At some point, we are going to know the contents of the 10 pages that were omitted from the publicly released version of Osage Beach lawyer Tom Loraine's investigation that led to the firing of City Manager Mark Rohr.
I have no doubt about that.
The Joplin Globe has been at the front of the effort to get the complete document, going as far as filing a lawsuit.
The Globe does a lot of that, posturing and bellowing about the public's right to know. In this case, I agree. The public has every right to know why Mark Rohr was fired.
It is the motivation of the Globe I suspect. When you consider that Rohr and Globe Editor Carol Stark are good friends and that Rohr has been a source for many Globe stories, sometimes on the record, sometimes not, that brings into doubt the purity of the area newspaper of record.
After all, this is the same newspaper that stopped reporter Greg Grisolano from filing Sunshine Law requests about problems at Missouri Southern State University during the Bruce Speck era. It was Globe Publisher Michael Beatty who advised Speck on how to manage the media and encouraged him to meet with Mrs. Stark to come up with ideas for "positive" stories, ones that could improve Speck's image in the community.
That information came from a Sunshine Law request made by Missouri Southern's newspaper, The Chart,
Documents are extremely useful when it comes to reporting. It is the Globe's selective use of them that has brought the newspaper's motives into question.
Consider the city's master developer Wallace-Bajjali. The documentation on this company is extensive. The Turner Report has provided details of three bankruptcies involving Wallace-Bajjali subsidiaries, an SEC investigation which ended with partners David Wallace and Costa Bajjali having to repay $1.2 million to investors and pay $60,000 fines, a lawsuit in which investors refeer to Wallace-Bajjali's project as a Ponzi scheme, and a bankruptcy court lawsuit in which a former partner claims David Wallace cheated him out of nearly a quarter of a million dollars.
All of this information is in public documents. None of it has been written about in the Joplin Globe. The only mention the newspaper has made about Wallace-Bajjali's difficulties has been an assurance by Mark Rohr that he looked into it and it didn't amount to anything.
The information the Turner Report found, combined with Tom Loraine's recommendation that the city drop Wallace-Bajjali should have been a potent combination.
Since the Globe's decision makers are aligned with those who are wanting bigger and better for Joplin, no matter what the cost, it is still full speed ahead for Wallace-Bajjali.
Even more pernicious has been the Globe's coverage of the Joplin R-8 School District. The Globe played tough on about two stories concerning the school district over the past several years. One was the infamous trip to Germany by former Assistant Superintendent Angie Besendorfer. The other was the story about C. J. Huff's thank-you trips all over the country. Even those were powderpuff stories in which the reporter was clearly played by Huff, perhaps with the help of the Globe editor.
Meanwhile, the Turner Report has documented one problem after another with the school district, some involving clear financial mismanagement, some regarding ethical violations, others making it clear that the public is being deceived on many matters.
The Globe has ignored nearly all of those. The only times I can recall the Globe jumping on stories that first appeared in the Turner Report are the DWI arrest of R-8 Board Member Phil Willcoxon and the lawsuit filed by former Royal Heights Principal Larry Masters against Besendorfer.
Those stories would not have been touched had they not been picked up by the local television stations. Carol Stark has played along with C. J. Huff's claim that even documents cannot be believed because everything is coming from a disgruntled former employee (me). Let's face it. The Globe has not been the only media outlet that has played at that game.
I have heard that Huff talks about my anonymous sources (the Globe, as Mrs. Stark piously pointed out in a recent column, does not use anonymous sources, even though it has been clear that it does, it just never refers to them as anonymous sources, it just prints information that miraculously sounds like it came from a city manager, or a superintendent, or God help us, a master developer) . Yet anyone who has read the Turner Report for the past several months has noticed that most of my stories, just like the ones on Wallace-Bajjali, have been based on documents- documents that, for the most part, have been easily available to the Globe.
Consider the following:
-German Furniture- Though the Globe initially wrote about the Germany trip that was paid for by a company that wanted to sell furniture for the new school buildings, it never followed up when that company received a large contract to supply the furniture.That can be found in the R-8 Board of Education minutes.
-Race to the Top- The R-8 School District's application for the federal Race to the Top grant, outlines $10 million worth of spending plans with no connection to the classroom. Reasonable people can argue about the quality of that plan. What they can't argue about is how C. J. Huff and the Board of Education signed off a plan to ask voters for a tax levy increase, less than six months after voters approved the largest bond issue in district history. The levy increase would have been used to pay teachers for working before and after school. This has never been mentioned in the Globe.
-Dangerously Low Reserves- The Board of Education has continued to approve all kinds of spending and addition of one layer of administration after another at a time when district reserves are dangerously low, but then they already know that- the board members are the ones who approved a strategic plan for 2013-2017, which can be found on the district website, that says the reserves will dip to as a low as eight percent this year, but somehow will rebound to 25 percent next year. Nowhere in the strategic plan is there an answer for how this is going ot take place. The only suggestion for making money has been to sell naming rights to classrooms, gymnasiums and anything else they can slap a price on.
Lawsuits Against the School District- As I noted yesterday, there have been three lawsuits filed in which the director of the school's building projects and former director of Buildings, Grounds and Transportation Mike Johnson has been accused of racial discrimination, sexual harassment, violating numerous safety regulations, and offering crude sexual remarks about a principal. That is three lawsuits in three years and the district has had to settle two of them, one for $276,000. One lawsuit is ongoing.
Efforts to Keep Closed Door Dealings From Public- When the Joplin City Council wants to keep something behind closed doors, the Joplin Globe writes editorial and goes to court. When the Joplin R-8 School Board does it, the Globe ignores it. As the Turner Report noted earlier today, the board's attorney asked for a protective order preventing board member Jim Kimbrough from talking about what had happened in closed session. This intervention, which took place without a board meeting to authorize it, occurred in a case where fired Royal Heights Principal Larry Masters claims Besendorfer lied to convince the board to withdraw its contract offer and fire him. Judge David Dally approved the protective order....and the district is not a defendant in this case. It is all in the court file, a public document.
Pornographic Photos of Joplin High School Girls- One year ago, the Globe and other local media outlets ran quotes from C. J. Huff claiming that technology department employee Ronny Justin Myers worked in the administration building and had no contact with students. That was the story as far as we knew it at that point, but a sentencing memorandum placed in Myers' court file by the U. S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri made it clear that Myers said he had pornographic photos of 10 Joplin High School girls, and four of them had been verified...in February at the same time that Huff was telling the media that Myers had no contact with students. Huff never mentioned that one of Myers' responsibilities was overseeing the laptops given to every high school student. This was never mentioned by the Globe until the U. S. Attorney issued a news release following Myers' sentencing. Even then, the Globe simply ran that part of the news release verbatim. The news release made it clear that Myers was able to spy on the kids through their computers even when they are at home. The Globe never asked, can someone still do that (the answer is yes). The Globe never asked Huff why he had misled the public with his statement. Were parents ever warned about this. (No.) Does the contract parents sign with the students leave the door open for further spying (the answer is yes).
More than 200 Teachers Have Left in Last Two Years- This can be proven simply by going through Department of Elementary and Secondary Education documents. C. J. Huff has said, depending on his mood apparently, that many of them left because their spouses found jobs in other communities, they were traumatized by the tornado, or they were not able to deal with the high expectations he has. The fact that the Globe has not pushed him on those answers gives a clear idea of how much the newspaper is devoted to finding the truth. I don't know of any former teachers who have been asked. Of course, they probably are not going to talk to the Globe since Carol Stark made it clear how she felt about anonymity.
The Original East Middle School Did Not Need to be Torn Down- On the district website, the claim that was featured on the Turner Report that the original East did not have to be torn down because it only suffered "minor damage" during the tornado is attacked as whoever wrote the item notes that FEMA agreed that the building should be condemned. Partially, that is accurate, FEMA did condemn the building after much prodding from Joplin R-8 Administration, but I am not the one who said East suffered only minor damage. That information came from a report issued by scientists from the federal National Institute of Standards and Technology. Yes, by using FEMA funds and bond issue money we were able to come up with the palace that was built on the old East Middle School site. The insurance money, however, would have paid to replace East, a two-year-old, state-of-the-art building the way it was and the students would have been back in a regular school building (the classroom areas, as the report noted, suffered only minor damage) by August. Instead the staff and some of the students spent two and a half years in a warehouse on the outskirts of the district. And as I noted in my post, Besendorfer told principals at a meeting the building was eventually condemned because they couldn't find bricks that could match.
That is just a partial list of the stories that come from public documents. Someone should tell the Joplin Globe about these documents- they can use them without even having to file a lawsuit.
Friday, February 28, 2014
Joplin Emergency Management offers weather breakdown for this weekend
(From Joplin Emergency Management)
To all Area Weather Interests:
Here’s the latest on the upcoming weekend’s weather for our area:
Saturday Night into Monday
1. Sleet and Freezing Rain, starting around midnight Saturday – 1/10th to 2/10th inch accumulation overnight.
2. Changing to Sleet during the morning Sunday, mainly sunrise to noon – 1 to 2 inches accumulation.
3. Changing to Snow Sunday evening, ending late Sunday evening – 1 to 3 inches accumulation.
4. Bitterly cold with low wind chills Monday and Tuesday.
As always, stay tuned to your fav weather source(s) for more information as this storm develops.
To all Area Weather Interests:
Here’s the latest on the upcoming weekend’s weather for our area:
Saturday Night into Monday
1. Sleet and Freezing Rain, starting around midnight Saturday – 1/10th to 2/10th inch accumulation overnight.
2. Changing to Sleet during the morning Sunday, mainly sunrise to noon – 1 to 2 inches accumulation.
3. Changing to Snow Sunday evening, ending late Sunday evening – 1 to 3 inches accumulation.
4. Bitterly cold with low wind chills Monday and Tuesday.
As always, stay tuned to your fav weather source(s) for more information as this storm develops.
NODOT issues travel advisory for Saturday-Monday
(From MODOT)
| MoDOT/Southwest Winter Travel Advisory: |
| Saturday through Monday, March 1-3 |
Freezing rain, sleet and snow expected to impact southwest Missouri beginning Saturday afternoon, March 1. The winter storm will impact travel through Monday morning rush hour. Drivers urged to use caution and be prepared for slick roads and downed trees and power lines across roadways.
Weather Forecast: Freezing rain, sleet and snow are expected to begin falling throughout southwest Missouri sometime late Saturday afternoon/evening and continue through early Monday morning. Two to six inches of sleet and snow are expected with up to a tenth of an inch of ice. Temperatures are expected to be in the teens and single digits during overnight hours and lower 20s during the day. Also, wind gusts of up to 30 mph are expected through the period.
Road Clearing: MoDOT crews will be on the road ahead of the storm Saturday afternoon. Crews will treat roads with a mixture of salt and abrasives to help with traction. Crews will remain on the road ‘round the clock treating and clearing as necessary until major routes are in clear condition.
Hills, curves and intersections on lesser-traveled roads will be treated with a mixture of salt and abrasives and will be plowed, if necessary. However, lesser-traveled roads will not be in clear condition.
MoDOT crews will NOT be able to remove downed power lines which may fall across roads. Local power companies will be notified about the downed power lines and some roads will remain blocked until electric crews can clear away the downed lines.
If trees are down across roads and there are no downed power lines with them, MoDOT crews will do their best to open up the road to traffic. They will clear away debris from driving lanes. The debris will be pushed to shoulders and crews will come back when conditions improve to remove the debris.
Travel Conditions: Road conditions will not improve drastically until the storm moves out of the area. Crews will do their best to keep major roads in passable condition during the storm. However, lesser-traveled roads will remain mostly covered.
Crews will do their best to keep roads free of downed trees. However, roads covered by downed power lines will remain blocked until electric companies can respond. Roads with downed power lines will be closed until the lines can be removed.
Drivers can regularly check MoDOT's Traveler Information Map for updated road conditions and roads blocked by downed trees and power lines.
Monday morning rush hour will be especially challenging, depending on temperatures and when the storm system moves out of the area.
Drivers are urged to take it slow and allow plenty of extra travel time to reach their destinations, if travel is a necessity. However, drivers are urged to stay off roads until conditions improve.
Traveler Information Map: To find the most up-to-date road conditions in southwest Missouri and statewide, check MoDOT's Traveler Information Map. MoDOT also has a Traveler Information Map mobile app for smart phones.
Winter Weather Driving Tips:
|
Joplin man to stand trial for shooting death of Granby woman
Daniels was initially cited for second degree assault and armed criminal action after the shooting, which took place at a home on County Road 10 in the eastern part of Jasper County. The charges were upgraded after Ms. Crawford’s death.
Daniels next hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. March 31.
In the meantime, Daniels has a March 11 arraignment scheduled in Jasper County Circuit Court on a misdemeanor charge of driving while intoxicated.
Jasper Board of Education passes resolution expressing Common Core concerns
A second southwest Missouri school district has joined the fight against the way Common Core Standards are being implemented.
At its meeting Thursday night, the Jasper R-5 Board of Education passed a resolution substantially the same as the one passed a few months ago by the East Newton R-6 Board of Education.
East Newton was the first school district in Missouri to express concerns about Common Core.
The board issued the following news release:
The Jasper School Board passed a resolution at its February 27, 2014 meeting requesting that Missouri’s elected officials re-evaluate adoption of the statewide Common Core State Standards (CCSS).
The resolution states that: “Our concerns are similar to the resolution from the East Newton R6 Board of Education… We wish to add our voice of concern to theirs.”
The resolution asks the Missouri legislature to discontinue funding programs in association with the CCSS Initiative/Missouri’s Core — and any other alliances that promote standards and assessments aligned to them.
Many of the questions surrounding the concerns address local control, proposed data collected on individual students and federal education oversight for local schools. This is the second such resolution in the state.
At its meeting Thursday night, the Jasper R-5 Board of Education passed a resolution substantially the same as the one passed a few months ago by the East Newton R-6 Board of Education.
East Newton was the first school district in Missouri to express concerns about Common Core.
The board issued the following news release:
The Jasper School Board passed a resolution at its February 27, 2014 meeting requesting that Missouri’s elected officials re-evaluate adoption of the statewide Common Core State Standards (CCSS).
The resolution states that: “Our concerns are similar to the resolution from the East Newton R6 Board of Education… We wish to add our voice of concern to theirs.”
The resolution asks the Missouri legislature to discontinue funding programs in association with the CCSS Initiative/Missouri’s Core — and any other alliances that promote standards and assessments aligned to them.
Many of the questions surrounding the concerns address local control, proposed data collected on individual students and federal education oversight for local schools. This is the second such resolution in the state.
R-8 lawyer: If Besendorfer lied in closed session, the public has no right to know
Former Royal Heights Principal Larry Masters says recently departed Assistant Superintendent Angie Besendorfer's lies cost him his job, even after he had already been offered a contract the following school year.
Masters sued Besendorfer and a deposition had been scheduled with board member Jim Kimbrough.
Thanks to a ruling issued February 14 by Judge David Dally any questions about closed sessions were off limits.
Dally was responding to a letter issued by R-8 Board Attorney John Nicholas, who asked for an emergency response.
John Nicholas, attorney for Joplin School Board and on behalf of the Joplin School Board, requests that he be allowed to participate in the depositions in this matter on behalf of the Joplin School Board and enjoin questioning or disclosure by either party or witnesses of information related to closed session discussions.
Plaintiff's petition alleges allegations including assertions of certain facts and statements that may have been made during closed meetings of the Joplin School Board. As a result, any deposition testimony that may illicit (sic) responses as they relate to discussions or information held in closed meetings of the Joplin School Board or on behalf of the board should be closed to the public.
It is not clear when or if the board authorized Nicholas' intervention (or if the board even knew about it). The law firm representing Besendorfer is the same one that is representing the district and Buildings Project Manager Mike Johnson in an ongoing lawsuit filed by former Custodial Supervisor George Morris. No board meetings were held between February 5 when the deposition notices were issued and February 12 when Nicholas wrote his letter to Judge Dally. But someone authorized Nicholas to step in and protect the interests of the C. J. Huff/Angie Besendorfer Administration.
The Nicholas approach was also followed by Besendorfer's attorney, Karl Blanchard, in her answers to Masters' interrogatories. She refused to answer two of the questions and Blanchard filed objections to those questions.
If you were present at the above meeting, did you make any statements to the Joplin Schools Board of Education concerning Plaintiff Masters? If so, what statement or statements did you make?
The following answer was given:
Defendant objects to interrogatory for the reason that it seeks information relating to a closed meeting which means any discussions were confidential.
The second question to which Besendorfer objected:
If you were present at the closed meeting, did anybody else make any statements to the Joplin Schools Board of Education at that meeting concerning Plaintiff Masters? If yes, identify the person and identify what statement or statements said person made concerning Plaintiff Masters.
Besendorfer's attorney provided the following answer:
Defendant objects to interrogatory for the reason that it seeks privileged and confidential information in that the meeting described above was a closed meeting.
Masters' attorney, Raymond Lampert, Springfield, has asked the Missouri Court of Appeals for a writ of prohibition against Judge Dally, which would allow testimony to be given on events that occurred during closed session.
The background on Masters' lawsuit against Besendorfer was featured in the January 13 Turner Report:
Masters is one of many Joplin R-8 principals who have lost their jobs since the C. J. Huff-Angie Besendorfer regime took over the Joplin Schools. While the two top officials have stayed the same (until Ms. Besendorfer's resignation to become Western Governors University chancellor takes effect at the end of this month) and six of the seven Board of Education members have remained the same since C. J. Huff became superintendent in 2008 and allowed Ms. Besendorfer to handle the principals and teachers, only three principals remain and as noted earlier on the Turner Report, hundreds of teachers have either left or been shown the door, including more than 200 in the past two years.
According to the lawsuit, Masters, who had been Royal Heights principal since 2004, had already been offered a contract for the 2010-2011 school year when Ms. Besendorfer stepped in.
"Defendant intentionally interfered in Plaintiff's expectancy by making false representations about Plaintiff to the Joplin Schools Board of Education. Said representations included, but were not limited to, accusations that Plaintiff had violated the regulations governing administration of the MAP test."
Because of those "misrepresentations," the petition says, "The Board of Education voted on or about April 15, 2010, to rescind its motion to offer the contract of employment to the plaintiff."
The lawsuit lists no defendant other than Ms. Besendorfer. "There was no justification for (her) actions," the petition says.
"As a result of Defendant's actions, Plaintiff has suffered damages, including lost wages, mental and emotional distress."
Besendorfer's actions are referred to as "willful, wanton, and made with the knowledge that they would cause damage to Plaintiff."
Masters' attorney, Raymond Lampert of Springfield, is asking that Masters receive "lost wages, mental and emotional damage, punitive damages, the costs of this action, and to grant such other and further relief as the Court deems just and proper."
Winter storm watch issued for Joplin area, significant freezing rain, sleet possible
(From the National Weather Service)
POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT WINTER STORM TO IMPACT THE REGION THIS WEEKEND... .A STRONG STORM SYSTEM WILL BRING WINTRY WEATHER TO THE REGION FROM SATURDAY EVENING INTO SUNDAY NIGHT. ACCUMULATIONS OF SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN MAY BE SIGNIFICANT WITH SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ON TOP OF THE ICE. THE ENTIRE AREA IS EXPECTED TO SEE A MIX OF FREEZING RAIN...SLEET...AND SNOW AT SOME POINT. AT THIS TIME...THE HIGHEST ICE ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS FAR SOUTHERN MISSOURI...GENERALLY SOUTH OF U.S. 60...WITH THE HIGHEST SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ALONG AND NORTH OF HIGHWAY 54. THE HIGHEST SLEET ACCUMULATIONS WILL OCCUR GENERALLY ALONG AND JUST NORTH OF THE INTERSTATE 44 CORRIDOR. UNCERTAINTY REMAINS ON THE EXACT TRACK OF THIS SYSTEM AND THE CORRESPONDING PRECIPITATION TYPE AND ACCUMULATIONS. BITTERLY COLD TEMPERATURES WILL IMPACT THE REGION EARLY NEXT WEEK. TEMPERATURES WILL BE 20 TO 30 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL WITH HIGHS IN THE TEENS AND 20S...AND LOWS IN THE SINGLE DIGITS. WIND CHILLS AROUND 10 BELOW WILL BE POSSIBLE BOTH SUNDAY AND MONDAY NIGHTS. INTERESTS ACROSS SOUTHEASTERN KANSAS AND THE MISSOURI OZARKS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REMAIN WEATHER AWARE THROUGH THE WEEKEND...AND CHECK BACK OFTEN FOR THE LATEST FORECAST INFORMATION. KSZ073-097-101-MOZ055>058-066>071-077>083-088>098-101>106-010000- /O.CON.KSGF.WS.A.0003.140302T0000Z-140303T1200Z/ BOURBON-CRAWFORD-CHEROKEE-BENTON-MORGAN-MILLER-MARIES-VERNON- ST. CLAIR-HICKORY-CAMDEN-PULASKI-PHELPS-BARTON-CEDAR-POLK-DALLAS- LACLEDE-TEXAS-DENT-JASPER-DADE-GREENE-WEBSTER-WRIGHT-NEWTON- LAWRENCE-CHRISTIAN-DOUGLAS-HOWELL-SHANNON-MCDONALD-BARRY-STONE- TANEY-OZARK-OREGON- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...FORT SCOTT...PITTSBURG... BAXTER SPRINGS...COLUMBUS...WARSAW...COLE CAMP...VERSAILLES... ELDON...LAKE OZARK...VIENNA...NEVADA...APPLETON CITY...OSCEOLA... HERMITAGE...OSAGE BEACH...CAMDENTON...FORT LEONARD WOOD... WAYNESVILLE...ROLLA...LAMAR...EL DORADO SPRINGS...STOCKTON... BOLIVAR...BUFFALO...LEBANON...HOUSTON...CABOOL...SALEM...JOPLIN... CARTHAGE...GREENFIELD...SPRINGFIELD...MARSHFIELD...ROGERSVILLE... MOUNTAIN GROVE...MANSFIELD...NEOSHO...AURORA...MOUNT VERNON... NIXA...OZARK...AVA...WEST PLAINS...WINONA...EMINENCE...ANDERSON... PINEVILLE...MONETT...CASSVILLE...KIMBERLING CITY...GALENA... BRANSON...FORSYTH...GAINESVILLE...THEODOSIA...THAYER...ALTON 319 AM CST FRI FEB 28 2014 ...WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY EVENING THROUGH LATE SUNDAY NIGHT... A WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY EVENING THROUGH LATE SUNDAY NIGHT. * TIMING AND AREAS AFFECTED...EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN KANSAS AND THE MISSOURI OZARKS SATURDAY EVENING THROUGH LATE SUNDAY NIGHT. * SNOW AND SLEET ACCUMULATIONS...SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF MORE THAN SIX INCHES WILL BE POSSIBLE ALONG AND NORTH OF U.S. 54...WITH SNOW FALLING SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT. SNOW AMOUNTS WILL THEN DECREASE FURTHER SOUTH TOWARD I-44...WHERE A FEW INCHES OF ACCUMULATING SNOW IS EXPECTED...MAINLY SUNDAY NIGHT. SLEET ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE HEAVIEST ALONG AND JUST NORTH OF THE I-44 CORRIDOR...WHERE PRELIMINARY INDICATIONS ARE FOR ONE TO TWO INCHES OF SLEET TO FALL SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY. * ICE ACCUMULATIONS...FREEZING RAIN WITH SOME ICE ACCUMULATION IS EXPECTED ACROSS THE ENTIRE AREA STARTING SATURDAY NIGHT. POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT ICE ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS FAR SOUTHERN MISSOURI GENERALLY SOUTH OF U.S. 60. * WINDS AND VISIBILITY...NORTHEASTERLY WINDS COULD GUST BETWEEN 20 AND 30 MPH AT TIMES. SOME BLOWING SNOW WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS CENTRAL MISSOURI SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY...AND ACROSS THE ENTIRE REGION SUNDAY NIGHT. * IMPACTS...SNOW AND ICE COVERED ROADS WILL RESULT IN DANGEROUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS. FREEZING RAIN WILL ACCUMULATE ON TREES AND POWER LINES WITH SOME POWER OUTAGES POSSIBLE MAINLY ACROSS FAR SOUTHERN MISSOURI. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT SNOW...SLEET...OR ICE ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL. CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS.
Thursday, February 27, 2014
McCaskill: Farm Bill provides strong safety net for farmers
For more than two years, Missouri's farmers and ranchers have gone to work each day with lingering uncertainty about our government's agriculture policy.
The recent passage of a comprehensive, bipartisan Farm Bill has finally helped ease that uncertainty.
The compromise agreement is a win for the backbone of Missouri's economy, and one I've tirelessly fought for since before the last Farm Bill expired. It brings much-needed resources to our farm families, boosts jobs and businesses, protects low-income families, and will be a boon to our rural communities - all while cutting billions of dollars in spending.
The bill retains a strong safety net for farmers and ranchers, without unfairly padding the bottom line. It saves millions of dollars in food stamp payments, without installing cruel and unrealistic requirements. And it provides retroactive compensation for losses over the past two years.
This Farm Bill traveled a long road before passing. For the past two years, the U.S. Senate passed a renewal of the Farm Bill with wide bipartisan majorities. The U.S. House - repeatedly unable to pass a comprehensive bill - ultimately split its Farm Bill into two separate pieces and passed them each on party-line votes. After months of negotiations, the House and Senate merged the two bills into a compromise package, which passed the Senate with bipartisan support.
Everyone can find something in this bill to dislike. I certainly did. But often that's the mark of a good compromise, and I hope this is the beginning of a new trend in Congress - and a template for compromise to break the gridlock that has prevented this Congress from the doing work the American people expect of it.
I will continue to work tirelessly for our rural communities and for all Missouri families.
Mike Kelley: I watched the execution of Michael Taylor
This week I was selected to serve as a state witness for the execution of inmate Michael Taylor. While I have always been a proponent of the death penalty nothing could have prepared me for what the night would bring.
It was not what I am sure you are thinking. The night, while very long was one that was peaceful, so peaceful that I actually felt it could have been said to be another punishment on the victim’s family.
Unlike events you might picture in your mind or have witnessed in movies, Missouri uses lethal injection and in this case the drug phenobarbital. The inmate is on a medical gurney (looks like a bed) in a room. You have the state witnesses in one room with curtains, the inmate’s family in another room with curtains and finally the family of the victim in a third room with curtains.
The curtains are opened and you see the inmate laying peacefully on what looks like a bed and is covered up to his head with several white sheets. What you don’t see is the victim is strapped to the bed and held firmly in place. Then at 12:01am the curtain is pulled closed and while none of the witnesses can see the inmate, he receives the injection of phenobarbital. Then the staff leaves the room and the curtains are pulled back and what those witnessing see is just a man lying peacefully on the bed.
In this case he took two big breaths while looking over at his family and then appeared to fall asleep. We then watched for several minutes and then they pulled the curtains again. During this time just like when giving the injection none of the witnesses were viewing these actions. The medical staff had reentered the room behind the closed curtains and checked for vitals. Once confirmed that no vital signs were present time of death, this was noted to the state witnesses. Then the curtains were closed and we went back out to the original waiting room that we had started the night in and signed a certificate to be delivered to the Missouri Supreme Court that the execution had been completed.
Now what I felt and what others stated that evening seem to match up. Why does the inmate’s family get to be present? Does this not cause more pain and suffering to the victim’s family? By not actually witnessing the medical portions of the execution does it take away from the closure for the victim’s family? These and other questions were brought up among the state witnesses.
Now what I felt and what others stated that evening seem to match up. Why does the inmate’s family get to be present? Does this not cause more pain and suffering to the victim’s family? By not actually witnessing the medical portions of the execution does it take away from the closure for the victim’s family? These and other questions were brought up among the state witnesses.
The facts in the case make it even harder to take. Michael Taylor was in prison eating three meals a day, watching TV and having access to gym equipment and other activities for almost 10 years longer than his young victim Ann Harrison was alive on this earth!
Michael Taylor and his accomplice kidnapped, raped and the stabbed to death with kitchen knives 15 year old Ann Harrison as she pleaded for her life and tossed her in the trunk of a car while still alive. It was later determined by medical professionals that it most likely took Ms. Harrison upwards of 30 minutes to bleed out and die of her wounds. Now knowing this information it makes me question the amount of time after appeals it took to carry out this execution and the reasons that have brought this length of time about.
In response to this and a letter I have received on another “death row” case I have introduced one piece of legislation dealing with the Death Penalty already and I am working on a second piece to follow up.
The first bill, HB 1855, http://www.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills141/biltxt/intro/HB1855I.HTM, will force the hand of the Missouri Supreme Court. Currently by Missouri law once all appeals have been exhausted by a person on “death row” (Missouri no longer has a death row as the inmates are in general population) the Missouri Attorney General issues a writ of execution requesting the Missouri Supreme Court to set a date for execution and issue an execution warrant.
In response to this and a letter I have received on another “death row” case I have introduced one piece of legislation dealing with the Death Penalty already and I am working on a second piece to follow up.
The first bill, HB 1855, http://www.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills141/biltxt/intro/HB1855I.HTM, will force the hand of the Missouri Supreme Court. Currently by Missouri law once all appeals have been exhausted by a person on “death row” (Missouri no longer has a death row as the inmates are in general population) the Missouri Attorney General issues a writ of execution requesting the Missouri Supreme Court to set a date for execution and issue an execution warrant.
Currently there is no time frame on how quickly this must be done. Currently requests have been filed from the Attorney General’s office for execution dates for fifteen inmates. Below is a list of inmates and the date it was requested. Currently only one inmate on the list has a date set and that is Jeffrey Ferguson on March 26th, 2014. As you can see this system is greatly flawed and in some cases we have been waiting over six years for an execution date to be set for a person that is guilty of the most heinous of crimes and has exhausted all appeals.
Jeffrey Ferguson 4/14/06, and again on 6/8/07, John Middleton 6/8/07, William Rousan 6/8/07, John Winfield 6/8/07, Russell Bucklew 6/8/07, Earl Ringo 4/17/08, Mark Christeson 4/17/08, Cecil Clayton 5/17/12, David Barnett 5/17/12, Leon Taylor 5/17/12, Walter Storey 5/17/12, Andre Cole 5/17/12, Michael Worthington 5/17/12, Paul Goodwin 5/17/12 and David Zink 5/17/12.
The legislation that I have filed will require the Supreme Court to review a request from the Attorney General within thirty days and set and have carried out the requested execution within sixty days.
The second piece of legislation that I am currently still working on and hope to file next week will both increase the methods of execution legally allowed to be used in Missouri and put in protections against future suits concerning the potential for pain or suffering during an execution.
Jeffrey Ferguson 4/14/06, and again on 6/8/07, John Middleton 6/8/07, William Rousan 6/8/07, John Winfield 6/8/07, Russell Bucklew 6/8/07, Earl Ringo 4/17/08, Mark Christeson 4/17/08, Cecil Clayton 5/17/12, David Barnett 5/17/12, Leon Taylor 5/17/12, Walter Storey 5/17/12, Andre Cole 5/17/12, Michael Worthington 5/17/12, Paul Goodwin 5/17/12 and David Zink 5/17/12.
The legislation that I have filed will require the Supreme Court to review a request from the Attorney General within thirty days and set and have carried out the requested execution within sixty days.
The second piece of legislation that I am currently still working on and hope to file next week will both increase the methods of execution legally allowed to be used in Missouri and put in protections against future suits concerning the potential for pain or suffering during an execution.
Stating simply that under Missouri Law when the crime of Capital Murder is committed and the punishment of execution is the verdict set forth, that the state understands that a certain amount of limited pain may transpire during the execution process and that due to the nature of the crime committed this is neither cruel or unusual and is deemed appropriate for the crime committed.
MODOT issues travel advisory for Friday morning
(From MODOT)
| MoDOT/Southwest Winter Travel Advisory: |
| Friday Morning, February 28 |
Possibility of sleet, freezing rain and snow during early morning hours on Friday, February 28. Light accumulations expected, but roadways could be slick in areas.
Weather Forecast: Rain mixed with snow, freezing rain and sleet are all possible starting early Friday morning. Minor accumulations are expected.
Road Clearing: MoDOT crews will be in ahead of the storm early Friday morning. They will monitor road conditions and will plow and treat roads as needed.
Travel Conditions: Roads could be slick in areas. Drivers are urged to use caution, slow down and allow extra travel time.
Traveler Information Map: To find the most up-to-date road conditions in southwest Missouri and statewide, check MoDOT's Traveler Information Map. MoDOT also has a Traveler Information Map mobile app for smart phones.
All road work planned for Friday, February 28, has been cancelled.
|
Court documents: R-8 official made gay slurs, said he wanted to bend principal over her desk
Joplin R-8 Superintendent C. J. Huff is nothing if not a man of action.
When his custodial supervisor told him that he was being sexually harassed by Building, Grounds, and Transportation Director Mike Johnson, Huff said he was deeply concerned."Has he said anything about the principals?" Huff asked.
George Morris was concerned. This meeting, which took place September 9, 2008, was not Morris' idea. He felt uncomfortable talking about his immediate supervisor.
After a pause, Morris said, "Yes. "I heard Mike Johnson say that he would like to bend Marilyn Alley (former Stapleton Elementary principal) over his desk" That was one of many times Johnson had talked about Mrs. Alley, he added.
Kansas City submits bid for 2016 Republican National Convention
(From the Missouri Republican Party)
Every four years, there are three distinct moments that define a presidential election. In between a candidate’s announcement and Election Day in November, the world watches as a four-day celebration unfolds that highlights the strength, vision, and unity of the Republican Party.
2016 is quickly approaching. Kansas City is ready to welcome back the Republican National Convention.
We have a long political history that this generation of Kansas Citians wants to continue. From Convention Hall in ’28 to Kemper Arena in ’76, we’ve prided ourselves on being the best that America has to offer and the epitome of Midwestern hospitality. As Ronald Reagan remarked from the stage of Kemper: “These wonderful people here, when we came in, gave Nancy and myself a welcome.” When he returned eight years later for the 1984 Presidential Debate, President Reagan made a point of specifically thanking the people of Kansas City for “their warm hospitality and greeting.”
Today, that spirit of welcome and openness lives on among the citizens of Kansas City. It lives on in our political and civic leadership, who have tirelessly committed themselves to the selection process. It lives on in our City’s infrastructure, offering a comprehensive plan for transportation, hotels, and security. And, it lives on in our vision for the 2016 Republican National Convention. Simply put, to make it the best ever.
On behalf of the region’s 2.3 million citizens, we look forward to hosting the Convention in 2016.
Billy Long: My bill holds federal agencies accountable for their spending
Today (Wednesday) the U.S. House unanimously passed U.S. Rep. Billy Long’sTaxpayer Transparency Act (H.R. 3308) sending it to the Senate for consideration.
“I am pleased to see the House pass the Taxpayer Transparency Act in an effort to hold federal agencies accountable for their spending. My bill simply extends similar requirements already imposed on the House and Senate to the Executive Branch. I am hopeful the Senate will follow the House’s lead and pass this legislation in the name of good government and transparency,” Long said.
The Taxpayer Transparency Act requires Executive Branch agencies to disclose that advertisements are paid for at taxpayer expense.
By law, the U.S. House of Representatives is already required to include a disclosure statement on similar types of communication such as newsletters and franked mail, while the U.S. Senate is required to do the same by self-imposed rules.
U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt introduced companion legislation in the U.S. Senate.
Accumulations of sleet freezing rain possible for Joplin area Saturday night to Sunday night
(From the National Weather Service)
WINTRY PRECIPITATION EXPECTED FRIDAY...SIGNIFICANT WINTER STORM POSSIBLE FROM SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY NIGHT... TWO PERIODS OF WINTER WEATHER ARE EXPECTED TO IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN KANSAS AND THE MISSOURI OZARKS OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS. ON FRIDAY...A WINTRY MIX OF SNOW...SLEET...FREEZING RAIN AND RAIN WILL OVERSPREAD THE AREA STARTING DURING THE MORNING HOURS. TEMPERATURES WILL INITIALLY BE AT OR BELOW FREEZING...ALLOWING THE ACCUMULATION OF SNOW AND SLEET DURING THE MORNING HOURS. UP TO AN INCH OF SNOW AND SLEET...AND A GLAZE OF FREEZING RAIN WILL BE POSSIBLE BEFORE TEMPERATURES RISE ABOVE FREEZING DURING THE AFTERNOON. FOG...DRIZZLE...AND OCCASIONAL FREEZING DRIZZLE ARE THEN EXPECTED FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY. IF FREEZING DRIZZLE DEVELOPS...AN ADDITIONAL GLAZE OF ICE WILL BE POSSIBLE ON ELEVATED AND EXPOSED SURFACES. CONFIDENCE IS NOW BEGINNING TO INCREASE THAT A POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT WINTER STORM WILL THEN IMPACT THE REGION FROM SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY NIGHT. WHILE EXACT PRECIPITATION TYPE AND AMOUNTS FOR A GIVEN LOCATION ARE DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE AT THIS DISTANCE...THERE ARE INCREASING INDICATIONS THAT ACCUMULATIONS OF SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN MAY BE SIGNIFICANT IN NATURE. FOLLOWING THIS POSSIBLE WINTER STORM...BITTERLY COLD TEMPERATURES WILL THEN IMPACT THE REGION DURING THE EARLY PART OF NEXT WEEK. READINGS 20 TO 30 DEGREES BELOW AVERAGE ARE EXPECTED WITH HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE TEENS AND TWENTIES AND LOWS IN THE SINGLE DIGITS. INTERESTS ACROSS SOUTHEASTERN KANSAS AND THE MISSOURI OZARKS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REMAIN WEATHER AWARE THROUGH THE WEEKEND...AND CHECK BACK OFTEN FOR THE LATEST FORECAST INFORMATION.
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Petition launched to make child kidnapping/murder federal offense punishable by death
The petition, which is on the White House's "We the People" site, calls for the following:
Enact a Law which makes child abduction and murder a federal crime and instantly punishable by death penalty.
There are too many child abductions and murders every year in this country and I have had enough. We need to make it known that this will not be tolerated and even a first offense of child abduction followed by murder will be punishable by death. A clear message needs to be sent to child abducters, molesters, and murderers. I ask that this be a Federal Crime punishable by death.
One hundred thousand signatures are needed by March 21. At the time of this writing, the petition has 893 signatures.
Joplin Council candidate Miranda Lewis has nearly $10,000 in campaign account
Miranda Lewis, a candidate for a general seat on the Joplin City Council, had $9,975 in her campaign account at the close of the last reporting period, according to her disclosure report filed this week with the Missouri Ethics Commission.
Contributors are listed below:
Gary Pulsipher, Joplin, Mercy Hospital, $250
Sallie Beard, Joplin, retired, $500
W. C. Dandridge, Fayetteville, Mercy Hospital, $500
Virginia Laas, Joplin, retired, $200
The Doris Carlin Team, Joplin, $250
Sarah McConnell, Joplin, O'Shamrock LLC, $250
William Jackson, Joplin, Railroad Salvage and Restoration
James Boyle, Carl Junction, Freeman Health System, $1,000
Michael Wiggins, Webb City, Granny Shaffer's $500
Maryann Mitts, Joplin, Missouri Southern State University, $200
Roper Buick GMC, Joplin, $500
James Riscoe, Joplin, Mercy Hospital, $300
Tobias Teeter, Carl Junction, Medprex LLC, $150
Tom Franz, Webb City, T. J. Franz and Associates, $250
Henry Robertson, Joplin, retired, $1,000
Mitch Stinnett, Joplin, Mercy Hospital Foundation, $200
Cynthia Schwab, Joplin, retired, $250
Stephen Doerr, Joplin retired, $200
James Hoff, Joplin, Mercy Hospital, $200
Harold Cooper, Joplin, retired, $200
Robert Higgins, Joplin, retired, $500.
Mrs. Lewis reported receiving $2,300 from contributors giving $100 or less.
Contributors are listed below:
Gary Pulsipher, Joplin, Mercy Hospital, $250
Sallie Beard, Joplin, retired, $500
W. C. Dandridge, Fayetteville, Mercy Hospital, $500
Virginia Laas, Joplin, retired, $200
The Doris Carlin Team, Joplin, $250
Sarah McConnell, Joplin, O'Shamrock LLC, $250
William Jackson, Joplin, Railroad Salvage and Restoration
James Boyle, Carl Junction, Freeman Health System, $1,000
Michael Wiggins, Webb City, Granny Shaffer's $500
Maryann Mitts, Joplin, Missouri Southern State University, $200
Roper Buick GMC, Joplin, $500
James Riscoe, Joplin, Mercy Hospital, $300
Tobias Teeter, Carl Junction, Medprex LLC, $150
Tom Franz, Webb City, T. J. Franz and Associates, $250
Henry Robertson, Joplin, retired, $1,000
Mitch Stinnett, Joplin, Mercy Hospital Foundation, $200
Cynthia Schwab, Joplin, retired, $250
Stephen Doerr, Joplin retired, $200
James Hoff, Joplin, Mercy Hospital, $200
Harold Cooper, Joplin, retired, $200
Robert Higgins, Joplin, retired, $500.
Mrs. Lewis reported receiving $2,300 from contributors giving $100 or less.
Michelle Rhee organization puts $31,000 into group working to strip teachers of tenure
StudentsFirst, the misnamed organization led by the former head of the Washington D. C. School District Michelle Rhee, contributed $31,000 to another misnamed organization TeachGreat.org, according to a 48-hour report filed Monday with the Missouri Ethics Commission.
TeachGreat.org, which is another alleged grass roots organization formed by retired billionaire Rex Sinquefield, exists only to push an issue for Missouri voters in November which would strip classroom teachers of their tenure rights and require their evaluations to be heavily based on the results of their students' standardized tests.
Ms. Rhee, during her speeches and writings, has placed the blame for nearly everything that is wrong in American public schools on teachers and says that taking tenure away from teachers will improve schools.
TeachGreat.org, which is another alleged grass roots organization formed by retired billionaire Rex Sinquefield, exists only to push an issue for Missouri voters in November which would strip classroom teachers of their tenure rights and require their evaluations to be heavily based on the results of their students' standardized tests.
Ms. Rhee, during her speeches and writings, has placed the blame for nearly everything that is wrong in American public schools on teachers and says that taking tenure away from teachers will improve schools.
Accused killer of Golden City girl asks for change of venue
Thomas Jacquinot, a public defender who specializes in death penalty cases, filed a motion today asking for a change of venue due to the amount of publicity Bourne's case has received.
Bourne, 35, Lockwood, is charged with first degree murder, kidnapping, statutory rape, and armed criminal action in connection with the August 19 murder of 12-year-old Adriaunna Horton of Golden City.
Barton County Prosecuting Attorney Steven Kaderly has filed his intent to seek the death penalty.
April 23 preliminary hearing set for Craig Michael Wood
A 1:15 p.m. April 23 preliminary hearing has been scheduled in Greene County Circuit Court for Craig Michael Wood, 45, Springfield, charged with first degree murder, kidnapping, and armed criminal action in connection with the February 18 death of 10-year-old Hailey Owens.
The hearing will be heard before Judge Jason Brown, who replaced Judge Dan Imhof folowing a motion by Wood's attorney, public defender Christopher Shane Hatley.
The hearing will be heard before Judge Jason Brown, who replaced Judge Dan Imhof folowing a motion by Wood's attorney, public defender Christopher Shane Hatley.
Federal grand jury indicts five Joplin residents for disaster fraud
(From the U. S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri)
Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that five Joplin, Mo., area residents have been indicted by a federal grand jury, in separate cases, for fraudulently receiving (or applying for) federal disaster benefits following the tornado that struck the city of Joplin on May 22, 2011, killing 158 people and causing more than $2.9 billion in damage.
Dustin Joe Showalter, 36, Fred Lewis Pickett, Jr., 34, Brittany Aulden Barnes, 22, Gary L. Mitchell, Jr., 34, and Russell Lamar Green, 35, all currently or formerly of Joplin, were charged in a series of indictments returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mo., on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014.
The federal indictments charge each of the five defendants with disaster fraud for making false statements to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in applications for disaster benefits.
Showalter, Pickett and Barnes are each charged in separate indictments with two counts of disaster fraud. Mitchell and Green are each charged in separate indictments with one count of disaster fraud and one count of making false statements.
USA v. Showalter
According to the indictment, Showalter fraudulently received disaster benefits by claiming to have lived at a residence in Joplin at the time of the May 22, 2011, tornado, when in fact he did not live at that residence. The indictment also alleges that Showalter made false statements to FEMA that aided and abetted Pickett’s fraudulent claim for disaster benefits.
USA v. Pickett
According to the indictment, Pickett fraudulently received disaster benefits by claiming that he relocated from one primary residence to another primary residence in Joplin following the May 22, 2011, tornado, when in fact he did not move to the second residence. The indictment also alleges that Pickett fraudulently filed for disaster benefits by claiming to have purchased a 1993 Nissan Maxima sedan from Chick’s Towing, when in fact he did not purchase a 1993 Nissan Maxima sedan from Chick’s Towing.
USA v. Barnes
According to the indictment, Barnes fraudulently received disaster benefits by claiming to have lived at a residence in Joplin at the time of the May 22, 2011, tornado, when in fact she did not live at that residence. The indictment also alleges that Barnes fraudulently filed for disaster benefits by falsely claiming she lost personal property from that residence.
USA v. Mitchell
According to the indictment, Mitchell fraudulently applied for disaster benefits by claiming that he lived at a residence in Joplin at the time of the May 22, 2011, tornado, when in fact he did not live at that residence. The indictment also alleges that Mitchell made false statements to FEMA when he claimed to live at that address.
USA v. Green
According to the indictment, Green fraudulently applied for disaster benefits by claiming that he lived at a residence in Joplin at the time of the May 22, 2011, tornado, when in fact he did not live at that residence. The indictment also alleges that Green made false statements to FEMA when he claimed to have lost personal property from that residence.
Dickinson cautioned that the charges contained in these indictments are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven M. Mohlhenrich. They were investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Office of Inspector General, the FBI and the Joplin, Mo., Police Department.
Turner Report promise- No lawsuits, no Sunshine Law requests, why not give me the Mark Rohr report?
As you can hear on the accompanying video, the Joplin Globe and KSN are pushing for the release of the complete Tom Loraine investigation that led the Joplin City Council to fire City Manager Mark Rohr. The Globe is suing, KSN is filing a Sunshine Law request (I am sure KOAM is doing something, too.) The Turner Report is joining the game, but I am taking a different approach. No threats, no public posturing (and no chance of success), I want to encourage anyone who is filled with public spirit, has the information, and wants it to get out, send it to me. You can send it to my e-mail, send it to me by Facebook, or slip it under the windshield wipers of my car. If you want to send an e-mail with some of the highlights of the 10 missing pages, feel free to do so.
Springfield area educators like Common Core (at least on camera)
The educators who speak in favor of Common Core Standards in this video are administrators, not classroom teachers.
Wallingford bill allows businesses to refuse to serve anyone
As noted in the accompanying video, this is being seen as a bill targeting gays.
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
League City on Rohr's firing: That's just politics; he was already a candidate for our job.
As some have surmised since former Joplin City Manager Mark Rohr was announced as a finalist for the League City city manager post, the application was in the Texas city council's hands well before the Joplin City Council voted 5-4 to fire Rohr.
It all worked out for Rohr, who was hired by a unanimous vote today.
The tumult leading up to his firing didn’t phase the League City Council.
“That’s politics,” Councilman Todd Kinsey said. “He was already a candidate for our city prior to that happening.
“(It) wouldn’t surprise me if that council found out about it and that could’ve been the catalyst for his release.”
Kinsey said he believes Rohr is a perfect fit for League City.
“He has a wide breadth of knowledge in finance, economic development, infrastructure and utilities,” Kinsey said.
“Most importantly he is proven in building partnerships, which is of critical importance in this day and age.”
Kinsey also praised Rohr’s leadership to rebuild Joplin after the 2011 tornado, but still kept the city’s debt at a minimum.
“His track record of leadership and his vast municipal experience will compliment our city staff’s expertise and council’s vision for the city,” Mayor Tim Paulissen, said.
Rohr should feel comfortable in League City since the Galveston newspaper describes the town as having a "sometimes-dysfunctional council."
Rohr is expected to start the job within the next month.
Joplin Progress Committee gives $4,000 to Slumber Party Four
As noted earlier today, the Joplin Progress Committee has contributed $4,000 to the school board race, with the promise of more coming as we approach the April election.
Those who received the contributions were Board President Jeff Flowers, incumbent board member Randy Steele, Shawn McGrew, who has been closely associated with the Bright Futures program, and Lynda Banwart, who headed the committee that pushed successfully for the passage of the bond issue following the tornado.
Texas town gives roar of approval with approval of Rohr as city manager
Rohr was announced as one of the four finalists last week, made the first cut to two candidates, then was selected for the position.
The Joplin City Council voted earlier this month, by a 5-4 margin, to fire Rohr, who had been city manager for the past decade.
Tina Smith: This is how we're going to raise employee morale at Joplin R-8
At a time when it appears that the district may lose more than 100 teachers for the third year in a row, Mrs. Smith introduced the "Eagle of the Week" program.
One employee will be spotlighted each Monday on the district website, she said. "We knew we needed to do a better job of recognizing our staff on a regular basis."
The Eagle of the Week winner will receive dinner for four at a local restaurant and have his or her photo taken.
That should keep any more teachers from resigning.
Remembering Mary Alice Campbell
I particularly remember how kind Mrs. Campbell was to me during the times I worked at the Newton County News in 1977-78 and from 1980-82, and pasted up the paper at the Daily office.
Mrs. Campbell was the last of a legendary group of reporters who worked at the Daily in those years, including Harlan Stark and Bill Ball.
Even after her reporting and editing days were over, Mrs. Campbell remained a welcome part of the Daily, continuing to write a column.
The following obituary is from Clark Funeral Home.
Mary Alice Campbell, 91, of Springfield, MO, passed away Feb. 25, 2014.
She was born July 18, 1922 to John and Ida (Taylor) Senior and spent most of her childhood in Arkansas City, Kansas. After moving to Neosho, MO in 1937, she met and married the love of her life, Virgil, on Sept. 23, 1939. They celebrated their 70th Anniversary in 2009 with their family and Mary Alice was at his side when he passed away April 26, 2010.
She was the People and Living Editor of the Neosho Daily News, a job she truly loved. She served as president of Missouri Press Women and received over 40 state and national awards. She loved her ‘Daily News Family’ and continued writing a recipe and food column after her retirement in 1984. She often said, ‘Everyone has a story’, she loved hearing and writing their stories and never met a stranger.
She was involved in many civic, social, volunteer and church organization while in Neosho. She was a member of the First Christian Church in Neosho over 70 years and served as Elder Emeritus. In 2007, Mary Alice and Virgil moved to Springfield, MO to make their homes with their daughter, Susan Carter. As they drove away from their home of more than 50 years, she said she would miss her friends, but that she was ready for a new adventure.
After moving, she became a volunteer at Cox Walnut Lawn Hospital, making many new friends and she became known as the ‘Cookie Lady’, assisting on the rehabilitation unit on cookie making day. She loved travel and ‘adventures’ and enjoyed trips to Colorado and the Rocky Mountains. She spent her 80th birthday white water rafting in Glacier National Park. Her mind was sharp to the very end; she enjoyed playing cards and won a game of gin rummy with her daughter only hours before she peacefully passed away. She only said, ‘don’t be sad when I die, I had a wonderful life and I’m ready to be with Virgil’. She always had a smile, quick wit and a twinkle in her pretty blue eyes. She was lo ved by her family and many friends and will be missed, but fond memories last forever.
She is preceded in death by Virgil, her parents and sister. She is survived by sons, Fred (Sharron) Campbell, Shawnee, KS; Mike (Frances) Campbell, Wylie, TX and daughter, Susan Carter, Springfield, MO; 5 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.
Viewing will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday at Clark Chapel of Memories, Neosho, Visitation will be from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., with the chapel service scheduled for 2 p.m.
Ed Martin: We're lining up to defeat big government
(From the Missouri Republican Party)
Ed Martin, Chairman of the Missouri Republican Party, issued the following statement regarding the first day of candidate filing:
As of 5:00 PM today, 191 Republicans have filed to run for state and federal offices in Missouri.
“From Maryville to Cape and Hannibal to Joplin, Republicans continue to be the party of responsibility and common sense government; Government that works for all Missourians, not a selected few. Unfortunately, the Obama/Nixon policies of tax and overspend continue to plague our state government.
“Missourians are standing up and saying ‘enough is enough.’ Republicans are literally lining up to defeat the party irresponsibly and big government.
"State Auditor Tom Schweich is the top of our ticket this year. Republicans stand for smart, fiscally sound government. Schweich is a watchdog for Missouri tax-payers and his leadership is needed in Jefferson City.
“This is a big year for Republicans across the country, as a party we are poised to retake the United States Senate and continue our fight to delay and repeal ObamaCare.”
Filing for candidates running for statewide, legislative, and county offices closes March 25, at 5:00 PM.
Ed Martin, Chairman of the Missouri Republican Party, issued the following statement regarding the first day of candidate filing:
As of 5:00 PM today, 191 Republicans have filed to run for state and federal offices in Missouri.
“From Maryville to Cape and Hannibal to Joplin, Republicans continue to be the party of responsibility and common sense government; Government that works for all Missourians, not a selected few. Unfortunately, the Obama/Nixon policies of tax and overspend continue to plague our state government.
“Missourians are standing up and saying ‘enough is enough.’ Republicans are literally lining up to defeat the party irresponsibly and big government.
"State Auditor Tom Schweich is the top of our ticket this year. Republicans stand for smart, fiscally sound government. Schweich is a watchdog for Missouri tax-payers and his leadership is needed in Jefferson City.
“This is a big year for Republicans across the country, as a party we are poised to retake the United States Senate and continue our fight to delay and repeal ObamaCare.”
Filing for candidates running for statewide, legislative, and county offices closes March 25, at 5:00 PM.
Joplin Progress Committee tops board candidate Shawn McGrew's contributors
Out of that amount, $1,000 came from the Joplin Progress Committee, with McGrew contributing the other $50 to his own campaign.
R-8 Board member Randy Steele has $1,495 in campaign account
One thousand of that came from the special interest group, the Joplin Progress Committee, another $200 from Tom and Jeany Franz, TJ Franz Associates, Webb City, with the remaining $325 coming from unnamed sources who gave less than $100 apiece, according to the report.
Steele had spent $30 of the money at the end of the reporting period.