The Joplin Globe's investigative piece by R. C. Balaban on Department of Natural Resources follow-ups on odor complaints was the kind of digging a good newspaper needs to do on a regular basis.
One of Missouri's top Republican politicians described the operation of the DNR as a disgrace. That was State Senator Richard Webster when I interviewed him in 1984 when I was editor of The Lamar Democrat. Twenty-one years have passed, including 15 since Senator Webster died and the operation of that particular state agency has not improved a bit. Hopefully, the Globe piece can get some sort of reform movement started.
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On the bright side, I apparently picked the right time to move from Carthage to Joplin.
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ConAgra is expected to announce earnings have dropped seven cents per share during the last quarter of 2004. The announcement is scheduled for Thursday morning.
ConAgra is receiving more publicity in this area for its good neighbor policy in Carthage.
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A reader reports that former employees of the Lamar License Bureau were unceremoniously fired recently (even though the governor's office is still not confirming that Bubs Hohulin (or any other Hohulin) is in charge of the license bureau. If anyone could get me the names of the people who were let go or have them contact me, it would be much appreciated.