Somehow I managed to stay away from South Middle School yesterday, but I was there bright and reasonably early this morning. One of the things I like to do on my first day back is to go through the halls and see the changes that have been made during the summer, for as most of you know, while students and teachers may not be roaming the halls during the summer months, the janitorial staff is hard at work.
The floors had that waxed shine and the janitors had put my chairs and all of the other furniture and items in my room exactly where they had been on May 20. The broken seats in the auditorium have been repaired and a few teachers were already working on their rooms.
About all I did was to bring my books and materials and put the boxes down on a table, look a few things over, then leave.
Teachers officially return to work a week from Thursday, but I have no doubt I will be in the hallways of South a few more times before then. The first day of classes is Monday, Aug. 15.
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
Lamar residents not impressed with Globe story
I spent a few hours in Lamar today and residents there are extremely concerned about the situation at O'Sullivan Industries.
They don't really feel that Sunday's Joplin Globe story really served to do anything more than to keep the rumor mill circulating. A lot of space was used to tell about one paragraph worth of story...the fact that state officials are concerned and trying to meet with O'Sullivan officials. Good luck trying to fine one with any pull who is still stationed in Missouri.
They don't really feel that Sunday's Joplin Globe story really served to do anything more than to keep the rumor mill circulating. A lot of space was used to tell about one paragraph worth of story...the fact that state officials are concerned and trying to meet with O'Sullivan officials. Good luck trying to fine one with any pull who is still stationed in Missouri.
Revenues up for Northpark Mall owner
Revenues increased 13.4 percent for CBL & Associates, owner of Northpark Mall in Joplin, according to Business Wire.
The company earned $198,996,000 in the second quarter, up from $175,506,000 during the same period last year. Revenues for the first six months were up from $347,662,000 to $409,901,000.
The company earned $198,996,000 in the second quarter, up from $175,506,000 during the same period last year. Revenues for the first six months were up from $347,662,000 to $409,901,000.
'Nexstar either desperate or nuts'
Cable One President Tom Might pretty much called Nexstar officials liars during a luncheon at the National Cable Television Cooperative in San Diego today.
"Nexstar is either desperate or nuts," Might is quoted as saying in Multichannel News, referring to claims that the company is winning the battle over retransmission rights with Cable One in Joplin and other markets.
Nexstar CEO Perry Sook has consistently said his company has not seen a wide loss in viewership and that Cable One has seen a dramatic loss of customers. Might said that was not so, according to the Multichannel News article.
Might said the Nexstar stations' ratings, which include KSNF and KODE in Joplin, have fallen 31 to 41 percent from November sweeps to May sweeps. Sook has said that Cable One has lost 20 percent of its customers in the affected areas. The article quoted Might as saying the loss was about seven percent in those three markets.
Might's quotes came on the same day Nexstar officials announced the company lost $20.9 million during the second quarter, compared to a $1.2 million profit last year
"Nexstar is either desperate or nuts," Might is quoted as saying in Multichannel News, referring to claims that the company is winning the battle over retransmission rights with Cable One in Joplin and other markets.
Nexstar CEO Perry Sook has consistently said his company has not seen a wide loss in viewership and that Cable One has seen a dramatic loss of customers. Might said that was not so, according to the Multichannel News article.
Might said the Nexstar stations' ratings, which include KSNF and KODE in Joplin, have fallen 31 to 41 percent from November sweeps to May sweeps. Sook has said that Cable One has lost 20 percent of its customers in the affected areas. The article quoted Might as saying the loss was about seven percent in those three markets.
Might's quotes came on the same day Nexstar officials announced the company lost $20.9 million during the second quarter, compared to a $1.2 million profit last year
PSC approves Empire District Electric plan
The Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) approved a long-term energy plan presented by Empire District Electric Company, Explorer Pipeline Company, Praxair, Inc., the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the PSC staff, according to a PSC news release. The remainder of the release reads:
“The agreement strikes a reasonable and appropriate balance between the interests of Empire’s customers and shareholders regarding Empire’s participation in Iatan 2. The agreement is designed to positively impact Empire’s credit ratings. Thus Empire should have lower debt costs to pass on to consumers in the form of lower future rates,” the Commission said.
The plan includes:
* Empire’s participation in an 800-900 Megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant(Iatan 2) near Weston, Missouri. The agreement assists Empire in meeting its needs for generation so that it can achieve its energy and capacity requirements. The agreement gives Empire the opportunity to own at least 100 MW of coal-fired generation to be built in Missouri by Kansas City Power & Light (Iatan 2).
* Environmental upgrades at Iatan 1.
Environmental upgrades on Iatan 1 ensure that total site emissions from Iatan 1 and Iatan 2 will be less than current site emissions from Iatan 1 and will help address the environmental concerns of citizens living in the area around theIatan site.
* Environmental upgrades at Asbury, Missouri plant.
Environmental equipment installations will reduce nitrogen-oxide emissions.
* A 155 MW gas-fired peaking generating unit to be located at the Riverton generating station in Riverton, Kansas.
* Various efficiency and affordability programs for customers. The agreement design gives Empire the opportunity to maintain its investment grade ratings during the term of the experimental regulatory plan, which is important to Empire’s shareholders and creditors. In addition, the agreement protects Empire’s customers by recognizing that the Commission may disallow expenses deemed to be imprudent or unreasonable. Empire District Electric Company serves approximately 137,000 electric customers in 16 southwest Missouri counties.
“The agreement strikes a reasonable and appropriate balance between the interests of Empire’s customers and shareholders regarding Empire’s participation in Iatan 2. The agreement is designed to positively impact Empire’s credit ratings. Thus Empire should have lower debt costs to pass on to consumers in the form of lower future rates,” the Commission said.
The plan includes:
* Empire’s participation in an 800-900 Megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant(Iatan 2) near Weston, Missouri. The agreement assists Empire in meeting its needs for generation so that it can achieve its energy and capacity requirements. The agreement gives Empire the opportunity to own at least 100 MW of coal-fired generation to be built in Missouri by Kansas City Power & Light (Iatan 2).
* Environmental upgrades at Iatan 1.
Environmental upgrades on Iatan 1 ensure that total site emissions from Iatan 1 and Iatan 2 will be less than current site emissions from Iatan 1 and will help address the environmental concerns of citizens living in the area around theIatan site.
* Environmental upgrades at Asbury, Missouri plant.
Environmental equipment installations will reduce nitrogen-oxide emissions.
* A 155 MW gas-fired peaking generating unit to be located at the Riverton generating station in Riverton, Kansas.
* Various efficiency and affordability programs for customers. The agreement design gives Empire the opportunity to maintain its investment grade ratings during the term of the experimental regulatory plan, which is important to Empire’s shareholders and creditors. In addition, the agreement protects Empire’s customers by recognizing that the Commission may disallow expenses deemed to be imprudent or unreasonable. Empire District Electric Company serves approximately 137,000 electric customers in 16 southwest Missouri counties.
Shields preliminary hearing postponed
The preliminary hearing for former Southwest City Clerk Dehonna Shields has been postponed until 1 p.m. Sept. 22, according to court records. The hearing had originally been scheduled for this Thursday.
Ms. Shields, 26, is charged with three counts of forgery and two counts of theft for allegedly stealing city money. The missing money was uncovered during a state audit.
Ms. Shields, 26, is charged with three counts of forgery and two counts of theft for allegedly stealing city money. The missing money was uncovered during a state audit.
Attorney general's office to prosecute Schlup
The Missouri Attorney General's office will lead the prosecution team when former Barton County Memorial Hospital Finance Director Kim Schlup comes to trial Monday, Aug. 22, in Cedar County Circuit Court in Stockton.
Working with the attorney general will be Barton County Prosecuting Attorney Steven Kaderly.
Ms. Schlup, 41, Deerfield, is charged with embezzling more than than $77,000 from 2001 to 2003.
Working with the attorney general will be Barton County Prosecuting Attorney Steven Kaderly.
Ms. Schlup, 41, Deerfield, is charged with embezzling more than than $77,000 from 2001 to 2003.
Child molester files for bankruptcy
Convicted child molester Donald Peckham, formerly of Sarcoxie, now a resident at the Jefferson City Correctional Center, filed for bankruptcy today in U. S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District.
Peckham, 71, the former minister of the Jubilee Christian Church of Sarcoxie, had already had two judgments against him in Jasper County Circuit Court for not paying debts. The bankruptcy petition indicates Peckham owes $64,530.90, most of it debt from six credit cards. The first meeting with creditors is scheduled for Sept. 8 in the Jasper County Courthouse in Carthage.
He pleaded guilty last year to two counts of statutory sodomy involving underage boys. He was sentenced to seven years in prison on one count and 15 on the other.
Peckham, 71, the former minister of the Jubilee Christian Church of Sarcoxie, had already had two judgments against him in Jasper County Circuit Court for not paying debts. The bankruptcy petition indicates Peckham owes $64,530.90, most of it debt from six credit cards. The first meeting with creditors is scheduled for Sept. 8 in the Jasper County Courthouse in Carthage.
He pleaded guilty last year to two counts of statutory sodomy involving underage boys. He was sentenced to seven years in prison on one count and 15 on the other.
Former MSSU student receives promotion at AP
Chris Clark, a 1991 graduate of Missouri Southern State University, has been appointed Associated Press news editor for Kansas and Missouri. Clark, 36, had been working as news editor for Utah and Idaho.
AJR article examines blogging
I don't know where The Turner Report fits in, but American Journalism Review has an interesting article detailing the influence of bloggers and how they challenge traditional media, and in some cases, are actually used as sources by them.
You can find the article at:
http://www.ajr.org/Article.asp?id=3931
You can find the article at:
http://www.ajr.org/Article.asp?id=3931
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