It pays to help a company that has declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Documents filed today in U. S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Georgia indicate the law firm and accounting firm the company have employed will receive a pretty penny as the process continues.
The Kansas City law firm of Armstrong-Teasdale bills at $258 per hour, the document said "and rates typically increase Jan. 1 of each year." At the moment, the firm estimates it will bill O'Sullivan Industries $2,800 per month, but future billings "are not expected to exceed $20,000 per month."
The famed Price Waterhouse accounting firm will handle auditing for O'Sullivan Industries. Price Waterhouse's rates range from $75 per hour to $739 per hour, the documents said. At the moment, the average hourly rate is $340, the documents indicated with average monthly fees starting at $50,000. That too, will increase when post-petition time gets here, with the bill skyrocketing to $89,000 to $141,000 per month, according to court documents.
Of course, the company issued a press release Wednesday, indicating it has received $35 million in financing, so it can keep paying wages and other costs of doing business.
Thursday, November 10, 2005
More lobbyists' gifts for Hunter
It didn't take Rep. Steve Hunter, R-Joplin, to make his next move at that coveted $3,000 mark in gifts received from lobbyists.
Missouri Ethics Commission documents indicate Hunter received $93.60 in meals, food, and beverage from Sarah Topp on Oct. 28, leaving him only four dollars and 79 cents short of $3,000 with two months of reports left to achieve the mark. His total of $2,995.21 is more than any other Missouri state representative. In addition to that money, as has been noted in this blog, Hunter is also a paid employee of Associated Industries of Missouri, a lobbying organization.
As I noted earlier this week, Hunter has received $1,130.34 cents since the 2005 session ended. A commenter noted that I was conveniently leaving out gifts legislators received during the veto session, as if that is some type of excuse for continuing to gobble up all of the meals the lobbyists offer.
Ethics Commission records show that Hunter received only $44.80 during the time the House returned to session.
If the name of the lobbyist whose gift was the latest reported to the Ethics Commission sounds familiar, that should come as no surprise. Sarah Topp is a lobbyist for the utility giant Ameren and numerous other interest groups, but nearly all of her gifts to Hunter have come in her position as a lobbyist for Ameristar Casinos. Hunter's background with Ameristar was related in previous editions of The Turner Report.
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
Hunter approaches $3,000 mark
All Rep. Steve Hunter, R-Joplin, (2005 and 2003 photos shown from left) needs to reach the $3,000 mark in lobbyists gifts is to record another $98.39 worth in November and December.
The crown prince of special interests collected $115 in meals, food and beverage from lobbyist Michael G. Winter on Oct. 18, according to a disclosure form filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission. The form detailing who exactly Winter was representing has not yet been posted on the Commission website, but he represents Ameren, the Missouri Riverboat Gaming Association, and a number of health care interests, all of which is right up Hunter's alley.
Hunter, as has been noted in The Turner Report, tops all Missouri legislators, Democrat and Republican, in gifts received during 2005. Ethics Commission documents show he has received more gifts, $1,036.74 worth, since the 2005 legislative session ended, than two-thirds of legislators have received for the entire year.
It should be noted that in addition to the nearly $3,000 worth of gifts he has received from lobbyists, Hunter is essentially a paid lobbyist working for Associated Industries of Missouri.
Hunter was one of only two area legislators who was reported receiving any gifts in October. The other was State Senator Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, who received $110 worth of entertainment from University of Missouri lobbyist Stephen C. Knorr. Nodler has received $881.05 total this year, including $406 since the legislative session concluded.
Federal judge dismisses Holman lawsuit
U. S. District Court Judge Ortrie Smith dismissed accused double murderer Micah Joel Holman's lawsuit against the Jasper County Sheriff's Department Tuesday.
Holman, who is charged with the brutally murder Marvin and Peggy Steverson of Carthage, and then allegedly burned their home to erase the evidence, claimed that Sheriff Archie Dunn and his deputies violated his civil rights by going through his mail.
In documents filed last month in U. S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Holman claimed that on Sept,. 3 "I was given my mail by Detention Officer Graham, which consisted of legal mail, clearly marked as such, from my attorney of record, Mr. Joe Zuzul, public defender, 121 West Cherry Street, Nevada, MO.
"I believe my attorney/client privilege was violated by the opening of this mail, mainly the third and fourth amendments."
Upset that his constitutional rights had been so grossly abused, the accused killer set out to put things right. He asked an officer, "Do you remember handing me a letter from my attorney that had been opened." The officer said he did, but that he wasn't the one who had done it.
Holman said he was told the person who did had already been spoken to and that it never should have happened. "I asked him what he was going to do about this," Holman wrote, "and all he could say was, 'Really, what can I do?"
Holman says he requested a grievance form and filled it out, but never heard from anyone, so he elected to sue.
He won't be able to refile the action, since Judge Smith dismissed the case with prejudice. "Plaintiff has failed to indicate how someone tampering with his outgoing mail has denied him access to the courts or injured him," Judge Smith said. "Furthermore, he offers no specific incident that would form the basis for such belief."
Holman, who is charged with the brutally murder Marvin and Peggy Steverson of Carthage, and then allegedly burned their home to erase the evidence, claimed that Sheriff Archie Dunn and his deputies violated his civil rights by going through his mail.
In documents filed last month in U. S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Holman claimed that on Sept,. 3 "I was given my mail by Detention Officer Graham, which consisted of legal mail, clearly marked as such, from my attorney of record, Mr. Joe Zuzul, public defender, 121 West Cherry Street, Nevada, MO.
"I believe my attorney/client privilege was violated by the opening of this mail, mainly the third and fourth amendments."
Upset that his constitutional rights had been so grossly abused, the accused killer set out to put things right. He asked an officer, "Do you remember handing me a letter from my attorney that had been opened." The officer said he did, but that he wasn't the one who had done it.
Holman said he was told the person who did had already been spoken to and that it never should have happened. "I asked him what he was going to do about this," Holman wrote, "and all he could say was, 'Really, what can I do?"
Holman says he requested a grievance form and filled it out, but never heard from anyone, so he elected to sue.
He won't be able to refile the action, since Judge Smith dismissed the case with prejudice. "Plaintiff has failed to indicate how someone tampering with his outgoing mail has denied him access to the courts or injured him," Judge Smith said. "Furthermore, he offers no specific incident that would form the basis for such belief."
Cox drops complaint against Nexstar
It probably goes without saying, and maybe that's why I didn't say it, but as part of the recent deal between Cox Communications and Nexstar Broadcasting, Cox has agreed to drop its FCC complaint against Nexstar.
That tidbit of information was included in Nexstar's quarterly report filed Tuesday with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The report contained the following information about the continuing standoff between Nexstar and Cable One, which has kept KODE and KSNF off Joplin cable since the end of 2004:
"On December 31, 2004, retransmission consent agreements with Cable One, Inc. (“Cable One”) expired for Nexstar’s television stations KTAL (Texarkana-Shreveport) and KSNF (Joplin), and for Mission’s television station KODE (Joplin). As a result, Cable One is not permitted by law to carry these stations’ signals. Nexstar and Mission have requested that Cable One pay a cash per subscriber fee in exchange for the right to carry the stations’ signals under new agreements. Cable One has informed Nexstar and Mission that it will not pay any cash fees for the carriage of the stations on its cable systems. If Nexstar and Mission do not reach new agreements with Cable One, the stations in the affected markets could lose audience share which may impact the stations’ revenue. The Company is currently unable to determine the ultimate outcome of this matter, but does not believe it will have a material effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations."
That tidbit of information was included in Nexstar's quarterly report filed Tuesday with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The report contained the following information about the continuing standoff between Nexstar and Cable One, which has kept KODE and KSNF off Joplin cable since the end of 2004:
"On December 31, 2004, retransmission consent agreements with Cable One, Inc. (“Cable One”) expired for Nexstar’s television stations KTAL (Texarkana-Shreveport) and KSNF (Joplin), and for Mission’s television station KODE (Joplin). As a result, Cable One is not permitted by law to carry these stations’ signals. Nexstar and Mission have requested that Cable One pay a cash per subscriber fee in exchange for the right to carry the stations’ signals under new agreements. Cable One has informed Nexstar and Mission that it will not pay any cash fees for the carriage of the stations on its cable systems. If Nexstar and Mission do not reach new agreements with Cable One, the stations in the affected markets could lose audience share which may impact the stations’ revenue. The Company is currently unable to determine the ultimate outcome of this matter, but does not believe it will have a material effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations."
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
Goodman campaign rakes in $80,000+ in final week
It takes money to buy the attack ads Mount Vernon Republican Representative Jack Goodman has aired in his Senatorial race against Democrat Nolan McNeill.
According to his campaign committee's filing with the Missouri Ethics Commission eight days before the election, Goodman had approximately $70,000. In the final week of the campaign, an additional $80,000 has poured into his coffers, according to Ethics Commission documents.
Monday, Goodman reported receiving $21,550, including $6,050 from the Lawrence County Republican Central Committee, $5,000 from the 123rd District Republican Legislative Committee, and $6,000 from the 127th District Legislative Committee. He also picked up $600 from the Drury Development Corporation of St. Louis, $600 from SBC PAC, $600 from Neosho banker Rudy Farber, $600 from Missouri Freedom of Jefferson City, $600 from Chuck Gross for Protem, and $600 from General Motors.
On Nov. 4, Goodman received $6,050 from the McDonald County Republican Central Committee, and $1,800 from three health industry interest groups.
The Nov. 3 filing shows $6,050 from the Newton County Republican Central Committee, $6,050 from the 32nd District Senatorial District Committee; $5,450 from the 129th District Republican Legislative Committee, $1,500 from the 2nd Senatorial District Republican Committee, and $400 from the 12th Legislative District Committee, as well as $6,000 from the Barry County Republican Committee.
The Nov. 1 filing indicates Goodman received $6,050 from the 131st Legislative Committee and about $2,500 from the Missouri Republican Party.
On Oct. 31, Goodman reported receiving $6,000 from the 128th District Legislative Committee, $600 from Friends of Stevenson, Webb City Republican legislator Bryan Stevenson's campaign committee; $6,000 from the Republican State Committee, and $600 from Leggett & Platt, among the contributions.
According to his campaign committee's filing with the Missouri Ethics Commission eight days before the election, Goodman had approximately $70,000. In the final week of the campaign, an additional $80,000 has poured into his coffers, according to Ethics Commission documents.
Monday, Goodman reported receiving $21,550, including $6,050 from the Lawrence County Republican Central Committee, $5,000 from the 123rd District Republican Legislative Committee, and $6,000 from the 127th District Legislative Committee. He also picked up $600 from the Drury Development Corporation of St. Louis, $600 from SBC PAC, $600 from Neosho banker Rudy Farber, $600 from Missouri Freedom of Jefferson City, $600 from Chuck Gross for Protem, and $600 from General Motors.
On Nov. 4, Goodman received $6,050 from the McDonald County Republican Central Committee, and $1,800 from three health industry interest groups.
The Nov. 3 filing shows $6,050 from the Newton County Republican Central Committee, $6,050 from the 32nd District Senatorial District Committee; $5,450 from the 129th District Republican Legislative Committee, $1,500 from the 2nd Senatorial District Republican Committee, and $400 from the 12th Legislative District Committee, as well as $6,000 from the Barry County Republican Committee.
The Nov. 1 filing indicates Goodman received $6,050 from the 131st Legislative Committee and about $2,500 from the Missouri Republican Party.
On Oct. 31, Goodman reported receiving $6,000 from the 128th District Legislative Committee, $600 from Friends of Stevenson, Webb City Republican legislator Bryan Stevenson's campaign committee; $6,000 from the Republican State Committee, and $600 from Leggett & Platt, among the contributions.
St. Louis company reaches deal with O'Sullivan Industries
The St. Louis Business Journal reported Monday that Funnel Fits LLC, a St. Louis company, signed a multi-year licensing agreement with O'Sullivan Industries. The agreement gives O'Sullivan exclusive rights to market and distribute the company's products in North America. Funnel Fits designs and manufactures funnel-shaped, wall-mounted systems for organizing household items, according to the article.
Former lawman's wife takes out restraining order
Connie Hance, ex-wife of former McDonald County sheriff's candidate and Seneca police officer Randy Hance, filed for a protection order Monday in Newton County Circuit Court.
Hance pleaded guilty earlier this year to a federal weapons charge and was sentenced to one year in prison, most of which he had already served since he was denied bail, due to threats he had made against his ex-wife.
Hance pleaded guilty earlier this year to a federal weapons charge and was sentenced to one year in prison, most of which he had already served since he was denied bail, due to threats he had made against his ex-wife.
Monday, November 07, 2005
Nexstar not getting what it wanted
Today's Television and Business Report says what I have been saying for the past few weeks on this blog: Nexstar didn't get the money it wanted as compensation when it reached its agreements with Cox Communications and Insight.
The TVBR observation was: "Clearly Nexstar is finding new ways to come to terms with the cable MSOs, but hasn't succeeded in its original objective of being paid a fee of a penny a day per subscriber by the cable companies."
The TVBR observation was: "Clearly Nexstar is finding new ways to come to terms with the cable MSOs, but hasn't succeeded in its original objective of being paid a fee of a penny a day per subscriber by the cable companies."
Sunday, November 06, 2005
Update on 'Small Town News'
The first Joplin signing for my novel, "Small Town News," has been scheduled for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12 (next Saturday) at Hastings. Approximately 50 books will be available and should we run out, orders will immediately be taken for books and I will autograph those books.
The book is on the shelves at Hastings, as well as at the Changing Hands Book Shoppe in Joplin. Those from outside the area who would like to buy it or those who can't make it to the signing or who want to avoid the Joplin traffic, can buy it online at Amazon.com, Booksamillion.com, Barnes & Noble, Borders or from the IUniverse website.
More information about the novel can be found at its website.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)