Moody's downgrades Nexstar Broadcasting credit rating

Saying that internet and retransmission revenues are not enough to overcome a lack of traditional advertising, Moody's Investor Service has downgraded the credit rating for Nexstar Broadcasting and its duopoly partner Mission Broadcasting:

Additionally, Moody's believes that given the absence of material political revenue in 2009 combined with continued weakness in the advertising environment, the company will remain challenged in its ability to comply with its financial maintenance covenants, thus constraining liquidity. Moody's also believes that successfully attaining a waiver or amendment under the credit facility may likely result in increased pricing, thereby further stressing the company's cash flow” Moody’s said.

Nexstar and Mission Broadcasting own KSNF and KODE in Joplin and KOLR and KSFX in Springfield.

Court rejects Granby man's appeal in strip club murder case

The Texas Third District Court of Appeals last week rejected convicted killer Timothy Doan Payne's appeal.

Payne, a 2004 graduate of East Newton High School, was one of two men convicted in connection with the Thanksgiving 2004 death of two men connected to the Teazers strip club in Killeen, Texas:

An appeals court Friday rejected the appeal of Timothy Payne, 22, who was convicted last November of capital murder in the Thanksgiving 2004 deaths of Haitham Zayed and Amine Rahmouni.

Payne, a former Fort Hood soldier, videotaped the shootings carried out by Richard Tabler, who received the death penalty in April 2007 for the slayings.

According to Tabler, Payne was with him during the shootings and knew that Tabler planned on killing Rahmouni. Tabler also stated that Payne later helped destroy the videotape of the shooting.

Blunt to receive $50,000 annually plus stock options to serve on Copart board of directors

Only a few short days after he leaves after one term as Missouri's governor, Matt Blunt, will take on a lucrative part-time job as a member of the board of directors of California salvage company Copart.

A filing Thursday with the Securities and Exchange Commission indicates Blunt will receive $50,000 annually in $12,500 quarterly payments:

Mr. Blunt will receive the standard compensation provided to our non-employee directors which consists of quarterly cash compensation of $12,500 for services as a director. In addition, under our 2007 Equity Incentive Plan, Mr. Blunt will be granted an option to purchase 20,000 shares of our common stock at the commencement of his service on our board of directors. This option will vest over two years, with one-half of the shares vesting on the first anniversary of the date of grant and the balance vesting on a monthly basis over the 12 months succeeding such first anniversary. In subsequent years, Mr. Blunt will be eligible to receive additional annual grants of options to purchase shares of common stock for his service on our board of directors. We will also reimburse Mr. Blunt for reasonable and necessary expenses incurred while attending board or committee meetings.

My guess is we will hear a lot in coming months about Blunt cashing in on numerous financial opportunities.

Dec. 16 pre-trial hearing set for Neosho minister

A Dec. 16 pre-trial hearing is scheduled in McDonald County Circuit Court for Randall Danny Russell, 50, Neosho, minister of Acts II Church in Neosho.

Russell faces two charges of sexual exploitation of a minor and a forgery charge. The cases are being heard in McDonald County on a change of venue from Newton County.

Initially, Russell's jury trial on seven counts of statutory sodomy and two counts of child molestation was scheduled for Dec. 16, but court records indicate Russell's attorney has asked for a postponement because of incomplete discovery.

Richard: My plan is to go after job creation

Incoming Speaker of the House Ron Richard, R-Joplin, detailed his 2009 plans to those attending the Missouri Chamber of Commerce Legislative Action Seminar.

"My plan is to go after job creation," Richard said, noting that he has successfully steered economic packages through the House with Matt Blunt and Bob Holden as governor, and he anticipates having success doing the same with Jay Nixon as governor:

Nexstar Broadcasting stock falls 25 cents

Nexstar Broadcasting stock continued to struggle Thursday, falling 25 cents to 68 cents per share.

Nexstar owns KSNF in Joplin and KSFX in Springfield and is de facto owner of KODE in Joplin and KOLR in Springfield.

News-Leader gives shallow sendoff to Overstreet

In a perfect world, 22 years of loyal, quality service would be rewarded with at least a chance to write a farewell column.

The world of Gannett is far from perfect, however, and today's final Sarah Overstreet column does not offer her any opportunities to reminisce, to say goodbye, or even better to end with a powerful feature or with the type of scoop that has often characterized her work in the past.

It's just another column, better than some, not as good as others.

And News-Leader officials, who kicked Ms. Overstreet out the door just three weeks before Christmas, with no warning, offered this explanation on their website:

Today's column is Sarah's last as a full-time columnist for the News-Leader Media Group. Sarah worked for the News-Leader a total of 22 years, offering a unique perspective on the Ozarks. If you'd like to send Sarah a farewell message, you may e-mail her at sarahoverstreet@news-leader.com.

Hopefully, many of Sarah Overstreet's devoted readers will let her know how much they will miss her regular visits into their home. It would also be nice if they would let News-Leader and Gannett officials know how they feel about the destructive course they have plotted for what is supposed to be a community newspaper.

La-Z-Boy to close plant in Sherman, Miss.

La-Z-Boy officials have announced they will close their upholstery plant in Sherman, Miss. One hundred fifty will be put out of work.

La-Z-Boy is one of the largest employers in Neosho.

Civil suit court dates set for McDonald County Prosecuting Attorney

A pre-trial conference is scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9, in McDonald County Circuit Court in a civil suit filed by HSBC against Prosecuting Attorney Janice Durbin. The lawsuit was filed Oct. 6, according to court records.

The case is one of three filed this year against Ms. Durbin, who filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy Monday.

Bank Midwest won a $6,370.77 judgment against Ms. Durbin Sept. 9, court records indicate. No payment is recorded as of this morning.

A Feb. 10 trial date has been scheduled in the third case, American Express v. Janice Durbin, which was filed Sept. 22 in McDonald County Circuit Court.

Information about Ms. Durbin's bankruptcy can be found in the Dec. 1 Turner Report.

Some thoughts on the firing of Sarah Overstreet

While I have sympathy for all of the 19 people who lost their jobs during Gannett's latest purge of the Springfield News-Leader's ranks, I am mystified by the newspaper's choice to eliminate long-time columnist Sarah Overstreet.

As newspaper continue to inch their way toward the 21st century, they seem intent on eliminating the advantages they have had over other media. One is the columnist who becomes the voice of the community. That is what Sarah Overstreet has been to Springfield during her long tenure at the News-Leader.

That kind of columnist is worth his or her weight in gold. Names like Mike Royko in Chicago, Jimmy Breslin in New York, Irv Kupcinet in San Francisco come to mind.

The News-Leader has systematically ran off every columnist or reporter who has become associated with the community, a process which appears to be complete with the cavalier dismissal of Ms. Overstreet.

Ms. Overstreet and columnists like her are ones who are not universally liked. In fact, they have people who absolutely detest every word they write...but they keep on reading. And for those who did enjoy her work, it was often the first thing they turned to when they opened the News-Leader.

It is already hard to think of the News-Leader as a Springfield newspaper, considering the departure over recent years of so many people who were so associated with the newspaper. The names Steve Koehler, Ron Davis, Scott Puryear, and the late Marty Eddlemon jump to mind.

While those people were still around, it was possible to still maintain the illusion that the Springfield News-Leader was a community newspaper with a vested interest in Springfield.

Sarah Overstreet was the last link to those days. The illusion is forever shattered.