As you may recall, last week I noted that the Missouri House Journal, the record of all votes taken in the House of Representatives, does not include a mention (at least that I could find) of the vote by which the House declined to override Governor Matt Blunt's veto of $227,000 of money that had been earmarked for Alzheimer's research.
Newspaper reports indicated 22 Republicans parted with the governor on this issue, but that was far from the two-thirds required to override a veto.
Seth Jackson of Southwest Missouri for Progress reports that his legislator, Ed Emery, R-Lamar, told him that he had voted to support the governor for the issue.
If someone has information on how the other five legislators from this area, Steve Hunter, Ron Richard, and Marilyn Ruestman of Joplin, Bryan Stevenson of Webb City, and Kevin Wilson of Neosho voted on this matter, please drop me a line.
Monday, September 19, 2005
Jeff Wells leaves Globe staff writer post
Jeff Wells, who has been the point man on The Joplin Globe's coverage of Joplin city and education issues, is no longer a staff writer on the newspaper as of last Friday, though I don't have any information on what he is going to be doing.
Ron Knox has taken over the Joplin city beat, and has already had his byline on some page-one articles, while Derek Spellman has the schools beat.
Ron Knox has taken over the Joplin city beat, and has already had his byline on some page-one articles, while Derek Spellman has the schools beat.
Not much mention of Donn Clendenon
When I was 10 years old, my parents bought me a copy of the Baseball Register, published by The Sporting News for five dollars. That annual book features statistics on every player on major league baseball teams' rosters.
I pored over the book, examining runs, hits, home runs, runs batted in, players' hobbies, and hometowns, and was surprised to see that one player, Pittsburgh Pirate first baseman Donn Clendenon, was born in Neosho.
In 1969, Clendenon had left Pittsburgh and was a member of the Miracle Mets team that defeated the Baltimore Orioles in five games in the World Series. Clendenon was the most valuable player in the World Series, but I don't recall any mention of it in the Daily News or the Globe at that time. It may have been there, but I read both newspapers every day and I did not see it.
I don't remember any mention of it when Clendenon was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in the early '70s. He did not make much of an impact on the Cardinals, though I clearly remember listening to a 10-inning, 1-0 game that ended with a Clendenon home run.
When he died late last week, I saw the local newspapers carried the AP account. I was hoping someone would be able to dig up a little more about Clendenon and his family and their time in Neosho. There may not be much information available at this late date, but historically, Clendenon is the only connection I can think of between Newton County and the World Series.
I pored over the book, examining runs, hits, home runs, runs batted in, players' hobbies, and hometowns, and was surprised to see that one player, Pittsburgh Pirate first baseman Donn Clendenon, was born in Neosho.
In 1969, Clendenon had left Pittsburgh and was a member of the Miracle Mets team that defeated the Baltimore Orioles in five games in the World Series. Clendenon was the most valuable player in the World Series, but I don't recall any mention of it in the Daily News or the Globe at that time. It may have been there, but I read both newspapers every day and I did not see it.
I don't remember any mention of it when Clendenon was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in the early '70s. He did not make much of an impact on the Cardinals, though I clearly remember listening to a 10-inning, 1-0 game that ended with a Clendenon home run.
When he died late last week, I saw the local newspapers carried the AP account. I was hoping someone would be able to dig up a little more about Clendenon and his family and their time in Neosho. There may not be much information available at this late date, but historically, Clendenon is the only connection I can think of between Newton County and the World Series.
Friday, September 16, 2005
No word about Edison settlement
Diamond R-4 Superintendent Mark Mayo published his latest edition of Cat News on www.diamondwildcats.org today, but there is no mention of the just-settled lawsuit against Edison Schools, which Diamond officials claim billed them too much for running the district's summer school in 2002.
It has been indicated many times in this blog, that this appears to be a case of Mayo acting the Don Quixote role and tilting against windmills, since Diamond is the only school district I can find which has had problems with Edison. Everyone else has made money working with Edison's summer school arm, Newton Learning.
R-4 patrons have a right to know what the settlement was, how much money the district spent to reach that settlement and whether Diamond Don Quixote actually slayed the Edison windmill, or if he was just caught with his Sancho Panza down.
It has been indicated many times in this blog, that this appears to be a case of Mayo acting the Don Quixote role and tilting against windmills, since Diamond is the only school district I can find which has had problems with Edison. Everyone else has made money working with Edison's summer school arm, Newton Learning.
R-4 patrons have a right to know what the settlement was, how much money the district spent to reach that settlement and whether Diamond Don Quixote actually slayed the Edison windmill, or if he was just caught with his Sancho Panza down.
Alzheimer's vote not included in journal
Maybe I just overlooked it, but I found nothing recorded in the Missouri House of Representatives' Journal listing the vote by which House Republicans stopped an attempt to override Governor Matt Blunt's veto of $227,000 worth of funding for Alzheimer's research.
Newspaper reports indicated Democrats were joined by 22 Republicans, more than half of the House, but not the two-thirds majority necessary to override the veto.
I would like to know if any of our six area legislators voted in favor of restoring the funds. The people of this area need to know that. I am also curious about how Rep. Jodi Stefanick, whose resignation was accepted at the end of the veto session, voted. After all, Ms. Stefanick is resigning to advise the governor on health issues, and as The Turner Report has noted, she is in deep to the health care and insurance special interests.
Perhaps, I just am looking in the wrong place. If that is the case, please someone set me straight. Otherwise, it simply looks as if some people don't want it in black and white that they voted against Alzheimer's research.
Newspaper reports indicated Democrats were joined by 22 Republicans, more than half of the House, but not the two-thirds majority necessary to override the veto.
I would like to know if any of our six area legislators voted in favor of restoring the funds. The people of this area need to know that. I am also curious about how Rep. Jodi Stefanick, whose resignation was accepted at the end of the veto session, voted. After all, Ms. Stefanick is resigning to advise the governor on health issues, and as The Turner Report has noted, she is in deep to the health care and insurance special interests.
Perhaps, I just am looking in the wrong place. If that is the case, please someone set me straight. Otherwise, it simply looks as if some people don't want it in black and white that they voted against Alzheimer's research.
I've waited for years to use this line
Governor Matt Blunt will be back on the road tomorrow to accept recognition as one of the U. S. Jaycees' Ten Outstanding Young Americans, according to a news release from the governor's office.
The release mentioned that the award had previously been received by such notables as President John F. Kennedy and former Vice President Dan Quayle.
I never knew John Kennedy, but I know Dan Quayle, and Matt Blunt, you're no Dan Quayle.
Reportedly, the 10th position on the list was a tossup between the governor, Britney Spears' husband Kevin Federline, and SpongeBob Square Pants.
The release mentioned that the award had previously been received by such notables as President John F. Kennedy and former Vice President Dan Quayle.
I never knew John Kennedy, but I know Dan Quayle, and Matt Blunt, you're no Dan Quayle.
Reportedly, the 10th position on the list was a tossup between the governor, Britney Spears' husband Kevin Federline, and SpongeBob Square Pants.
Joplin R-8 accredited with distinction
Word just came through that the Joplin R-8 School District has been accredited with distinction by the Missouri State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for the second straight year.
That means the school district has rated at the top in virtually all categories, especially in its scores on the MAP tests.
That means the school district has rated at the top in virtually all categories, especially in its scores on the MAP tests.
Thursday, September 15, 2005
Million-dollar CEO: Debt be not proud
O'Sullivan Industries may be able to continue not having to make the interest payments on its outstanding loans, according to today's Furniture Daily. At the moment, the companty, formerly based in Lamar, now in the Atlanta area, already has a deal to hold off on interest payments until the end of this month for notes that are due in 2008.
Million-dollar CEO Bob Parker said the recent extension of the forbearance agreement shows the "continued positive progress that is being made in the ongoing negotiations."
Sounds to me like another act of "Debt of a Salesman."
Million-dollar CEO Bob Parker said the recent extension of the forbearance agreement shows the "continued positive progress that is being made in the ongoing negotiations."
Sounds to me like another act of "Debt of a Salesman."
Newell Rubbermaid cutting 5,000 jobs
Newell Rubbermaid, the breeding ground for million-dollar CEO Robert Parker and other O'Sullivan Industries executives, is cutting 5,000 jobs, as part of a restructuring, according to today's Atlanta Business Chronicle.
The company, which like formerly Lamar-based O'Sullivan Industries, relocated to an Atlanta suburb, put a positive spin on the massive job elimination, saying it was part of "Project Acceleration" described as "a three-year global initiative to strengthen and transform (the company's) portfolio, including closing about one-third of its 80 manufacturing plants to optimize its geographic footprint.
Optimize its geographic footprint. I am sure five thousand families will be grateful for the opportunity to help expand Newell Rubbermaid's geographic footprint.
The company, which like formerly Lamar-based O'Sullivan Industries, relocated to an Atlanta suburb, put a positive spin on the massive job elimination, saying it was part of "Project Acceleration" described as "a three-year global initiative to strengthen and transform (the company's) portfolio, including closing about one-third of its 80 manufacturing plants to optimize its geographic footprint.
Optimize its geographic footprint. I am sure five thousand families will be grateful for the opportunity to help expand Newell Rubbermaid's geographic footprint.
Jeopardy whiz coming to PSU
Pittsburg State University's newspaper, The Collegio, is reporting that Ken Jennings will be on campus 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22, in the Crimson and Gold Ballroom at the Overman Student Center.
Jennings won $2.52 million from Jeopardy in 2004 and actually had me taping the show so I could watch him in action. No admission will be charged to PSU students. Tickets for children under 17 and senior citizens are $3. Everyone else will be charged $5. For more information, call the ticket office, 316-235-4796.
Jennings won $2.52 million from Jeopardy in 2004 and actually had me taping the show so I could watch him in action. No admission will be charged to PSU students. Tickets for children under 17 and senior citizens are $3. Everyone else will be charged $5. For more information, call the ticket office, 316-235-4796.
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