APRIL GOSSIP PAGES
APRIL 28, 2000
Well now, today is another vacation for the street super. Day after day after day.
If you are interested in buying some property here in La Grange, Isabel Reaves has some for sale. The first place she has for sale is just North of Rickie Robertson. There is a lot and a half with a mobile home on it. I believe they are lots 3 and the South half of lot 2 in block 29 in the North addition to La Grange. The other place is where Charlene Pratt and Terry Feldkamp live. I believe there are 2 or 3 lots there with a nice house on it. I believe they are lots 1 and 2 and maybe 3 of block 15 of the Wrights & Shropshires addition. She is looking for a quick sale on these properties. If you want to make an offer (cash), call me and I will relay it to her.
April 27, 2000
Well now, today is another vacation day for the street super. My how many we have coming. Its seems just like yesterday we had a vacation day. One of these days, we will have enough to take our two week vacation. Take a look at all those X's.
I had a person to complain to me about the south end of town again. It seems this person doesn't like all the junk stored on south 3rd street. I thought that the gambling boat people were going to take care of that. I guess not.
I receive all kinds of "unsigned letters", "anonymous phone calls", "fictitious emails", all the time. The other day I received one of the "unsigned letters" that hit on a whole lot of subjects. Some, I can not confirm. So, here are some of the subjects brought up.
The first thing was a question on some place that does women's hair about a license. I couldn't make out the reason.
The next was about a restaurant grilling out on the street. I talked to the restaurant and was told that the health dept does ok this. (If not, several community organizations are in trouble).
The next was a complaint about Bunge's chaff, which a lot of people don't like either. There are a lot of times that it does look like it is snowing downtown then they are filling a barge.
The next was about the Library hours. I am not sure about the hours of the library so I don't know what hours they are open.
The next complaint was about rich person in town running a kid on a bicycle of the road and the police not doing anything because the person was rich.
The next was why the MFA station doesn't post this gas prices.
But the last was a hats off to the garden club.
All with no signature.
I get email from all over the States from people who used to live in town and want to know more about friends and relatives. I usually just email the info back and maybe a picture to show. I think what they want is like the LaGrange page in the Canton paper each week about who visited who.
April 25, 2000
I have been looking in the Hannibal paper, the St. Louis paper and the Keokuk paper for reprints. I saw it on the WGEM news, KHQA news, the Quincy Herald Whig and the PNJ. You know, the retirement article. The one about the wonderful woman who did wonderful things for all the people in La Grange and the town itself for 47 years.
Last April 9th, two dogs visited my place for chicken dinner. I caught the two dogs dining on chicken in my shed and tied them up and called the police. At the time of the dinner I only saw 4 entrees of chicken being served or waiting to be served. I told the police that planned desert (being a mother duck) was missing. I was asked the value of the 4 chicken dinners and having not purchasing any lately I thought about $5.00 per meal was about right.
Now since that time, desert, (being the mother duck) which happened to be a just purchased wood duck was found dead. And, another chicken dinner that was bitten by the dogs finally died.
Today, I get a letter from the City Attorney. Read the rest and ask how hard it is to pass the bar. His letter to me stated that no one witnessed the killing. ( I guess, I needed an independent person to see the killing). I also have to guess that the attorney does not take my statement that I caught the dogs eating dinner as not a viable witness.)
Next he stated that he really wasn't sure which dog did the actual killing. (I guess if one dog did the killing and the other decided to eat too, this Attorney could get entirely confused.)
Since the time of the dinners, I later found that buying new laying hens were going to cost me more money, like $7.50. Now, I have a little higher cost than estimated and more dinners were served, even though not all the dinners were able to be eaten. But, all the dinners were served and any time you order something in a restaurant and don't eat it, you still pay for it, right? Plus, I furnished a bill from the hatchery where the wood duck was purchased so the attorney could see the actual cost of replacement.
This whole mess so thoroughly confused this so called attorney that he has stated that he cannot help with the cost of the dinners. I am on my own.
So folks, this is only to show you what the City of La Grange has hired for an attorney. Of course, if you want more of an idea as to what kind of attorney the City has hired, just take a look at the statements made in the last Council meeting minutes. It is no wonder why the City Council doesn't heed the Charter or City Ordinances. If the cost of a few chickens and a duck can throw this guy, charters and ordinances are out in space.
April 24, 2000
This is a day off with pay for the Street super. Jim is gone, Marlo is gone, Sam is gone, WOW, a whole day to ride around with full pay and no work. A normal person would think that today would be a good day to do PREVENTIVE maintenance on the street equipment, like grease, oil, check, tighten.
A question was asked why two police cars were at the police chiefs house for several days. Another question that keeps coming up ALL the time is, why is a La Grange police car seen in Quincy so much.
The La Grange Lions Club fish fry was very good. The fish wasn't soaked in milk this time. It looked like a very successful fish fry. Good show guys.
APRIL 23, 2000
Talk about a slow week. Nothing has been happening around town worth talking about. The gambling boat people were at the Council meeting putting off building the boat some more. Ho Hum. I noticed that one of the NEWLY elected councilmen was being tested by a City employees husband. This was while he had his little son in the tavern. Watch out buddy. Rumor is that Fred (no prayer here) Wiewel and Ralph (pave my drive free) Martin are getting set up to do the good cop, bad cop on one of the new councilmen like they did the old Mayor. They know that Martin and the new councilman had words before, so this time Ole Freddie is going to be the good guy and help the new councilman work with Ralphie. Even the other new councilman isn't getting off scott free. It seems these others are not happy that the new other new councilman bowls a lot with the Mayor. This should be interesting to see how bad Martin and Wiewel will want to get rid of the middle ward newbie. All the new councilmen have to do is get by 12 meetings.
A word of warning to the new councilmen. Do not be suckered into the closed meetings. The law just allows closed meetings, they are not mandatory. Only those who have something to hide go into closed meetings, isn't that right boys? You also had better get ALL the figures in the budget that they will pass BEFORE you take office. As a Councilman, you have every right, in fact you should make it a point to go to City Hall and see every fact and figure, every source of income and every expense. You are responsible for the health and welfare of this City.
New pictures have been added to the site. Click Here
Check out the April 11th Council Meeting. Interesting. Click Here.
APRIL 19, 2000
Well now, the election this time should tell Ralph (pave my drive free) Martin and Fred (no prayer here) Wiewel that next year is a big good-bye. But, by then they will have done all that is needed to be done to get their boat here. Then, they will be taken care of for trashing the City for the boat. But, this election shows the voters are getting rid of the people who have been trampling the City Charter and Ordinances in the name of the boat. The people are all wondering just how far the City is in debt and what it might cost THEM if the boat people back out. The people of this City want someone that will stand up for what is right and not LIE to them or keep secrets from them. They want a Council and a MAYOR that is totally open and above board.
Well now Roger, you and Mike have a chance to make things right.
In fact, if my resources are right, there are not as many people actually FOR the gambling boat as I thought and the boat people think.
Change of subject. There was a person who needed a place to rent and another person rented person #1 a whole house completely furnished. In fact the house had a lot of old vintage furniture and other antique items. The house and the furnishings were treasures for the owners and the City and dated back to the early 1800s. What would you think of person #1 who rented the house and sold and or threw away all of the furniture of which a lot of it was antique vintage? Then threw all the old dishes out in the yard? Then trashed the place by throwing all the old books in the libraries in piles in every room? Dated heirloom pictures were piled in with clothes on the floor. Old phonograph records were smashed. Historical books were thrown in piles broken open. The sight of the way these delicate items, taken care of carefully for over a hundred and fifty years, were strewn about would make any historian cry. Hundreds of antique sheet music dating back to the early 1800s are now being cataloged and preserved. Most was found piled on the floor like it was ready to be thrown out and burned.
Some of the historical pictures are posted on this site. Go to the home page and click on the old picture icon. Pictures of the old mineral well as it changed over the years. Lover leap and another picture of the Wyaconda River. More will be posted as they are cataloged and preserved. If you could see the damage done to history as I have seen, it would make you cry.
April 18, 2000
Today is election day, go vote. I had to add another BIG X on the street supers days off. Last Friday was another vacation day. Or so I was told.
I added another feature to the home page. This is for pictures of years ago. Take a look at the old mineral well. Several views.
The Main Street Memorial Building is going up in the air.
April 16, 2000
Happy EASTER! If you didn't get to go to the Methodist Church fish fry last Friday. you missed some very very good fish. This group does such an excellent job of frying their fish that we had to come back three times just to be able to get in. By 6:30, when we finally did get in, some of the help were a little ragged, but they kept up with the load. I like carp that has not been soaked in milk. It makes the fish taste doughy, but the Methodist Church doesn't soak their fish in milk and prepares it excellently. I like their fish.
An emailer asked me why I do not say anything about the Water Super. Well, I have to say in all fairness that my wife worked for Martha and I didn't want to jeopardize her job. She was the sole support of the family and without her job, I was afraid we wouldn't make. But, now that Martha has sold out and my wife lost her job, I guess the water super is now fair game.
So, here is what I have on the water super so far. Last Friday he put in a new drain tube for my neighbor. And, he added new rock. And, he had Sam help him. I am not sure why the Street super didn't help him, probably another vacation day.
April 14, 2000
Well everyone, today is the day for the big retirement party at the bank. You are all invited, well everyone except those that had their loans turned down or accounts closed or property repossessed.
WARNING: This is a note to those trying to steal her property again. You put her in jail for property she didn't own. Then you sent her to prison for buying three batteries. Now you are still trying to steal her property. When are you going to have the guts to just BUY the property. It is for sale. Do you have to steal it from her too? Well, folks, she does have backer with big pockets now, and your attempt to use another Murphy to steal the property won't happen this time either.
Mungo has the right to sell it to you. Why don't you just go and make an HONEST offer instead of the back door theft you are trying.
In the race for councilmen in the middle ward, it looks like Tim Rossiter is the one who seems to be the one you would want to vote for. As anyone in town will tell you, there has been no love between me and him, but I have to say now he looks like the one I would vote for.
In the South ward, it looks like anyone who runs on a write in has an excellent chance of being voted in.
In the North ward, it looks like the money is on Powers. The last name started to hurt as it resembles the street super. But, talk is that Steve will fit right in with the two and the Mayor. So, a gambling person would have to bet on Powers. I still say the Steve would make a better Mayor. AND, if Andy gets beat, I think he should run for Mayor next year.
I would have voted for Andy this time as he could talk the talk but he wouldn't walk the walk.
It looks like, according to the PNJ Council minutes that the Council is setting up the Mayor for something. Fred (no prayer here) Wiewel and Ralph (pave my drive free) Martin do not give up anything, and they have made that perfectly clear in the past, unless, something is wrong or might go wrong in the future. Watch out Mr. Mayor.
April 10, 2000
Mr. Zahn called again today to inform me that he was not at a tavern when he called me. But, with the background noise I really can't be sure, so we will all have to take his word for it. He still tells me that he will pay me. So far all I have is two phone calls telling me so. As before, I will have to take his word for it.
I noticed some election signs around town. At least ONE person is trying to get elected. The others seem that just putting their name on the line is good enough. So far, only Tim Rossiter has shown that he is interested in the job and is willing to do something to get it. Only yessir in the south ward can just put his name on the line and expect to get elected, even he only gets his one vote. The rest will have to do something, anything.
It looks like the memorial to main street building is coming along again. The floor was poured Saturday and the steel is at the site.
A good question might be this. How did Dr. Neer get Janney to start work on his building so quick. I was always told that Janney was always booked up years in advanced.
Tonight is council meeting night.
April 9, 2000
Twice in one day. That's right, twice in one day I had to call the Mayor for assistance and both times he responded quickly and efficiently. Yesterday morning BFI for some reason didn't want to take my large items and a phone call to the Mayor had "7" I mean seven BFI trucks in 15 or so minutes picking up my large items.
Then, Saturday evening while I was eating supper, two dogs, one belonging to Kim Daggs or something like that and one belonging to a Corky, or so I was told, came to my place for a visit. I guess their owners had not fed them very well as they killed 4 chickens, a mother duck and several baby ducks. A phone call to the Mayor brought the police immediately. In the mean time a young girl who owned one of the dogs came to retrieve their dog. I wouldn't release the dog until I was paid for the damage. A few minutes later I received a threatening phone call from a Dick Zahn from a tavern in Labelle. He informed me that the dog was worth more than my life and threatened to kill me if the dog was hurt, not once but several times during the conversation. During the 15 minute phone call of threats, he would not come to retrieve the dog and pay for the damage. He did say his word was as good as the gold in Fort Knox and that he would pay me for the damage. But, now he and the other dog owner will have to deal with the City as the police came and took their dogs.
Last year a preacher's dog came to visit and helped himself to dinner of a couple of chickens. His word to pay was as good as the last one. It seems that these people with these Siberian Huskies which they love so much and care for so much and say are worth thousands of dollars do not worry about letting them run loose. But, they threaten another person's life when the dog is caught killing other animals. La Grange does have a vicious dog Ordinance and a dog can be deemed a vicious dog if it kills another animal. Both of these Siberian huskies who came for dinner seemed to me were underfed. The one today was so skinny I could feel his rib cage.
April 8, 2000
My wife spent all last week cleaning out the house, garage, sheds, everything. She is retired now and has time to do those things. Today was large item pickup day. She filled a trailer load of items, they were not very large or she would have made me load them on the trailer and I would have used a tractor with a loader. I did drive the truck with the trailer with all the items to the bottom of the hill as BFI has a fear of some sort to come to the top of the hill to get our trash, as required by Ordinance. BFI, came by, picked up all my neighbors items and never touched mine. I called BFI and was told that they do not unload trailers. So I called our Mayor and got his answering machine. I left my message about BFI not wanting to pick up my items and within 15 minutes there was 7 trucks there. Bob Farr said it took them exactly 7 minutes to unload the trailers. Now, even if I was Mayor I could not have gotten this taken care of as fast as this Mayor did. And, the Mayor drove by to make sure they did the job right. Now that it what I call a good Mayor.
Now, in regards to hiway 61. Those kids in Canton got a big ball rolling and have really sent some good messages to the State. The only problem I could see with that meeting they held the other day was the fact that NO ONE from La Grange was there to represent La Grange. The Hannibal paper mentioned La Grange numerous times in their article, the tv stations mention the name La Grange many times, BUT, not one time was any official from La Grange reported.
Where was Susan Dean of the La Grange Revitalization Organization? I thought the LRO was supposed to represent La Grange. Where was she? Or Jimmy (the politician) Ellison? Those two, I am told are the talking heads of the LRO. So, where were they?
Where was Jenny Murphy Reid? Is this to say her gambling boat isn't coming? If the Gambling boat is going to have people DRIVING to La Grange from everywhere, wouldn't you think that the gambling boat people would have been at this meeting to show support?
Where was the Mayor? Where were Ralph (pave my drive free) Martin and Fred (no prayer here) Wiewel? I was told that they have "sacrificed" 6 years of their lives for the people of La Grange to get this gambling boat. Then why didn't they attend the meeting to try to get a safer road for the gamblers? Haven't these people touted that 1000 cars a day would be coming to La Grange? Wouldn't you think these guys would have wanted to be there to represent La Grange and their gambling boat?
April 7, 2000
Well, today is another vacation day for the City Street Super, so we add another x to the row.
April 5,2000
Boy, did I get the evil eye today. I was radared both front and rear as I went to town this morning. I guess me keeping a copy of those letters someone wrote to me about the chief is making them nervous.
Another happy email was received from a southern Missouri person who is from La Grange. He stated he enjoys this page and also he saw the picture of a class mate. At one time he was a star basketball player for the La Grange High School. His father worked for the electric company and they lived on the North East corner of Arnold Tiemanns block. Tom Miller.
I noticed in the paper that the Missouri State Fire Departments are going to have a 3 day get together next May. Makes one wonder what it is going to cost the La Grange taxpayers for this.
Let's see now. The Council put up for bids for electrical work on the NEW City shed and NEW fire station. Due to the fact that they put the bid request only in the local PNJ, only one bid was received. They rightly rejected the obscene bid. But, you nice taxpayers get to pay even more. You see the Mayor and Council just told the bidder to get to work. Just like they did for the construction work on the buildings. Oh, well, maybe they can forward borrow more money from the gambling boat people. After one spends all his present income, nothing is left but to borrow on future income. You just have to hope it comes. Is that called betting on the come, like gambling?
APRIL 4, 2000
Today is election day. Vote for someone or something.
I am here to tell you that if I owned Double G, I would be at the door of every Councilman and the Mayor. I do not believe that it is right for the Mayor and Council to allow the police to sit and watch people come out of Double G and follow them home, especially following the car closely or running up real fast to scare the driver. I also do not believe it is right for the police to follow someone home from Double G and then go to the police department and call the person to come to the police station and then because they were summoned by the police officer to the station, arrest the driver for DUI. That has to be the lowest form of entrapment there ever was. I also have had reports of the lady cop following several members of one family around town watching for a way to stop them for DUI.
I know that there is not enough money to keep three full time officers and a dispatcher paid. It is plain to see that the public is wise to the speed traps. Did the Chief honestly believe that he could continuously arrest people to support his and his coworkers pay? Now the hit is on for anyone patronizing the Double G.
The only thing that will stop this insane Gestapo tactics by the Police Chief and Mayor is law suits. It is under the Mayors direction that the Police Chief operates. He also is under orders by Ralph (pave my drive free) Martin and Fred (no prayer here) Wiewel. When you do sue, add their names, as they give the orders.
April 3, 2000
I have been informed that last Wednesday was another half day vacation for the street super. So, we had to add another O on the chart. You all do know that these do not count as actual vacation days, the full amount of vacation time is still there.
It looks like a Councilman has taken over all the parks and recreation areas and is making them look pretty good. But, I hate to say this about the children of the town, but many times, basketball goals have been installed, and just as many times the children of the town destroyed them. But, I guess you gotta give children who have been deprived of the opportunity to be able to tear one down their chance too.
Looks like a new dentist is really materializing.
Are you going to vote tomorrow? What for? In looking over the items to vote for or against, at least for anyone in La Grange you really have no reason to vote. There is nothing to vote for or against.
In regards to the City election on April 18th, the poor people on the South Ward are stuck with same 'o - same 'o. Another reason NOT to vote.
In the Middle ward, there are three. The incumbent has already shown that his a master follower of Ralph (pave my drive free) Martin and Fred (no prayer here) Wiewel. Do you really want to vote back in a puppet. He even has trouble reading and voting on the minutes of the last meeting without looking for directions from the other two. SO, that leaves the other two.
The choice between the other two would be on the basis of which one will stand their ground on right over wrong. I would more likely believe that Ed Cox would be the one to try to get along and give in. If you ask them about their opinion on their running for office, you might want to ask each one if they would work with Andy Ayers. At least Andy does ask questions, IF, he would only vote right. YES, I do understand that the others follow the two, but AT LEAST make it 5 - 1. That is if Andy gets back in. If I were in the middle ward, I would have to lean toward Mr. Rossiter. He has been around all his life and has seen what has been done and I think he will take the time to at least try to do it right and be fair. It is a tough one on these two, either one has good points.
In the North Ward, we have Steve Giesbaum and Ronald Powers and Andy Ayers. Andy, whether you like me or not, I still think you are trying to do the right thing the right way. If you had voted the way you questioned the problems, I would have said vote for you back in with no qualms. But, even though you brought up and questioned the unethical actions of the Council, the votes were always 6-0.
SO, based on that, that leaves Steve and Ron. Steve has been on before and has done an excellent job as Councilman. I think he would be a better Mayor though. If I remember correctly, he was a lot like Andy in the fact that he questioned actions but voted with the others, but at that time the others were not trying to control the town and put it into debt. I don't know Mr. Powers, but I would have to assume that anyone willing to walk in a den of wolves, should be commended. I don't know if you would be doing him a favor by voting him in or not. From what I have heard, he will be a good Councilman. I think at this time that Mr. Powers would get my vote.
SO, If the people of La Grange are tired of a two man show borrowing the City further into debt and gambling the future of La Grange on the gambling boat, they now have a chance to do so.
The only problem is at this stage of the game is:::: You vote new blood in the North Ward, New blood in the Middle Ward, and same 'o same 'o in the South Ward, you will end up with a 4 -2 Council. BUT, maybe same 'o same 'o will see the light and stand on his own two feet. AT LEAST HOPEFULLY that will make it 3 -3 and force the Mayor to make a decision. Then all we can do is wait till next year to get two more NEW Councilmen and a NEW Mayor. Then and only then can the people of La Grange hopefully will get the City back on the right track.
How many of you were stopped the other afternoon by the police blockade and had to get out your drivers license? Well, maybe the next time we will have the 7 new police officers and not have to call in the highway patrol for help. Does LAPD113 ever move?
Did you hear about the fire chief driving all the way out to Route 6 to the grass fire to see if the other fire department would call La Grange for help? Of course today the water in the firewater truck got stale, so we had to dump all that water in the street and refill it.
The fire department has better hurry up and move so the Council can sell the property to the dentist for a carwash. He thinks that if 1000 cars a day come to La Grange, some of them will want to spend their winnings on washing their car. But, if the City puts the building up for bids another person may be the higher bidder. Mr. Neer, you are not alone.