The Turner Report

El-Amin receives 18 months in prison

2010-01-06T16:36:00.001-08:00

A federal judge sentenced former Rep. Talibdin El-Amin, D-St. Louis to 18 months in prison today.

El-Amin pleaded guilty Sept. 24 to bribery charges.

Remembering Rita Wheeler

2010-01-05T21:46:00.001-08:00

(The following is my column for this week's Newton County News.)

As much as I love Newtonia, I would be hard pressed to make any claims about the community’s nightlife. That pretty much came to an end in the late ‘60s when Carroll Gum’s store stopped closing at 6:30 or 7 p.m. and began shutting its doors at 5.

Oh, there was the occasional rousing game of bicycle soccer with the Letts brothers, the Oxendines, Danny Hilton, and Larry Wheeler in front of the store until there were either too many injured players to continue or until Herb Troxel called the Newton County Sheriff’s Department on us. We were always gone long before the deputy arrived…if Mr. Troxel really made the phone call.

Things changed on Jan. 10, 1969, with the opening of the Brown Derby, just one mile west of the town. It was open until 9 p.m., with fast food (or complete meals), soft drinks, and a back room with a pool table. Nightlife options had greatly improved. It was also close enough that we could walk there, even though it was highly discouraged due to the traffic on Highway 86.

It wasn’t until I started driving that my options were increased. I was introduced to the joys of Neosho, and even better, as far as I was concerned, I was able to escape from the back room pool table of the Brown Derby and sample the new restaurant on Highway 60 in Granby, Reta’s.

I don’t remember anything about the food at Reta’s in those days. After all, I was an East Newton High School student and one thing all of the boys at East Newton knew was that the best looking girls at the high school worked at Reta’s.

My first date was with a waitress from Reta’s, my first kiss came from a waitress from Reta’s (different girl, better results).

And though the young females were my primary interest at that point, there were other pluses about Reta’s. Often those of us who were fortunate enough to be there were entertained by stories from City Marshal Duane Beaver, or entertained ourselves with spirited, often noisy discussions on sports or politics.

I was usually not there when Reta’s owner, Reta Fullerton, was in the building, but there was another Rita who came to symbolize the restaurant for me and for most of its patrons.

For many of us, Rita Wheeler symbolized Reta’s. As the ownership changed, from Reta Fullerton to Pat and Vern Styron, and whoever followed them after I moved out of Newton County, Rita’s ever-present smile and unfailingly courteous manner was the one constant.

Long after I last stepped foot in Reta’s, when the owners after the Styrons changed the name of the establishment, (it seems like it was Charley’s for a while and then something about a hillbilly) if I happened to run into Rita in a store or downtown, she always greeted me by name, as if she had just seen me yesterday. I have a feeling there were very few people whose names Rita didn’t remember.

Rita Wheeler died Sunday at age 97.

Reta’s was an important part of life in Granby and this area during my teen years.

The building that used to house Reta’s is an empty shell of what it used to be with a for sale sign that may stay on there forever, but the memories linger on. Now it is nearly four decades later, and thinking of Reta’s and thinking of Rita Wheeler bring back memories I will cherish for a lifetime.

Jetton arraignment Wednesday morning

2010-01-05T19:05:00.000-08:00

The arraignment for former Speaker of the House Rod Jetton, R-Marble Hill, is set for 8:59 a.m. Wednesday in Scott County Circuit Court.

Jetton is charged with second degree assault.

The probable cause document, written by Sikeston Police Department Detective Bethany McDermott, reads as follows:

"On Nov. 17, 2009, PSO Washburn received a report from (the woman) about an assault that occurred through the night of November 16, 2009. (The woman) reported that Mr. Jetton came to her residence around 2100 hours on November 15, 2009. (The woman) said that she and Mr. Jetton had discussed having intercourse earlier that day over the phone. (The woman) said she and Mr. Jetton had never dated before and had never been in a relationship together.

"Mr. Jetton entered the residence at 132 Ralph with two bottles of wine. Mr. Jetton went into the kitchen and poured (the woman) a glass of wine. (The woman) said she did see him pour the wine because she did not follow him into the kitchen, but he returned to the living room and handed her a glass of wine. (The woman) remembers watching a football game and said once she finished the glass of wine, she began 'fading' in and out and remembered losing consciousness several times during the evening. Mr. Jetton and (the woman) agreed on a safe word of 'green balloons' to use as a stop word during intercourse.

"(The woman) recalls Mr. Jetton hitting her on the face very hard. (The woman) said she then remembers waking up and Mr. Jetton was behind her having intercourse in the bedroom. (The woman) said she did not know what happened with her memory because she had been drunk before but had never had the blank spots in her memory. (The woman) said Mr. Jetton stayed the night with her and when he woke up he gave her a kiss and said, 'You should have said green balloons.' Mr. Jetton left (her) residence and had not returned. (The woman) recalls being very sore. PSO Washburn reported seeing bruises on the left side of (the woman's) outside of both thighs and on (her) breast and just above it. Photographs of the bruises were taken. I also observed the bruises on November 18, 2009 and took more photographs on that day."

More details about the alleged attack were revealed in this Sikeston Police Department report, first revealed on the Fired Up Missouri blog:

[WOMAN] STATED THE NEXT THING SHE REMEMBERED, SHE WAS ON THE FLOOR IN THE LIVING ROOM AND MR. JETTON WAS TRYING TO RESTRAIN BOTH OF HER HANDS WITH WHAT APPEARED TO BE A LEATHER BELT. SHE STATED SHE WAS VERY GROGGY AND UNABLE TO SPEAK BUT WAS ABLE TO PULL HER HANDS FREE FROM THE RESTRAINT. SHE STATED AT THIS POINT, MR. JETTON BEGAN TO STRIKE HER ON THE LEFT SIDE OF HER FACE WITH AN OPEN HAND. SHE STATED AFTER THE FOURTH BLOW TO THE LEFT SIDE OF HER FACE, SHE BEGAN TO SEE STARS AND BLACKED OUT. [WOMAN] STATED SHE WAS UNSURE HOW MANY TIMES MR. JETTON HAD STRUCK HER AFTER SHE HAD BLACKED OUT.

[WOMAN] STATED SHE CAME TO AND MR. JETTON HAD ONE OF HIS HANDS AROUND HER NECK CHOKING HER. [WOMAN] STATED SHE WAS UNABLE TO BREATH AT THIS POINT. SHE STATED SHE WAS STILL TO WEAK AND GROGGY TO RESIST MR. JETTON. SHE STATED AT THIS POINT, HER HANDS WERE RESTRAINED WITH AN OBJECT SHE ASSUMED TO BE THE BELT.

[WOMAN] STATED AS MR. JETTON CHOKED HER, SHE BLACKED OUT AGAIN. SHE THEN WOKE UP IN HER BED. SHE STATED MR. JETTON WAS HAVING SEXUAL INTERCOURSE WITH HER. SHE STATED SHE COULD NOT GIVE ANY RESISTANCE DUE TO HER CONDITION. SHE STATED SHE WAS ON HER KNEES IN THE BED AND MR. JETTON WAS BEHIND HER PERFORMING THE SEXUAL ACT.

Tilley calls for Nixon to stop accepting oversized campaign contributions

2010-01-05T15:47:00.001-08:00

House Majority Leader Steve Tilley, R-Perryville, issued the following statement concerning the ethics proposal offered last week by Gov. Jay Nixon:

I am glad the Governor has now joined our call in the legislature for ethics reform in state government, but would also have liked to see him extend his call into reforming the executive branch as well. Although by borrowing his proposals from existing ones already introduced, that should help us reach an early consensus.”

“However, I do encourage the Governor to take a proactive stand behind his proposals to demonstrate his sincerity in advocating them. For instance, I am proposing an elimination of lobbyist gifts and meals in my bill and have stopped accepting them since last July to show that my efforts are genuine.”

“If the Governor sincerely believes campaign finance limits need to be put in place he himself should lead by example. As the largest recipient of over the limit donations, I would ask the Governor show he is genuine in his call and stop accepting over the limit contributions. To call an action unethical and then to continue to practice it only feeds the cynicism too many voters feel about our system of government.”

Ruestman: Session looks to be stressful

2010-01-05T15:43:00.000-08:00

In her latest column, Rep. Marilyn Ruestman says this year's legislative session, which begins tomorrow: is looking like a stressful one:

With snow on the ground and more snow to come, it is a sure sign that Session is here. Once again, it is time to begin driving back and forth to Jefferson City to represent the 131st District. This will be my last session in the House of Representatives and it looks to be one of the more stressful ones since we are charged with balancing the budget once again with revenue down over 7%.

In addition to making tough budget decisions, we will be tackling other controversial issues including ethics reform. We are approaching this reform with three goals:
· It must be fair.
· It must be comprehensive.
· It must be effective.
Two ideas that have been discussed are prohibiting any political donations being made to the Governor by any entity which has a pending decision before an executive department or decision-making body; and, prohibiting political contributions to the Governor, Speaker of the House or President Pro Tempore of the Senate by any entity seeking or receiving Senate approval for a compensated appointment.

State sovereignty is an issue that will be making headlines this year as the federal government seems to be encroaching further and further onto the states. I know many of the Representatives are interested in sending the Governor something to sign that will send Washington a clear message that we retain our 10th Amendment rights.

I plan to get right to work on property tax reform. My constituents have asked for assistance in this matter and I hope to make some headway with reforms. There will be strong opposition from taxing entities that want more spending money each year. I plan to fight that opposition and help find other avenues to fund their growing needs. There is no intent to reduce any funding source, but rather to find a way to be fair to all. Our senior citizens have already paid their dues. Let’s give them some relief and allow them to retain enough of their savings or social security to enjoy a few years of their retirement. There is no excuse for pricing the elderly out of their own homes. It is time a change is made!

This year, the legislative session begins Wednesday, January 6th, and will run through Friday, May 14th. We will be in session Monday through Thursday each week with one week of recess in March. The budget must be passed by May 7th. I encourage everyone to visit Jefferson City while we are in session to see your state government at work.

Tilley receives $30,000 from Supporters of Health Research and Treatments

2010-01-05T05:43:00.001-08:00

House Majority Floor Leader Steve Tilley, R-Perryville, will receive a $30,000 contribution from Supporters for Health Research and Treatments today, according to a 48-hour filing with the Missouri Ethics Commission.

Critics of Tilley's recently proposed ethics legislation will note that the legislation contained no mention of restoring Missouri's campaign contribution limits.

Jeff Smith begins prison sentence today

2010-01-05T05:18:00.001-08:00

Former Sen. Jeff Smith, D-St. Louis, whose conviction on a federal obstruction charge is one of the key incidents fueling the newfound passion for ethics reform in the Missouri legislature, will begin his one year, one day prison sentence today in Kentucky.

Democratic legislator paid as political consultant

2010-01-05T05:09:00.001-08:00

Chris Blank of AP reports that Green Balloon Man Rod Jetton is not the only one to act as a political consultant to a fellow legislator, an act that has been targeted by ethics bills proposed by members of both parties.

Rep. Jeff Roorda, D-Barnhart, owns a political consulting company that received $30,000 for working on Sam Page's unsuccessful try at lieutenant governor in 2008. Again, as so often happens, the excuse being offered is how little money our politicians make:

Roorda said Monday that Page was his only political client and that campaign work was done after the legislative session ended. Roorda said he doesn't plan to take any clients for the 2010 elections, and that the consulting business also does marketing work for a health care billing company.

Roorda noted lawmakers are in session only from January until May and earn an annual salary of about $35,000.

"We don't make enough money to not work the other seven months of the year, and campaigns is what we have experience working on," he said.

Government still considering new indictment against Anderson Guest House owner

2010-01-04T18:42:00.000-08:00

A March 22 trial date has been set for Anderson Guest House owner Robert Dupont and his wife, Laverne, in the federal court at Springfield, but that could change if more charges are filed against him.

During a 15-minute hearing Dec. 22, government officials said a "superceding indictment is still a possibility."

The Duponts were charged with defrauding the federal government after an investigation into the November 2006 fire that destroyed the Anderson Guest House and killed 11 people.

Robert Dupont is accused of hiding his control of the Anderson Guest House, defrauding the government, and money laundering.
An affidavit signed by Special Agent Peter H. Blackburn of the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Health of Human Services said Dupont was executive director of Guest House facilities from 1993 through 2006, including the time following his 2002 conviction for Medicaid and Medicare fraud.
Facilities owned by Dupont, according to the affidavit, included the Anderson Guest House, Carl Junction Guest House, Carthage Guest House, Guest House I in Joplin, Guest House 2 in Joplin, Guest House 3 in Joplin, Lamar Guest House, and St. Louis Guest House. Apparently, the government missed the Springfield Guest House.

According to the affidavit, "Robert J. Dupont was owner and president of Guest Houses of Missouri. Inc., a for-profit corporation Dupont created in January 2000" that operated the Guest Houses in Anderson, Joplin, Carl Junction, and Carthage.

"On June 15, 2000, Dupont was charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States relating to billings he caused to be submitted on behalf of Butler Guest House, Lamar Guest House, and St. Louis Guest House. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States on Feb. 13, 2002, and was sentenced on Feb. 21, 2003, t0 21 months federal imprisonment. The offense to which Dupont pleaded guilty involved his conspiracy with others to conceal his ownership and control of a company that submitted billings to Medicare and Medicaid." Because of this, the affidavit said, Dupont was excluded from participation in any federal health program, including Missouri Medicaid.

"During March 2002, shortly after Dupont's guilty plea but prior to his sentencing, Dupont formed a new corporation, Joplin River of Life Ministries that began assuming operational control over the residential care facilities," the affidavit said. "On April 10, 2002, Guest Houses of Missouri, Inc. notified the Division of Medical Services, the agency which administers Missouri's Medicaid program that as of May 1, 2002, Joplin River of Life Ministries was taking over the operation of the residential care facilities formerly operated by Guest Houses of Missouri, Inc."

The affidavit continues, "On or about April 15, 2002, JROL submitted applications to the Department of Health and Senior Services for licenses to operate long-term care facilities specifically Anderson Guest House, Carl Junction Guest House, Guest House 2, and Guest House 3." Robert Dupont and his wife Laverne were listed as owners and landlords and Robert Dupont was listed on the Joplin River of Life Ministries board.

On July 31, 2002, the company applied to participate as a Missouri Medicaid personal care provider and was approved.

"On March 19, 2003, prior to Dupont's surrender on March 21, 2003, to begin serving his federal sentence, Dupont convened and oversaw a Joplin River of Life Ministries board meeting in which he announced the employment of Laverne Dupont, his wife, as the incoming executive director of JROL and corporate documents after that date list her as executive director," according to the affidavit.

Dupont was released to a halfway house in August 2004 and completed his sentence the following month. "In contravention of state and federal law, Dupont resumed the operation and control of JROL upon his release from prison," the affidavit said. "In day to day operation of the facilities, Dupont makes unilateral hiring decisions, terminates employees, directs staffing levels, and unilaterally decides whether to accept potential residents referred to local hospitals. Dupont has prohibited facility managers from seeking decision making authority from Laverne Dupont, his wife and the individual listed as executive director of JROL, and threatened to terminate employees who fail to seek his authorization for decisions."

The affidavit concludes, "During an interview conducted on Nov. 28, 2006 (following the Anderson Guest House fire) Dupont denied any control over Joplin River of Life Ministries and asserted that he was an uncompensated employee. However, W-2, wage and tax statements filed by JROL indicate that Dupont received a salary in 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005."

McDonald County white supremacist pastor wants to defend himself

2010-01-04T18:15:00.000-08:00

In a motion filed today in U. S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, McDonald County white supremacist Robert Joos, only one week away from his trial, is asking the judge to remove his attorney and let him defend himself.

Joos says his attorney is not cooperating with him. If he did, Joos says in his handwritten motion, the judge would recognize that the prosecutors' allegations against him are false and "would resolve this case in my favor."

The government, Joos said, is full of "criminals who have persecuted me and the church for over 30 years." Joos is referring to the Sacerdotal Church of Davis, of which he is the pastor.

Joos said his lawyer is not cooperating with Joos' recommendations on jury selection, which include choosing "a jury of my peers," apparently referring to other white supremacists, "who are not prejudiced against me as C. D. (Joos refers to the public defender as the community defender) obviously is."

Joos is charged with being a felon illegally possessing firearms, two counts of unlawful transport of firearms and one count transporting explosive materials interstate.

Joos was arrested in connection with a federal investigation of a racially-motivated 2004 bombing in Scottsdale, Ariz. National white supremacist leader Dennis Mahon and his brother Daniel were charged with that crime.

Newspaper Days available in E-Book format

2010-01-01T19:53:00.000-08:00

For those who spend more time on the computer or who are looking for a bargain price, the publisher of my book, Newspaper Days, has it available as an e-book for $6.

More information about ordering it as an e-book or in the usual trade paperback format can be found at this link.

Emery tops Joplin-area legislators in November lobbyists' gifts

2010-01-01T16:18:00.000-08:00

Rep. Ed Emery, R-Lamar topped Joplin-area representatives in lobbyists' gifts in November, according to documents posted on the Missouri Ethics Commission website today.

Emery's total was $31.61 topping the other two legislators who accepted gifts, Marilyn Ruestman, R-Joplin, at $21,75; and Kevin Wilson, R-Neosho, at $20. Three legislators, Speaker of the House Ron Richard, R-Joplin, Rep. Tom Flanigan, R-Carthage, and Rep. Bryan Stevenson, R-Webb City, did not have any gifts listed.

For the first 11 months of 2009, Richard tops the list at $2,466.53, followed by Stevenson, $1,978.80; Mrs. Ruestman, $693.71; Flanigan $563.07, Wilson $534.77, and Emery $453.77.

Showing us a weather map we can't see

2010-01-01T16:14:00.000-08:00

I don't know if the KSN folks know the extent of their technical difficulties, but it is amusing to listen to fill-in weather man Jeremiah Cook showing us the weather map while the viewers are looking at a blank light blue screen.

The picture finally came back on as Cook was preparing to give the forecast, but this does show the reliance our television newscasters have on technology. Perhaps they should listen to radio to see how it is done if these circumstances should ever occur again.

KSN News on, but no picture

2010-01-01T16:04:00.001-08:00

Whether it is the same way on other cable systems, sateliite, or digital transmissions, I don't know, but KSN's 6 p.m. news is on, but there is no photo, only a light blue screen, on Joplin's Cable One. The audio is coming in loud and clear.

The picture was available for advertisements and station promos, but not for the news.

"We want to apoloize. We are having a few technical problems," anchor Jim Jackson said.

The problems were caused by an electrical fire earlier in the afternoon, which totally knocked KSN off the air.

KSN News replaced by "Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader?"

2010-01-01T14:57:00.000-08:00

Anyone tuning in for KSN's 5 p.m. newscast was greeted by "Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader?"

It took about three minutes, but a crawl at the bottom of the screen noted the fire that knocked sister station KODE off the air and said KSN's 5 and 6 p.m. newscasts may be delayed.

Joplin fans won't miss Rose Bowl: KODE back on air

2010-01-01T14:54:00.000-08:00

It looks as if Joplin viewers won't have to miss the Rose Bowl. After an alectrical fire knocked it off the air about an hour ago, KODE is up and running again.

Fire knocks KODE off air

2010-01-01T14:26:00.000-08:00

A fire has knocked KODE off the air, and could delay the 5 and 6 p.m. news broadcasts on sister station KSNF, according to a message on the stations' website and on the scroll at KSNF.

Chiodo retires as Joplin Globe publisher

2009-12-31T22:30:00.000-08:00

Dan Chiodo officially retired today as publisher of the Joplin Globe after a 17-year tenure.

In a recent column in the newspaper, Chiodo wrote the following words:

My tenure as publisher at this property has been very gratifying. The newspaper world has always been an exciting world to me. We are called to take all that is happening in the world and in our local communities to interpret, communicate and then sometimes take a stand on so that we both inform and then set the course for the community. But a newspaper is not a newspaper without its people. These team members are from all walks of life and they come together to create the story we tell the public.

And although the Globe has been a wonderful newspaper, much must also be said about the wonderful community it belongs to. Whether you are talking education, medical care, trucking or so many other industries, things have been progressing nicely over the years — both in Joplin and its surrounding towns.

Of course, many of us will remember that Chiodo was also the man who gave the go-ahead to start the free weekly newspaper The Joplin Herald, by saying there was not enough room in the Globe to print all of the Joplin news.

I will just leave it at that.

Newspaper Days top-selling book at Hastings in December

2009-12-31T22:24:00.000-08:00

It's just one store in one city, but I was pleased to hear earlier this evening that my book Newspaper Days was the top-selling trade paperback at Hastings Books, Music, and Video in Joplin during December.

The store still has a few copies of the book on display at the book desk, as well as copies of my earlier book, Devil's Messenger in the local authors section.

Over a quarter of a million visit Turner Report in 2009

2009-12-31T22:20:00.000-08:00

The most successful year in the six-year history of The Turner Report ended moments ago.

This blog received more than a quarter of a million unique visitors during the past 12 months and surpassed the previous high, recorded in 2008, by more than 30,000.

Thanks to all of you for continuing to visit this blog. I will do my best to keep The Turner Report rolling in 2010.

Remembering the departed

2009-12-31T21:00:00.000-08:00

At this time of the year, many news outlets take a look back at those who died during the year. In The Turner Report, I write about people whose lives have touched mine. Following are some of those who were remembered in this blog during 2009:

January 2009

Bob Pyle
My condolences go the family of Bob Pyle, 54, Nixa, formerly of Carthage, who died Monday from brain cancer.

Though I never knew Bob, two of his children, Brooke and Matthew Pyle, worked for me at The Carthage Press in the late 1990s. Both were hard working, polite, and respectful, qualities which they obviously learned at home from Bob and his wife, Cathy.

Matthew handled film developing chores, and was one of a group of four led by Stacy Rector, who published a weekly section called Teen Tuesday in The Press. Matthew and Stacy were honored for their work in the fall of 1998 when they received the first place award for community service from the Missouri Press Association.

Brooke started out taking calls from customers whose papers had not been delivered on time. From there, she gradually moved into the news room. Though her primary interest was photography, she eventually wrote a number of features and was involved along with Ron Graber and me in the coverage of Janet Kavandi's first space shuttle launch. During the summer of 1998, Brooke, who was a 1997 Carthage Senior High School graduate, and Jana Blankenship, a 1998 Webb City High School graduate, helped Ron and me provide news coverage as we waited for the right people to become available to strengthen the staff. Eventually, in August of '98, we hired Jo Ellis, Rick Rogers, and John Hacker to fill out the news staff.

Brooke and Matthew, the two oldest of Bob and Kathy Pyle's four children, have gone on to success in their adult lives. Brooke is a lawyer in Springfield, and Matthew is stationed on the U. S. S. Ronald Reagan.

FEBRUARY 24 2009

Loren Lamoreaux
It is with sadness tonight that I read of the death of longtime Neosho Daily News photographer Loren Lamoreaux.

During my years at The Carthage Press, I had dozens of occasions to run into the Daily's sports tandem of Editor Dean Keeling and photographer Loren Lamoreaux at Neosho's home and away games. It is hard to believe that neither of them is with us any more.

At tournament time, I had many an occasion to see both of them enjoying the fare in the hospitality rooms. It still seems strange to see a Neosho bench without Dean Keeling sitting at the end of it, or the area underneath a Wildcat basket without Loren Lamoreaux's metal folding chair.

The folding chair, Neosho fans will remember, was to help Loren, who kept up a staggering pace with his photography well into his 80s. It was a matter of respect that the chair was provided for him, not only at Neosho, but also when he was at other schools in the old Southwest Conference.

The departure of Loren, following so soon after Dean Keeling left the building for the final time, and only a few months after the death of longtime Nevada Daily Mail Sports Editor Kelly Bradham has deprived this area of three of the last of the growling curmudgeonly type who provided southwest Missouri sports coverage with such distinctive flavor.

When you saw what Dean Keeling and Kelly Bradham wrote about Neosho and Nevada, respectively, or when you talked to Dean, Kelly, or Loren in one of the many tournament hospitality rooms they haunted for decades, you had none of this pretense of objectivity, and none of this homogenized, devoid of any heart, cookie cutter sports pages that dot the area map in 2009. Dean and Loren were Neosho Wildcat or Crowder College Roughriders fans through and through, and nothing was more enjoyable than to hear them going back and forth with Kelly Bradham over whether Neosho or Nevada was the better school.

Today's sports pages are undeniably what the journalism experts would consider more professionally done, but I miss their character, the human quality that you let you know that every word on the pages, and every photo provided by Loren Lamoreaux was placed on that page by someone who genuinely cared about Neosho and wasn't just picking up a paycheck.

With local newspapers continuing to bite the dust right and left these days, it makes you wonder when the people who ran newspapers forgot the value of hiring people who care.

Loren Lamoreaux will be missed.

MARCH 27, 2009
Johnny Blanchard
The Joplin Miners were the best team in the minor league Western Association during the 1952 season and the best player on that team was catcher-outfielder Johnny Blanchard.

Blanchard, only 19 at the time, led the league champs and the league itself that year with 30 home runs and 112 RBI.

It wasn't long before Blanchard graduated from the Joplin Miners to the parent New York Yankees to join the most famous player to ever play for the Miners, Mickey Mantle. With the Yankees, Blanchard has the misfortune of being a catcher on a team that already had future Hall-of-Famer Yogi Berra and Elston Howard, but that did not prevent him from making an impact.

Blanchard, who died of a heart attack Wednesday at age 76, played enough to hit 21 home runs for the 1961 world championship team, a team some say was the greatest of all time. Blanchard hit two home runs in the World Series that year as the Yankees defeated the Reds in five games:

"Baseball was in his blood," his son Tim said. "He loved the card shows. He'd shake people's hand, ask their name and talk with people. He was the king of storytelling; that was his strength."

Blanchard enjoyed golf and was looking forward to seeing the new Yankee Stadium and participating in an old-timers' game this year.

"He lived a life people would dream of living," Tim said.

March 7, 2009
John Stockdale
The hardest working politician in Barton County died Friday morning.

Election results over the last three decades feature a long list of those who thought they could beat John Stockdale for Eastern District Associate County Commissioner. And who could blame them for getting their hopes up? After all, Barton County, once a Democratic stronghold, is now fertile territory for the GOP.

The former Democratic officeholders, people like Doug Haile and Doug Sprouls, eventually lost to Republican challengers. After serving as Barton County Clerk for a quarter of a century, Bonda Rawlings decided not to seek re-election...and that left John Stockdale.

There was no secret to John Stockdale's longevity in Barton County politics. He campaigned harder than anyone has ever campaigned in Barton County, not just to get elected into office the first time, but every time. Those who lived in the Eastern District of Barton County knew that they would receive a visit from John, maybe more than one, every time an election rolled around.

And for a long time, before Missouri law changed to allow associate county commissioners to be elected every four years, John Stockdale was knocking on doors every other year. Many of his opponents took the tried and true approach of submitting their names, attending party functions and shaking hands at community events. John Stockdale not only made personal visits, but he made sure to know what the concerns of his constituents were, and did his best to address those concerns.

John took his job seriously. Though the County Commission only met on Mondays, it was not unusual to see John in the office other days of the week, making phone calls or meeting with someone about a road or bridge issue.

And no one, absolutely no one, could ever enter the courthouse without a big hello and friendly greeting. If he spotted someone he knew across a room, he would cheerfully call out that person's name, and made that person, whether it was someone he had not seen in years, or someone he just talked to he day before, feel like he was the most important person in the world.

And that warm greeting, was always accompanied moments later by laughter. No one enjoyed his job more than John Stockdale.

In her moving tribute to John in today's Lamar Democrat, Editor Rayma Bekebrock Davis wrote, "Although he was an elected official, no one thought of him as a politician; he was a good man doing a good job."

If no one thought of him as a politician, that is a shame, because John represented the best of what politics is supposed to be. He was an elected official whose first thought was serving the people. Make no mistake about it...John Stockdale was a politician, and we could use more just like him.

The Barton County Courthouse won't be the same without him.

April 6, 2009
Don Kirkpatrick
Former Lamar Democrat publisher Don Kirkpatrick died March 29 at age 71. Kirkpatrick, the son of former Missouri Secretary of State James Kirkpatrick, owned the Democrat from 1972 to 1974.

When the Kirkpatricks bought the newspaper in 1972, it ended a historic era for the Democrat, which had been published for the previous 72 years by the legendary Arthur Aull and Aull's daughter, Madeleine Aull VanHafften.

May 27, 2009
Charles Rupp
ormer Diamond High School Principal Charles Rupp died Monday at age 78.

Rupp was principal at Diamond from 1965 to 1985. I remember how kind he was to me when I did my student teaching at Diamond in the spring of 1981.

May 9,2009
Jennifer Martin
In a perfect world, the obituary of Jennifer Martin would read "composing room foreman" at The Carthage Press. It was a job she loved more than anything except her family.

It was 40 years ago this month that Jennifer, fresh from her graduation ceremony at Carthage Senior High School, went to work for The Press as a typesetter.

"That was back in the linotype days," she told me in a 1994 interview commemorating her 25-year anniversary at the newspaper. "I was only going to work here one year. I planned on being a housewife." The hours were long and the pay was low, she recalled. "I made minimum wage. I think it was $1.30 and hour."

She had just mastered the art of setting type by Linotype when The Press went to offset printing in 1971. Jenny's duties expanded. In addition to regular typesetting, she began setting advertising copy.

In late 1986, she was promoted to composing room foreman, a position she held for 13 years before leaving in 1999 after cutbacks in her hours and benefits forced her to look for another job.

Jennifer Martin spent three decades doing a job that has never received enough credit. In the days when editors drew up pages on dummy sheets, it was Jennifer who made those pages come to life, and often made them work in spite of errors made by the editors who sent them to her.

With the advertising department, Jennifer could take a bare concept for an ad and turn it into a masterpiece that delighted both the salesman and the advertiser.

More than anything, Jennifer had an ability to work with the oversized egos that are prevalent in both the newsrooms and advertising departments of newspapers. Though she had to deal with several strong, at times, overwhelming personalities (Jim Farley, Marvin VanGilder, Rick Rogers and Randy Turner come to mind) I can't ever recall her saying a cross word about anyone.

When others left The Carthage Press in the 1990s, even people who spent considerable amounts of time there, Neil Campbell, VanGilder, Jack Harshaw, Jim Farley, and myself, the paper continued to roll along.

Jenny's departure was a different matter. Her last day of work at The Press, was the day the heart was ripped out of the newspaper.

My favorite memory of Jenny occurred over and over through the years. Someone would say something funny, and she would break up laughing, the kind of laughter that brought a smile to everyone's face no matter what the mood was.

Jennifer Martin died Friday morning.

I'm going to miss that laughter.

May 6, 2009
Ryan Baker
It was easy to lose track of Ryan Baker in a classroom. He invariably sat near the back of the cramped trailer I taught in during my first three years at Diamond Middle School.

When Ryan spoke, it was with a soft, halting voice, one which was rarely heard in my class unless he had something important he wanted to say. Most of the time he remained silent during our class discussions, but there were occasions when an issue struck a chord with him that Ryan leaped into the fray and took no prisoners.

Ryan was one of those students who fell behind with his work and had to finish with a flurry at the end of the quarter to make a decent grade, but those grades never reflected his intelligence. The B's and C's he recorded in my current issues and creative language arts at DMS were not an accurate portrayal of Ryan Baker. His intelligence was right at the top of his class.

After having him in my classroom for three years, we moved in different directions. Ryan joined the freshman class at Diamond High School, while I moved from the trailer into the old Diamond High School building when it became the middle school, to begin what turned out to be my final year in the Diamond R-4 School District.

I don't remember running into Ryan that year. At the end of the year, I signed a contract to return for a fifth year at Diamond, but the last day of the 2002-2003 school year turned out to be my last day as a Wildcat. I was informed by letter that I was being put on an unpaid leave of absence due to a budget problem for the school district.

Somehow the word spread quickly and I did nothing to hide the news. I was overwhelmed by the outpouring of support I received from my former students and their parents. One of the first to contact me was Ryan Baker.

I was at a very low point, and Ryan, who had not always shown a high regard for meeting deadlines during his three years in my class, came through with perfect timing on July 11, 2003. His e-mail message was a powerful pick-me-up when I was at my lowest moment. It came at a time when I just been told, I was put on leave because I was the teacher whose absence would least affect the students:

Mr. Turner,

I just wanted to tell you that I have appreciated your classes. At first, I could really care less about politics, but somehow, your class made it fun. Going up and beyond the curriculum of the normal language arts class, your class has really taught me some important writing skills, while more than preparing me for high school grammar. Though I may not have been the best student, or tried as hard as I should have, looking back on it, I really missed your class while in high school for the first year. I just went to your site, and patiently read through all of the articles that you have posted, and felt that I should thank you for being one of the teachers that actually taught class as if it were a desire, and not as if it was merely a job. I just had to say thank you.

I shed more than a few tears after reading that e-mail from a most considerate young man.

I cried again earlier tonight when I read that Ryan Baker died, 17 days short of his 21st birthday.

I am thankful I had three years with Ryan. I wish things had worked out differently for him.

July 9, 2009
Jack Luce
No one would ever compare Jack Luce to Babe Ruth (though I am about to), but that was who was he resembled when he joined the Lamar Blue Jays men's baseball team for its doubleheader with my team, the Aroma Express, at the Granby ballpark that summer Sunday in June 1983.

Jack was a big man, and his ball shirt couldn't decide whether it wanted to be tucked in or remain outside.

Having dealt with Jack during my coverage of the Lamar High School girls basketball team he coached, I struck up a conversation with him as both teams warmed up before the game.

Warming up was not really necessary, since the temperature that day was in the low 90s and sweat was already dripping down Jack's face. "I didn't know you played for this team" I said.

"I don't normally. They were a couple of guys short and asked me if I wanted to play. They talked me into it. I thought it might be fun." Jack wiped off the sweat with his sleeve. "I haven't played in years," he said. "I used to love to play the game."

Somewhere in the boxes and baskets and drawers full of old news clippings, photos, scorebooks, etc., I have in my apartment is the scorecard from that day.

Jack only played the first game of the doubleheader. He batted three times, and if memory serves correctly, he only swung the bat three times. Each time, the ball soared out of our bandbox ballpark. Admittedly, the dimensions of the ballpark were closer to Little League than Busch Stadium, but no one else hit one out that day.

Since I was the Aroma Express' designated hitter in that second game, I took advantage of the opportunity to talk to Jack while my team was out on the field.

"Man, I'm tired," he said. "It's been a long time since I did this."

"You must have been a heck of a player," I said.

"Naw," he said with a hint of modesty. "I wonder what I could do if I could get back into shape." I looked at him to see if he was kidding, but his face was stone cold serious. Then a trace of a smile emerged and within seconds, he was laughing out loud.

I don't remember Jack playing for the Lamar baseball team the rest of the year, though he may have.I prefer to think he left the game with three swings and three home runs.

Jack Luce died Wednesday at age 61.

August 23, 2009
Harlan Stark
As I was growing up in Newtonia, one of the everyday rituals was heading to Gum's Store after school to await the arrival of the Neosho Daily News.

Back then, the newspaper was delivered to the store, which also served as the community's post office, and Postmaster Vernie Browning would put the newspapers in the mailboxes.

Depending on how early they arrived, I would either take it directly home or I would sit on the steps and read it from front to back. My favorite parts were the sports section, the editorial page, which always included the Washington Merry Go Round, first with Drew Pearson and Jack Anderson, then after Pearson's death, just Anderson, for all of the dirt in Washington, and I read the opinion papers where learned pundits told me that no one would dare run against President Johnson in 1968, George Romney was a shoo-in for the Republican presidential nomination that year, and Edmund Muskie was a cinch for the Democratic nomination in 1972.

I also read the national news items, many of them about the ongoing war in Vietnam and in later years about the Watergate investigation and subsequently, the resignation of President Nixon, and his pardon by President Ford.

And I read the local news items, nearly all of which, it seems through the dim recesses of memory, were written by two men, Bill Ball and Harlan Stark. Mr. Ball, who provided the coverage of local sports, as well as many as many straight news items, died many years ago.

I read moments ago of the death of Harlan Stark. Mr. Stark's obituary says he was with the Neosho Daily News for 23 years. It seems like it was longer, though the Daily has gone through many reporters through the years as it has transitioned from Harlan Stark and Bill Ball to such later mainstays as the late Dean Keeling, Anne Cope, Rob Viehman, and Bill Ball's son, Buzz Ball, to today's staff, including John Ford and my fellow Newtonia native Todd Higdon.

While it takes many hard working people to put together a newspaper, everyone from the publisher to the receptionists to the advertising salesmen and circulation workers, to the public the face of a newspaper is usually the people whose bylines grace the pages of each edition.

For nearly a quarter of a century, the face of the Neosho Daily News was provided by Harlan Stark and Bill Ball. They offered stability and integrity, two items in short supply in today's media climate.

September 14, 2009
Bill Pierson
People close to the Old Mining Town Days celebration in Granby told me there was some concern a couple of years ago about the kickoff musical act for the annual three-day celebration.

It had become a tradition for Bill Pierson, one of the last (and best) of the big band singers to open the program, backed by Jim Hunter's band. But the years had not been kind to Bill. Already an octogenarian, his hearing was starting to go, a sign that Bill Pierson's musical career, which had stretched more than seven decades, was on its last legs.

Even the billing for the performance was different. This time, it was Hunter's group that was advertised with special guest Bill Pierson, mainly because the organizers were concerned that Bill would not be able to make the performance.

They underestimated Bill Pierson's determination to go out on a high note. I was lucky enough to be in Dick Smith Memorial Park that Friday evening. Bill was not on stage when the entertainment began, but soon he was introduced, and it was like he had magically erased the problems that were forcing his retirement from his first love.

First, it was the trumpet. As he performed an extended solo on one number, he hit every note. And when he sang, whether it was one of the old standards from the 30's or 40's or his dead-on Louis Armstrong impersonation, both the listener and Bill Pierson were transported to an earlier bygone era.

Though Bill was not supposed to be onstage for more than a couple of songs, he finished out the show with Jim Hunter's combo. Too soon, the music ended.

Granby had seen Bill Pierson perform for the final time.

Bill, a lifelong supporter of the city and people of Granby, died Saturday at age 83. Services will be held 4 p.m. Wednesday at Parker Mortuary in Joplin. Visitation will be held 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the mortuary.

Over the years, I had the good fortune to hear Bill perform many times. I particularly remember his performance at the birthday party for Attorney General Bill Webster in September 1992, when Webster was running against Mel Carnahan for governor. That was the last time I talked to Bill’s late wife Willi. I also remember his 1988 performance at Lamar's Heritage Days celebration, but my favorite performances always came when Bill opened Granby's annual three-day festivities.

Old Mining Town Days will never be the same, but the music in heaven sure must sound sweeter.

(Photos: Ryan Baker, Bill Pierson, Harlan Stark, Jennifer Martin, John Stockdale, Johnny Blanchard)

Cynthia Davis: Ethics reform won't work

2009-12-31T18:23:00.000-08:00

Rep. Cynthia Davis, R-O'Fallon, doesn't think much of Gov. Jay Nixon's proposal for ethics reform, according to a report on KCUR:

Republican State Rep. Cynthia Davis from O'Fallon says ethics reform won't accomplish much since any rule will probably have a loophole around it.

Cynthia Davis: "If these legislators can't even get the ten commandments right, what makes us think if we add a whole other layer of 15 more rules we're going to make people more ethical?"

Mrs. Davis can be considered somewhat of an expert on this, since she was painfully unaware that she was not allowed to use campaign funds to pay her personal tax debts.

Billy Long makes final fourth quarter push

2009-12-31T14:03:00.000-08:00

Midnight tonight is the deadline for political contributions to be counted in fourth quarter results, so naturally, candidates are making last minute appeals, such as this one from Seventh District Congressional candidate Billy Long:

As the election draws closer and the Career Politicians in Washington spin further out of control your support is now more vital than ever.

It takes a lot of money to be successful in getting our message out of sending real Statesmen to Washington and not more career politicians who have never signed the front of a check.

The most current and glaring example of Congress’ dereliction of duty is the unconstitutional health care bill that has now passed in some form in both houses of Congress. This bill is completely outside the authority of our national government to enact.

It violates the principle of enumerated powers. Our government was supposed to be one of limited and well defined powers, rather than plenary powers, in order to prevent the government from acting arbitrarily to usurp the liberty of the people. Congress’ powers are given to it in Article I Section 8 of the Constitution and dictating health care to the citizenry is not one of those powers granted.

No other part of the Constitution can justify the health care bill either. Some have argued that providing health care surely falls into the “general welfare” clause of the Constitution, but as James Madison explained in Federalist Papers No. 41, such an interpretation of that clause would give the Congress unlimited, rather than limited powers, and defeat the entire purpose of the Constitution, which is to constrain government. Likewise, the “necessary and proper” clause of the Constitution serves to limit the Congress’ power to legislate on its Article I Section 8 authority to only those acts which are actually needed for it to carry out its defined duties.

Finally, many in Congress will point to the “commerce” clause as a grant of general power to regulate all matters which touch commerce. This definition also explodes the purpose of the Constitution to limit government and it is not what the Founding Fathers intended. The Founders recognized the benefit of having commerce move freely between the states and so they wrote the commerce clause to empower the national government to keep states from interfering with commerce across their borders. They did not want, for example, Kansas placing a tariff on goods coming in from Missouri. Too many in today’s Congress, unfortunately, would have us believe that the same Founders who carefully separated and limited federal power wrote a clause that would allow Congress to regulate every aspect of a person’s life; because virtually all human activity impacts commerce in some way.

As long as we continue to persist in ignoring the Constitution we will never be safe from huge power grabs by our elected officials. Health care is just one particularly appalling example, but Congress is contemplating many more similar unconstitutional power grabs.

I want to help put an end to this kind of self-destructive behavior. America is great because individual people have been free to pursue their own lives and in so doing make America great. The protector of that liberty is the Constitution and as it protects us, we must also protect it. I want to protect the Constitution and I know that you do to.

One way you can help me today is by visiting my website at www.billylongforcongress.com and donating to my campaign. You can also donate by sending a personal check to Billy Long for Congress, 1675-F E. Seminole St., Springfield, MO 65804. Please date checks and make contributions before midnight tonight, December 31, 2009 so that they can appear on this crucial 4th quarter.

In addition to making a last minute push for donations we too are making a push to get as many bumper stickers as possible on the back windows of vehicles in the 7th District. If you need bumper stickers please contact us today and we will send them to you. According to the professionals every bumper sticker has the impact of 200 yard signs – please consider supporting us in this way.

If you would like to further help out in my campaign effort please consider volunteering activities like walking in parades or hosting yard signs. It will take the individual effort of all of us to educate our neighbors about the Constitution, inform ourselves of the activities in Congress, and participate in this, the greatest system of government ever created, embodied in our Constitution. As Ronald Reagan once said, “…we are a nation that has a government, not the other way around.” It is time we reminded Washington of this truth.

PLEASE NOTE: Midnight tonight is the deadline for your donation to be counted in this crucial 4th quarter. Please donate online today or make sure your check is dated today, Dec. 31, 2009.

May you and yours have a prosperous and healthy New Year and, in the words of Tiny Tim, “may God Bless us, Everyone!”

Text of Tilley ethics bill posted

2009-12-31T09:39:00.000-08:00

The text of HB 1482, sponsored by House Majority Leader Steve Tilley, R-Perryville, has been posted on the Missouri House of Representatives website.

The legislation would eliminate gifts to legislators from lobbyists and would prohibit elected officials from serving as political consultants.

Of the bill's 38 co-sponsors, only one, Rep. Kevin Wilson, R-Neosho, is from the Joplin area.

Nodler to serve as guest host on KZRG Monday

2009-12-31T09:21:00.000-08:00

Sen. Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, a candidate for the Seventh District Congressional seat currently held by Roy Blunt, will be guest host on KZRG's Morning Newswatch 6 to 8 a.m. Monday, Jan. 4.