Seventh District Congressman Roy Blunt issued the following statement on President Bush's appointment of John Roberts to replace Sandra Day O'Connor on the Supreme Court:
“Judge Roberts is a distinguished jurist with an impressive record of service to the nation and the rule of law,” Blunt said. “He has proven himself as a judge who applies the law impartially with an eye toward the strict interpretation of the Constitution, rather than legislating from the bench. He will serve the United States and our highest court well. The Senate confirmed Judge Roberts to the circuit court just two years ago. I look forward to a swift and deliberate confirmation process this fall.”
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Family values spur Blunt contributions
In this day and age when family members usually go their separate ways, you have to appreciate a local family that bucks that trend.
Take the Beshores.
They're a family that follows the old saying, "The family that pays together stays together," and the man they are paying is Missouri Governor Matt Blunt.
The media made a big deal out of Blunt's early campaign war chest of three quarters of a million, but they overlooked the little guy, the family guy, the one who spends his hard-earned money to improve government.
That's Lance Beshore, Joplin. By night, he's a family man, but 24 hours a day, he is a lobbyist in the employ of Carthage-based Fortune 500 company Leggett & Platt.
According to the campaign disclosure forms on the Missouri Ethics Commission website, Dr. Beshore, listed as a physician, gave the governor the maximum contribution, $1,200. His wife, Sharon Cornell Beshore, listed as a homemaker, also gave $1,200. His son, Brent Beshore, listed as student gave $1,200. (If I could have donated $1,200 to politicians when I was in college, I wouldn't had to have spent years paying off a student loan.) Dr. Beshore's father-in-law, Harry Cornell, of Leggett & Platt gave $1,200.
The Leggett & Platt extended family also stepped up to the plate. Karl Glassman gave, you guessed it, $1,200. and Leggett & Platt itself was also down for $1,200.
In addition to Leggett & Platt, the governor once again had a steady stream of contributions from registered lobbyists, in addition to Dr. Beshore, though none of them were listed as lobbyists.
Among those:
-Burch and Associates, the lobbying firm operated by former State Representative Jerry Burch gave $300. His firm represents Missouri Hospital Association, Southwest Missouri State University, Greene County Commission, Springfield City Utilities, and the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce.
-Gaines Brown Consulting, a lobbyist firm gave $1,200, which represents Monsanto, Premium Standard Farms, Kansas City Chiefs, and Southwestern Bell (SBC) among others.
-L. Kent Gaines lobbyist for Gaines Brown Consulting, $1,200. No occupation was listed for Gaines.
-University of Missouri lobbyist Tom Atkins donated $1,200. His occupation is listed as Tom Atkins Investments.
-Kenneth Teasdale with the lobbying firm Armstrong Teasdale, which represents Ameren UE, gave $1,200. His firm was listed for his occupation.
-Harvey Tettlebaum, lobbyist for the Missouri Health Care Association, donated $1,200.
Sizable donations from lobbyists are par for the course for a Blunt campaign. As The Turner Report noted on May 25, Matt Blunt received money from nearly 100 registered lobbyists during his 2004 gubernatorial campaign. You can find that information at:
http://rturner229.blogspot.com/2005/05/much-has-been-written-about-amount-of.html
***
One of the most interesting donors on the disclosure form filed by Governor Blunt's campaign was "Columbia Fee Office," which gave $1,200 on June 30.
Joplin-area donors, in addition to those associated with Leggett & Platt included:
David Humphreys, TAMKO, $1,200, Dr. Blake Little, Joplin, $1,200; Ron Richard, listed as C&N Bowl Corp, $1,200, Patty Richard, Joplin, $1,200; and Dee Wampler, Springfield, attorney, $500.
Take the Beshores.
They're a family that follows the old saying, "The family that pays together stays together," and the man they are paying is Missouri Governor Matt Blunt.
The media made a big deal out of Blunt's early campaign war chest of three quarters of a million, but they overlooked the little guy, the family guy, the one who spends his hard-earned money to improve government.
That's Lance Beshore, Joplin. By night, he's a family man, but 24 hours a day, he is a lobbyist in the employ of Carthage-based Fortune 500 company Leggett & Platt.
According to the campaign disclosure forms on the Missouri Ethics Commission website, Dr. Beshore, listed as a physician, gave the governor the maximum contribution, $1,200. His wife, Sharon Cornell Beshore, listed as a homemaker, also gave $1,200. His son, Brent Beshore, listed as student gave $1,200. (If I could have donated $1,200 to politicians when I was in college, I wouldn't had to have spent years paying off a student loan.) Dr. Beshore's father-in-law, Harry Cornell, of Leggett & Platt gave $1,200.
The Leggett & Platt extended family also stepped up to the plate. Karl Glassman gave, you guessed it, $1,200. and Leggett & Platt itself was also down for $1,200.
In addition to Leggett & Platt, the governor once again had a steady stream of contributions from registered lobbyists, in addition to Dr. Beshore, though none of them were listed as lobbyists.
Among those:
-Burch and Associates, the lobbying firm operated by former State Representative Jerry Burch gave $300. His firm represents Missouri Hospital Association, Southwest Missouri State University, Greene County Commission, Springfield City Utilities, and the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce.
-Gaines Brown Consulting, a lobbyist firm gave $1,200, which represents Monsanto, Premium Standard Farms, Kansas City Chiefs, and Southwestern Bell (SBC) among others.
-L. Kent Gaines lobbyist for Gaines Brown Consulting, $1,200. No occupation was listed for Gaines.
-University of Missouri lobbyist Tom Atkins donated $1,200. His occupation is listed as Tom Atkins Investments.
-Kenneth Teasdale with the lobbying firm Armstrong Teasdale, which represents Ameren UE, gave $1,200. His firm was listed for his occupation.
-Harvey Tettlebaum, lobbyist for the Missouri Health Care Association, donated $1,200.
Sizable donations from lobbyists are par for the course for a Blunt campaign. As The Turner Report noted on May 25, Matt Blunt received money from nearly 100 registered lobbyists during his 2004 gubernatorial campaign. You can find that information at:
http://rturner229.blogspot.com/2005/05/much-has-been-written-about-amount-of.html
***
One of the most interesting donors on the disclosure form filed by Governor Blunt's campaign was "Columbia Fee Office," which gave $1,200 on June 30.
Joplin-area donors, in addition to those associated with Leggett & Platt included:
David Humphreys, TAMKO, $1,200, Dr. Blake Little, Joplin, $1,200; Ron Richard, listed as C&N Bowl Corp, $1,200, Patty Richard, Joplin, $1,200; and Dee Wampler, Springfield, attorney, $500.
Jury decides in favor of Moennings
The Joplin Globe will report in its Wednesday edition that Kenneth Moenning, 37, was awarded $2,693,402 and his wife Alicia, 32, was awarded $50,000 by a Jasper County jury following a seven-hour deliberation.
The two were suing International Flavors and Fragrances and Bush Boake Allen for respiratory illnesses Moenning suffered as a result of his exposure to their butter flavoring while he was working at Jasper Popcorn Company.
The two were suing International Flavors and Fragrances and Bush Boake Allen for respiratory illnesses Moenning suffered as a result of his exposure to their butter flavoring while he was working at Jasper Popcorn Company.
Mistake made on Kahl story
This one serves me right.
In my story criticizing the local television stations, at least two of them, for mistakes they made in the coverage of Brandon Kahl's hearing, I checked my spelling and I checked my grammar, but I did not check to make sure that I had the right station name in each place.
It was KOAM, not KODE, which misidentified the place where Kahl's hearing took place as Lamar County. It was done during each half-hour of today's morning show.
KSNF had the day wrong.
KODE had its story absolutely right.
Thanks to the observant readers who caught my error. It has been corrected.
In my story criticizing the local television stations, at least two of them, for mistakes they made in the coverage of Brandon Kahl's hearing, I checked my spelling and I checked my grammar, but I did not check to make sure that I had the right station name in each place.
It was KOAM, not KODE, which misidentified the place where Kahl's hearing took place as Lamar County. It was done during each half-hour of today's morning show.
KSNF had the day wrong.
KODE had its story absolutely right.
Thanks to the observant readers who caught my error. It has been corrected.
Deal said to help Tri-State track hazardous material
SkyBitz, a Virginia company has signed on to provide Tri-State Motor Transit of Joplin with security for its fleet, according to an article in today's Loudoun, Va. Times-Mirror. Tri-State is reputed to be the nation's largest truckload carrier of "dangerous and highly sensitive materials," the article said.
SkyBitz will enable Tri-State to be able to check on its trucks and cargo at all times, the article said.
"This tracking intelligence gives us peace of mind so we can concentrate on other aspects of our business," Tri-State Executive Vice President David Bennett told the Times.
SkyBitz will enable Tri-State to be able to check on its trucks and cargo at all times, the article said.
"This tracking intelligence gives us peace of mind so we can concentrate on other aspects of our business," Tri-State Executive Vice President David Bennett told the Times.
Defense rests in latest Jasper Popcorn trial
A Lockwood couple will not receive punitive damages in its lawsuit against International Flavors and Fragrances and Bush Boake Allen.
Judge William Carl Crawford sustained the companies' motion for a directed verdict on the issue of punitive damages, meaning that issue will not be submitted to the jury, according to court records.
Judge Crawford did not back up the defense on its motion for a directed verdict on the merits of the case.
The decisions were made at the conclusion of the trial's 10th day. Kenneth Moenning, 37, and his wife Alisha Moenning, 32, filed the lawsuit, one in a series of legal actions against the companies, claiming a flavoring the company used at Jasper Popcorn caused Moenning serious, life-threatening respiratory ailments.
On the last day, the defense concluded its case, then the plaintiffs put on rebuttal witnesses, according to court records.
The case is in the hands of the jury.
Judge William Carl Crawford sustained the companies' motion for a directed verdict on the issue of punitive damages, meaning that issue will not be submitted to the jury, according to court records.
Judge Crawford did not back up the defense on its motion for a directed verdict on the merits of the case.
The decisions were made at the conclusion of the trial's 10th day. Kenneth Moenning, 37, and his wife Alisha Moenning, 32, filed the lawsuit, one in a series of legal actions against the companies, claiming a flavoring the company used at Jasper Popcorn caused Moenning serious, life-threatening respiratory ailments.
On the last day, the defense concluded its case, then the plaintiffs put on rebuttal witnesses, according to court records.
The case is in the hands of the jury.
Fact check on stations' Brandon Kahl coverage
Brandon Kahl, 25, Lamar, entered a not guilty plea Monday in Barton County Circuit Court to a manslaughter charge in connection with the death of his girlfriend's two-year-old son Alexander Cole.
KOAM, KODE, and KSNF each had a different version of that story and, from what I heard, it appears KODE is the only one that had its facts straight.
The other stations had only minor mistakes, but they were mistakes. On KOAM's morning news show, it was reported that Kahl pleaded guilty in Lamar County Circuit Court. Of course, Lamar is the county seat, but it is Barton County.
On its 5 p.m. newscast, KSNF reported that the plea had taken place today rather than Monday.
KOAM, KODE, and KSNF each had a different version of that story and, from what I heard, it appears KODE is the only one that had its facts straight.
The other stations had only minor mistakes, but they were mistakes. On KOAM's morning news show, it was reported that Kahl pleaded guilty in Lamar County Circuit Court. Of course, Lamar is the county seat, but it is Barton County.
On its 5 p.m. newscast, KSNF reported that the plea had taken place today rather than Monday.
Lamar swindler makes another try for freedom
I guess when you have nothing but time on your hands, you can go ahead and keep making legal motion after legal motion.
That is what Patrick Dallas Graham, the Lamar businessman who swindled 500 investors, including pop singer Pat Boone, the Herschend family that owns Silver Dollar City, and the Braschlers of Branson fame, out of more than $5 million.
If you recall, Graham was the CEO of Conquest Labs, Inc., a company that he claimed was developing a vaccine for the AIDS virus. The only problem was the vaccine didn't exist.
Graham filed a motion for a writ of mandamus June 27 in the Missouri Southern District Court of Appeals, only a few weeks after a similar motion was rejected by the court.
If you are interested in more background on this case, you can find it in the May 2 Turner Report at:
http://rturner229.blogspot.com/2005/05/every-time-i-think-pat-graham-has-run.html
That is what Patrick Dallas Graham, the Lamar businessman who swindled 500 investors, including pop singer Pat Boone, the Herschend family that owns Silver Dollar City, and the Braschlers of Branson fame, out of more than $5 million.
If you recall, Graham was the CEO of Conquest Labs, Inc., a company that he claimed was developing a vaccine for the AIDS virus. The only problem was the vaccine didn't exist.
Graham filed a motion for a writ of mandamus June 27 in the Missouri Southern District Court of Appeals, only a few weeks after a similar motion was rejected by the court.
If you are interested in more background on this case, you can find it in the May 2 Turner Report at:
http://rturner229.blogspot.com/2005/05/every-time-i-think-pat-graham-has-run.html
Renovation of Drake Hotel set to begin
H. J. Johnson reports in his daily Carthage newsletter, "The Mornin' Mail' that renovations are about to begin on the fabled Drake Hotel just off the square in downtown Carthage.
The $5.2 million renovation will change the building into a senior housing unit. Construction is expected to begin later this summer and be completed by July 2006.
The Drake has been a fixture in Carthage for decades. My favorite stories about it revolve around the minor league baseball career of Mickey Mantle, who legend has it would climb out the windows of the Drake to do a little carousing in the evening when his team was in town.
The $5.2 million renovation will change the building into a senior housing unit. Construction is expected to begin later this summer and be completed by July 2006.
The Drake has been a fixture in Carthage for decades. My favorite stories about it revolve around the minor league baseball career of Mickey Mantle, who legend has it would climb out the windows of the Drake to do a little carousing in the evening when his team was in town.
Neosho Forums has scoop on Moark-type system
Neosho Forums, in addition to the scoop it had on the 20-page prison manifesto from Newton County Jail prisoner Martin Lindstedt, also has the lowdown on an egg operation in Malcom, Iowa, that uses the same technology that Moark says it will use when it expands its operation in Neosho.
You can find the information at:
http://neoshoforums.com/MO/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2351
You can find the information at:
http://neoshoforums.com/MO/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2351
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