The year in review concludes with December 2007

And now for the conclusion of our review of the final six months of 2007 in The Turner Report:

Dec. 27- Sen. Dan Clemens, R-Marshfield, filed a joint resolution asking for a change in term limits. Clemens, of course, in close to the end of his final term.

Dec. 26- A lawsuit in federal court in California reveals the extent of the debt that led Joplin-based SiriComm to file for bankruptcy.

Dec. 26- Newton County Prosecuting Attorney Scott Watson announced he will resign next month.

Dec. 26- GateHouse Media announced the "resignation" of Randy Cope, the former Neosho Daily News publisher who has been with the company from the outset.

Dec. 22- Ron Richard, R-Joplin joined the Mitt Romney team.

Dec. 21- The Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney's office opposes Memorial Middle School shooter Thomas Gregory White begin put under house arrest.

Dec. 21- Joplin-based SiriComm files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Dec. 20- Rep. Kevin Engler, R-Farmington, pre-filed a bill which would prevent legislators from accepting gifts from lobbyists.

Dec. 19- A Jasper County public defender filed a motion with the Missouri Supreme Court to have Memorial Middle School shooter Thomas Gregory White released and put under house arrest.

Dec. 19- Rep. Jane Cunningham, R-Chesterfield, pre-filed a bill which would require Missouri teachers to be tested every five years.

Dec. 19- Roy Leon Willis, who killed a Lamar woman, had been freed over the prosecuting attorney's objections after he violated a protection order.

Dec. 19- Rep. Ed Emery, a former supporter of Fred Thompson's presidential candidacy, jumped ship and opted for former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee.

Dec. 14- Another co-defendant of Rep. John Bowman, D-St. Louis, pleaded guilty in a bank and credit card fraud case.

Dec. 14- A pre-sentencing investigation was ordered for a former Department of Social Services worker who pleaded guilty of identity theft and fraud charges.

Dec. 12- A February trial date is set for the bank and credit card fraud case of Rep. John Bowman, D-St. Louis.

Dec. 12- A political action committee was formed by Rep. Bryan Stevenson, R-Webb City.

Dec. 11- I issued an appeal to the authors of the sealed letters sent to the judge in the Nathan Cooper trial, asking them to share their letters with The Turner Report. As you might expect, I have not received any responses.

Dec. 11- Sen. Delbert Scott, R-Lowry City, will head former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee's Missouri campaign team.

Dec. 6- The judge in the Nathan Cooper case was bombarded with letters asking for leniency for the disgraced former representative.

Dec. 5- Rep. Marilyn Ruestman announces support for former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani for president.

Dec. 3- GateHouse Media completed the purchase of the Pittsburg Morning Sun and more than a dozen other newspapers.

Dec. 3- Rep. Charles Portwood, R-St. Louis County, continues to pile up gifts from lobbyists.

Dec. 2- Some of the Joplin-area legislators have dramatically increased the amount of gifts they have received from lobbyists from 2006 to 2007.

Dec. 1- Rep. Ron Richard, R-Joplin, and Rep. Steve Hunter, R-Joplin, accepted football tickets from MU lobbyists.