution concur in the same, remove the accused from office, and declare his or her office vacant.
(K) Accused not to take part in proceedings. Should any charges, under this division, be preferred against the Mayor, or any other elective city officer, such accused officer shall not participate as such officer in the trial proceedings or issue, or serve any process in relation thereto, and if the Mayor be the accused, the president pro tem of the Council shall preside and discharge the duties of the Mayor under this chapter.
§ 31.25 ACTION AGAINST ELECTIVE OFFICERS.
The City Council, by a resolution adopted by a two-thirds vote of all the members elected to the Council, may prefer any one or more of the charges authorizing removal, against any elective officer of this city. Such resolution shall specify the charges with the same particularity and detail and shall specify the time when such charges will be investigated by the Council and shall be spread at large upon the journal of the Council. The City Clerk shall, without delay, make out a certified copy of such resolution, under the seal of the city, and deliver the same to the Chief of Police, who shall forthwith deliver the same to the accused, or leave the same at his usual place of abode, with a member of his family over the age of 15 years. The officer serving such resolution shall certify in writing, opposite the same on the margin of the journal of the Council, how, when and where he served the resolution and subscribe his name thereto. From the time of such service on him of such resolution, such accused officer shall stand suspended from office until reinstated as provided in § 31.27. The conduct and proceedings pertaining to an investigation under this section shall be carried on in the same manner as is provided by this division for investigation of charges preferred by the Mayor. As soon as all the evidence has been taken on charges preferred by the Council and the case submitted, the Council shall vote by “yeas” and “nays” upon the charges separately. The question upon each charge shall be: “Is the accused guilty?” If the Council, by a two-thirds vote of all the members elected to the City Council, and who hear all of the evidence, find the accused guilty, such Council may then, by resolution of a two-thirds vote of all the members elected to the Council, remove the accused from office and declare his or her office vacant.
§ 31.26 SUSPENDED OR REMOVED OFFICERS PROHIBITED FROM PERFORMING OFFICIAL DUTIES.
(A) It shall be unlawful for any officer of the City, during a suspension from office, to perform or attempt to perform any official duty. (B) Every elective or appointive officer of this city, after being removed from office, shall be notified of such fact in writing, by the President pro tem of the Council, in case the Mayor is the accused, and it shall be unlawful for any such officer, after having been legally removed from office, and having notice of such removal, to perform any official act, or attempt to perform any official act, as such officer.
REINSTATEMENT.
If the accused shall be found not guilty, or shall not be removed from office, as provided by this section, he or she shall be reinstated by the Council. If the Council brings charges against the Mayor she will be suspended from office until the hearings have been completed and a determination on guilt or innocence is determined by the Council.
If found guilty the Mayor will be impreached. During the time she would be suspended from office the President of the City Council would act as Mayor.
A hearing is expected to start soon.
Councilmen Gieseke & Riddler Call For Change In Communications And Marketing Strategies For City
By Phyllis Schaltenbrand
Councilman John Gieseke, Ward 8 and Council President Rory Riddler, Ward 1 are ready to present a Request For Qualifications (RFQ) to the St. Charles City Council.
The RFQ is an effort to “capitalize on the assets of St. Charles in a thoughtful, coordinated and organized fashion,” Gieseke stated.
Gieseke presented the idea of coordinating all marketing and public relations in the City at the first advertising committee meeting. Gieseke told the First Capitol News, “St. Charles has a wealth of amenities, beginning with our location and access to the regional transportation system. A wide array of housing, employment and leisure opportunities. It is clear that in defining and marketing our City, first to our residents and businesses, and to potential visitors and other investors, we need to sell ourselves on a community-wide basis. Residents and business services, economics and job development, parks, entertainment and tourism should all be promoted within the context of a unified marketing plan.”
Councilmen Rory Riddler, Councilman Ward 1 and City Council President agrees. “We need to coordinate the efforts and activities of every department of the city, assure that our decisions are researched based, well thought out and coordinated in their execution to insure we are getting the most exposure in a cost effective way.” Gieseke and Riddler both agreed our current system of marketing is disjointed and confusing.
The RFQ will ask for qualifications from firms that have the ability and expertise to develop a comprehensive marketing and communication plan for the City.
“Using a private firm does not institutionalize a PR position and allows for greater creativity,” Gieseke stated. The RFQ will be discussed at the Council’s work session in April. Riddler is confident that this will help create the desired results of “branding St. Charles and making all of the assets a priority.”
Gieseke told the FCN, “St. Charles has so much to offer the residents of the City, County and greater St. Louis region. We need to go to the next level and hire a professional company that understands marketing and public relations and create a true marketing plan that can be followed.”
Councilman John Gieseke, Ward 8 and Council President Rory Riddler, Ward 1 are ready to present a Request For Qualifications (RFQ) to the St. Charles City Council.
The RFQ is an effort to “capitalize on the assets of St. Charles in a thoughtful, coordinated and organized fashion,” Gieseke stated.
Gieseke presented the idea of coordinating all marketing and public relations in the City at the first advertising committee meeting. Gieseke told the First Capitol News, “St. Charles has a wealth of amenities, beginning with our location and access to the regional transportation system. A wide array of housing, employment and leisure opportunities. It is clear that in defining and marketing our City, first to our residents and businesses, and to potential visitors and other investors, we need to sell ourselves on a community-wide basis. Residents and business services, economics and job development, parks, entertainment and tourism should all be promoted within the context of a unified marketing plan.”
Councilmen Rory Riddler, Councilman Ward 1 and City Council President agrees. “We need to coordinate the efforts and activities of every department of the city, assure that our decisions are researched based, well thought out and coordinated in their execution to insure we are getting the most exposure in a cost effective way.” Gieseke and Riddler both agreed our current system of marketing is disjointed and confusing.
The RFQ will ask for qualifications from firms that have the ability and expertise to develop a comprehensive marketing and communication plan for the City.
“Using a private firm does not institutionalize a PR position and allows for greater creativity,” Gieseke stated. The RFQ will be discussed at the Council’s work session in April. Riddler is confident that this will help create the desired results of “branding St. Charles and making all of the assets a priority.”
Gieseke told the FCN, “St. Charles has so much to offer the residents of the City, County and greater St. Louis region. We need to go to the next level and hire a professional company that understands marketing and public relations and create a true marketing plan that can be followed.”
Federal Arrest Warrant Issued for Robbery Suspect
Federal Arrest Warrant Issued for Robbery Suspect
A federal arrest warrant for the robbery of a federally insured institution (bank robbery) has been issued for Robert D. Bell, age 48. The robbery occurred Monday, March 14, 2005, at approximately 1:02 p.m. at the UMB Bank located at 1201 Regency Parkway in St. Charles.
Information leading to the arrest warrant being issued was developed through a cooperative investigation involving the St. Charles Police Department and the FBI. Bell is described as a black male, 48 years of age, approximately 5’3” in height and weighing 135 lbs.
Anyone having any information in reference to Bell’s location is asked to contact the St. Charles Police Department at 636-949-3320 or the FBI at 314-231-4324. Callers wishing to remain anonymous can call St. Charles Crime Stoppers at 636-949-3333.
A federal arrest warrant for the robbery of a federally insured institution (bank robbery) has been issued for Robert D. Bell, age 48. The robbery occurred Monday, March 14, 2005, at approximately 1:02 p.m. at the UMB Bank located at 1201 Regency Parkway in St. Charles.
Information leading to the arrest warrant being issued was developed through a cooperative investigation involving the St. Charles Police Department and the FBI. Bell is described as a black male, 48 years of age, approximately 5’3” in height and weighing 135 lbs.
Anyone having any information in reference to Bell’s location is asked to contact the St. Charles Police Department at 636-949-3320 or the FBI at 314-231-4324. Callers wishing to remain anonymous can call St. Charles Crime Stoppers at 636-949-3333.
Museum Planning Second Annual Mother’s Day House Tour
Museum Planning Second Annual Mother’s Day House Tour
Plans are under way for the second annual Mother’s Day House Tour, May 8, 2005, sponsored by the Frenchtown Heritage Museum, 1121 North Second Street. A number of historic homes in the Frenchtown area and the Academy of Sacred Heart will be open for tours from 1 pm to 5pm.
Tickets are $10 each and may be ordered by sending a check to Frenchtown Heritage Museum, 1121 North Second St., St. Charles, Mo 63301. Or they may be picked up at the Museum Wednesday through Saturday between 12 pm and 3pm. For additional information you can call 636 946-8682. Refreshments will be served at the Museum.
Plans are under way for the second annual Mother’s Day House Tour, May 8, 2005, sponsored by the Frenchtown Heritage Museum, 1121 North Second Street. A number of historic homes in the Frenchtown area and the Academy of Sacred Heart will be open for tours from 1 pm to 5pm.
Tickets are $10 each and may be ordered by sending a check to Frenchtown Heritage Museum, 1121 North Second St., St. Charles, Mo 63301. Or they may be picked up at the Museum Wednesday through Saturday between 12 pm and 3pm. For additional information you can call 636 946-8682. Refreshments will be served at the Museum.
Carnahan To Give Keynote Address For St. Charles Women’s Coalition
Carnahan To Give Keynote Address For St. Charles Women’s Coalition
Senator Jean Carnahan will give the keynote address at a dinner sponsored by the St. Charles Women’s Coalition on April 14 at the Stegton Regency Banquet Center, 1450 Wall Street, St. Charles. A social hour and cash bar will be at 6 p.m. with dinner at 6:30 p.m. and the speech at 7 p.m. Carnahan will sign copies of her autobiography entitled “Don’t Let the Fire Go Out” highlighting her service in the U.S. Senate. The books will be available for purchase.
The cost for the dinner is $20. Seating will be limited. For reservations, mail a check payable to “SCWC”, postmarked no later than April 8 and mail to P.O. Box 873, St. Peters, MO 63376. For information, call 636-947-9133, 314-477-5526 or 636-447-5071.
Carnahan was appointed to take her husband’s place in Washington after Governor Mel Carnahan was killed in an airplane crash three weeks before the election in 2000. During her two years in Washington she was a leading advocate for working families. She introduced the “Informed Investors Act” that passed into law and required corporations to make swift electronic reporting of insider trading. She also secured an extension of health care benefits for returning reservists and National Guard Personal. She was the fifth woman to serve on the prestigious Armed Services Committee.
In last year’s election Carnahan’s son Russ was elected to the Third U.S. Congressional District seat vacated by Richard Gephardt. Her daughter Robin Carnahan was elected Missouri Secretary of State.
Jean Carnahan is the author of four books. She lives in St. Louis where she writes, gives speeches and is a political activist.
Senator Jean Carnahan will give the keynote address at a dinner sponsored by the St. Charles Women’s Coalition on April 14 at the Stegton Regency Banquet Center, 1450 Wall Street, St. Charles. A social hour and cash bar will be at 6 p.m. with dinner at 6:30 p.m. and the speech at 7 p.m. Carnahan will sign copies of her autobiography entitled “Don’t Let the Fire Go Out” highlighting her service in the U.S. Senate. The books will be available for purchase.
The cost for the dinner is $20. Seating will be limited. For reservations, mail a check payable to “SCWC”, postmarked no later than April 8 and mail to P.O. Box 873, St. Peters, MO 63376. For information, call 636-947-9133, 314-477-5526 or 636-447-5071.
Carnahan was appointed to take her husband’s place in Washington after Governor Mel Carnahan was killed in an airplane crash three weeks before the election in 2000. During her two years in Washington she was a leading advocate for working families. She introduced the “Informed Investors Act” that passed into law and required corporations to make swift electronic reporting of insider trading. She also secured an extension of health care benefits for returning reservists and National Guard Personal. She was the fifth woman to serve on the prestigious Armed Services Committee.
In last year’s election Carnahan’s son Russ was elected to the Third U.S. Congressional District seat vacated by Richard Gephardt. Her daughter Robin Carnahan was elected Missouri Secretary of State.
Jean Carnahan is the author of four books. She lives in St. Louis where she writes, gives speeches and is a political activist.
Five From Barnwell Middle School Traveling to Europe with People to People Student Ambassador Program
Five From Barnwell Middle School Traveling to Europe with People to People Student Ambassador Program
Congratulations to five outstanding students from Barnwell Middle School, who will be traveling to Europe this summer with the People to People (P2P), Student Ambassador Program. The students, Allison and Lauren Cooke, Andy Lammers, Danny Sherman and Ashley Webb, all eigth graders will be educated on culture differencs while learning leadership abilities this summer. The five will interact with students their age as well as meet with government officials. The many educational elements of this program will allow them to earn college credit. P2P was founded by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956. Since its inception P2P has fostered Sister Cities, Project HOPE, and Pen Pals. To learn more about P2P go to their web site www.studentambassadors.com .
The Students are currently accepting donations to help fund their trip. If you would like to help these Ambassadors with their travel stop in and see Craig Daily, Manager, First Bank at the corner of Jefferson and Second Streets in St. Charles (or call 947-1346). The students are also doing a Mobil Car Wash sale. They are selling the Mobil Super Touchless eight dollar car wash for a discounted price of only $5. If you have not tried the newly opened Mobil car wash on 5th street in St. Charles you need to try it. It is fantastic! The students appreciate any support.
Congratulations to five outstanding students from Barnwell Middle School, who will be traveling to Europe this summer with the People to People (P2P), Student Ambassador Program. The students, Allison and Lauren Cooke, Andy Lammers, Danny Sherman and Ashley Webb, all eigth graders will be educated on culture differencs while learning leadership abilities this summer. The five will interact with students their age as well as meet with government officials. The many educational elements of this program will allow them to earn college credit. P2P was founded by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956. Since its inception P2P has fostered Sister Cities, Project HOPE, and Pen Pals. To learn more about P2P go to their web site www.studentambassadors.com .
The Students are currently accepting donations to help fund their trip. If you would like to help these Ambassadors with their travel stop in and see Craig Daily, Manager, First Bank at the corner of Jefferson and Second Streets in St. Charles (or call 947-1346). The students are also doing a Mobil Car Wash sale. They are selling the Mobil Super Touchless eight dollar car wash for a discounted price of only $5. If you have not tried the newly opened Mobil car wash on 5th street in St. Charles you need to try it. It is fantastic! The students appreciate any support.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)