THE GOSSIP PAGE
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Christmas Carolers came by to sing for us.
Notice the head of the dog, he sang too.
MERRY CHRISTmas.
HELEN L. "Sis" Cottrell
October 28, 1925 - December 16th, 2005
daughter of John Nelton and Ella Marie Allensworth Anderson
Married James Edward "Jim" Cottrell Feb 16, 2952
Jerry Brandt and Family
Live for the Moment
Feast from the Past
Dr! eam of the Future
Good golly, another year, filled with adventure, and new acquaintances, will end too soon! This year started in Phoenix, Arizona. In July, I saw the sights in Salt Lake City, Utah. In August, I met my new granddaughter, Free, in Greensboro, North Carolina. In September and October, I ate fresh fish daily from the Pacific Ocean that surrounds Micronesia and the Republic of Palau. In November and December, the Big Apple, New York City, has entertained me. Not done, My New Years Eve will pass in Greensboro, North Carolina. Am I not blessed to have a wonderful family and many friends with whom to share my life? Traveling makes me dizzy or dizzier!
This Christmas is special because I’m healthy, warm, lucky, and surrounded by loved one! s. It is time to sing Christmas carols, to roll popcorn balls, to pull taffy, to fatten on eggnog, to sip hot wine, and to count ones blessings.
To you
Merry Christmas
And a
Happy New Year
Gay Gretchen Smith
For those who remember La Grange in the early 50's - Gay
Smith was Gay Miller - Tyke a Shirley Miller,
She had a brother Todd and a brother Jock.
Jerry,
I received this today, and normally I don't do the "Pass this on, or your left leg will fall off" crap, but this is is an exception
It is without saying that many people other than the LaGrange local residents read your "Gossip Page", so I decided to share this with you, in the event you would like to help me offend a few people.
.
Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!
Gary G. Marshall
By Debbie Daniel
I'm on a "Merry Christmas" mission and I'm in full throttle. My little yellow VW Beetle has turned into a Christmas billboard with Merry Christmas written across the back window. Yes, I've decided to trek off to work everyday on the public highways with a message that seems to offend people.
At stop lights, I even turn my music up a little louder, and to top it off, I sing along with it. Don't I know that stopping at a red light to roll my windows down only to share the joy of Christmas carols on public streets is a No-No? Don't I fear the Christmas Gestapo and those who would have me remove the written message from my car?
I'm sorry folks, but the only person I'm concerned about "offending" during this Christmas season is the Lord himself. LEAVE THAT MANGER ALONE! We've allowed the Baby Jesus to be kicked out of His lowly manger, and those offended by Christmas are still not happy.
I refuse to let this happen. I'm going to do my part to make sure "Merry Christmas" doesn't become extinct. Because like it or not, if the believers in Christmas don't take a stand now, it's gone forever.
Listen folks, the Christian community has been underestimated before; we will have to show ourselves again.
I walked into a Wendy's Restaurant the other day and was rather exuberant with my "Merry Christmas" greeting to the manager. He didn't have much of a response and I said, "Where's your Christmas spirit?" He said, "We're not allowed to use the words "Merry Christmas" when greeting customers. We can only say "Happy Holiday."
This morning I grabbed a quick breakfast at a Whataburger Restaurant. I noticed there wasn't a single decoration in the store. I asked the manager why they weren't decorated for Christmas. He told me the corporate headquarters decided not to send any decorations to any of their stores, and he didn't know why.
After I heard about all the Macy's and Federated Stores taking down their Merry Christmas signs, the Target stores not allowing the Salvation Army to "Ring the Christmas bells," and the many incidents of children, choirs, and bands not allowed to play or sing Christmas carols, I realized it was happening right here in my own little Texas town.
How can this be? Not Texas!
We do, however, have a store, Hobby Lobby, that plays nothing but Christmas carols during the season. On Christmas Day they run a full page ad in our local newspaper. That ad is not to promote the store, but uses the entire page to tell the story of Jesus' birth. Now that's taking a stand. We need to thank them.
When I saw a news report the other evening of children being taught new words to a song we've sung for years - "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" - I was saddened to hear "We Wish You a Splendid Holiday."
I know now that it's just a matter of time that the "Merry Christmas" greetings will be gone. Look around your town. Notice the "Holiday" greetings and not "Christmas." It's happening right before our very eyes.
Start singing the songs; go down the streets of America singing to your heart's content. Get some of those wash-off markers that these kids use to write on their car windows when they're rooting for their hometown football team. It's easy to do, and if a torrential rain washes it off, write it on there again.
We've got to get this message out. "Go Tell It On the Mountain . . . that Jesus Christ is Born." Sing it, speak it, be a billboard for our Lord.
The story of this "Baby Jesus" alone has brought about more goodwill at this time of year than any other day we celebrate. How can we sit back and allow Him to be snuffed out of our lives?
Is it Jesus, or is it His followers that the "offended" don't like? What kind of revulsion galvanizes one to campaign so vehemently against the mere mention of His name, the mere singing of a carol, or the mere visual of a sign that says "Merry Christmas?"
I can listen to my own boss at work use some of the vilest words and follow up with, "Excuse my French." I may cringe inside at his damning of God's name, but I tolerate it. So if you don't like me wishing you a "Merry Christmas," I'll say, "Excuse my joy." You may cringe that I celebrate the birth of Jesus, but just tolerate it.
I cannot be concerned that "Merry Christmas" offends you. If I'm not careful, the day will come when saying I'm a Christian will offend you.
I'm offended that you're offended. How about that?
When we get to a point that we can no longer take part in a tradition we hold dear, we have no choice; we either defend that tradition or we give it up to those who say NO. That's it . . . period. So, which will it be?
I'm not giving up my "Merry Christmas" joy to anyone. If I know of someone that celebrates another holiday during this time of year, I will be glad to wish them whatever holiday they want. Just tell me what it is and I'll shout it to the world and wish you a grand celebration.
Just give me Christmas. To you merchants: Stop being so hypocritical and "filling your tills" on the back of Jesus! Who do you think is the symbol of giving at this time of year? It was the wise men bringing gifts to the newborn Christ-child.
You want your coffers full, but have ordered your employees to take down all the Merry Christmas signs. If that's the case, I'll buy gifts at a place that understands my joy.
If you're worried about offending someone, you just did. The most recent Newsweek survey shows that 82% of Americans believe that Jesus is the Son of God. So, in trying not to offend a few, you've offended many.
It's okay to jump into the "Merry Christmas" spirit when it fills your cash register, but let's call it something else . . . and don't stop giving . . . and don't stop buying. . . we'll just change the name and you'll never know the difference.
I know the difference and I'm feeling it greatly. It's hard not to be aware that townships across our country have actually banned the singing of Christmas carols because it might offend someone. And it's not just the religious songs; it's the secular ones too. No more "Jingle Bells" or "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" because they're associated with Christmas. Boy, aren't we getting sensitive?
If we're not celebrating Christmas for the hope it gives with the birth of our Savior . . . there is no hope!
I noticed a few years ago that we changed the name of Abraham Lincoln's and George Washington's birthday so as to be all inclusive regarding the Presidents. Hark, if we should recognize anyone as exceptional. Now it's called Presidents' Day.
Well, if we're going to be so all inclusive, next month I'll have to refer to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as Civil Rights Leaders' Day. We don't want to exclude great Americans like Rosa Parks or Cesar Chavez, do we? And to think that Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton might be left out.
We might need to change Mother's Day, Father's Day, and Grandparents' Day to All Parents' Day. Just lump them all together.
It sounds ridiculous, doesn't it? So what's the difference?
My freedom to celebrate Christmas in the tradition of the Christian religion is as much my right as it is your right to be offended by it. So what are we going to do? Did anyone hear me . . . what are we going to do?
Do we defend a person's right to go forward with a time tested tradition (how about 2000 years?), or do we defend a person's right to end it all because they're offended? As long as we live in this great land and have the freedom to express ourselves and what we believe in, we will always offend someone.
If we try to make everything right for everyone, we won't have anything for anyone.
May you always have Christmas in your heart!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~
What Debbie Daniel started, let's not let it die here. Let's all do our part.
Let's do something ourselves, and then too, let's pass this on to every Christian we know and if enough of us shout it out, maybe someone, somewhere, will hear us and stop this insanity of Atheism from gripping our Country.
Merry Christmas to All and God Bless
CHRISTMAS CARNIVAL
La GRANGE COMMUNITY YOUTH CENTER
To see the pictures of all the kids who saw Santa Claus CLICK HERE to get to the Youth Center website
Then click on the PAST EVENTS Button
======================================================
The La Grange Community Youth Center wants to thank
The La Grange Town & Country Bank
The La Grange Chamber of Commerce
The TKE's College kids
And all those who came to eat and watch the little ones.
Wednesday Dec 21, 2005
Today is the first day of Winter and it is supposed to get Warmer?
Those that are out and about the town can see the City crew cleaning the south dump property owned by Triangle Refineries. They will spend millions doing good work for Triangle and sue local citizens. Suremakes sense doesn't it.
I had hoped to have all my ducks in a row to give some cops a Christmas present, but it looks like it will be a late Christmas present. But, they will get my present.
Monday Dec 12, 2005
Here is what the American Civil Liberties Union ( ACLU) Does for YOU!
They file suits everywhere against Christians
Removing nativity scenes from public property
Banning songs such as Silent Night from schools
Refusing to allow students to write about the Christian aspect of Christmas in school projects
Renaming Christmas break Winter break
Refusing to allow a city sponsored Christmas parade to be called a Christmas parade
Not allowing a Christmas tree in a public school
Renaming a Christmas tree displayed on public property a Holiday tree
Sue states to force them to legalize homosexual marriage
Force libraries to remove porn filters from their computers
Sue the Boy Scouts to force them to accept homosexuals as scout leaders
Help legalize child pornography
Legalize live sex acts in bars in Oregon
Protect the North American Man Boy Love Association whose motto is "sex by eight or it is too late"
Censor student led prayer at graduation
Remove "under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance
Remove "In God We Trust" on our currency
PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE GAVE $8.5 Million to the ACLU - Cancel your insurance
Thursday Dec 8th
Robert Rees 76 of La Grange Missouri passed away Wednesday. A lot of people in town are wondering who Robert Rees was. Well, if you drove downtown most any day the past couple years, you would have seen him. He was always out riding around on his scooter with the red flag. He loved to have you stop and visit and just talk. He will be missed by a lot of the guys at Caseys.
Thursday Dec 8th one day after the attack on
Pearl Harbor.
The sleeping giant is awake.
Today, the La Grange Street department is out
actually using the snowplows on the streets.
It is going to be a bad snow.
News around La Grange
this past week.
Compliments to the Canton Press News Journal
Ronnie and Nancy Howe had a real nice Thanksgiving time with a lot of Foley's and Kunz and Ruffs.
Larry and Maxine Wolfmeyer went to Spring Hill Kans to visit Phillip
Jim and Betty Leeser had a bunch of relatives visit them thanksgiving.
Margaret Sturhaun had her grandchildren visit.
The Jamison children came home to visit mom.
Gladys Robinson is visiting in Canton
Bobby Heather came home to visit Magdalene.
Say a prayer for Jim Brown
If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
Happy moments, praise God.
Difficult moments, seek God.
Quiet moments, worship God.
Painful moments, trust God.
Every moment, thank God.
MAY YOUR STUFFING BE TASTY, MAY YOUR TURKEY BE PLUMP.
MAY YOUR POTATOES 'N GRAVY HAVE NARY A LUMP,
MAY YOUR YAMS BE DELICIOUS,
MAY YOUR PIES TAKE THE PRIZE,
MAY YOUR THANKSGIVING DINNER
STAY OFF OF YOUR THIGHS.
Happy Thanksgiving!
As you open your pockets for yet another natural disaster, keep these facts in mind:
Marsha J. Evans, President and CEO of the American Red Cross... salary for year ending 06/30/03 was
$651,957 plus expenses.
Brian Gallagher, President of the United Way receives a $375,000 base salary, plus numerous expense benefits.
The Salvation Army's Commissioner Todd Bassett receives a salary of only $13,000 per year (plus housing)
for managing this $2 billion dollar organization.
WHO SAYS MERRY CHRISTMAS IN THEIR ADS
TRUE VALUE
WHO DOESN'T MERRY CHRISTMAS IN THEIR ADS
K-Mart - Wal-Mart - Sears
Remember those businesses that believe in GOD!
Barack
Obama Won't Admit Byrd Error
Sen. Barack Obama is blasting President Bush for not
admitting alleged mistakes he made in waging the
But the up-and-coming black Democrat still has yet to
acknowledge his own mistake in endorsing and raising campaign funds for
notorious one-time Ku Klux Klansman, Sen. Robert Byrd.
On the
"Straight answers to critical questions. That's what
we don't have right now. Members of both parties and the American people have
now made clear that it is simply not enough for the president to simply say 'We
know best' and 'Stay the course.' "
But Obama still hasn't given a straight answer about his
endorsement for the former Grand Cyclops, who, until recently, was still using
the "N"-word in television interviews.
In a fundraising letter issued on Byrd's behalf earlier
this year, the celebrated black Democrat declared:
"In 2006, Senator Byrd will be the target of
Republicans because he stands up for what he believes. Will you join me in
supporting Senator Byrd's campaign for re-election?"
And just what does Sen. Byrd believe?
After leaving the Klan in 1946 the West Virginia Democrat
remained an unabashed admirer of the anti-black terror group. "The Klan is
needed today as never before and I am anxious to see its rebirth," he urged
in a letter to the group's Grand Imperial Wizard later that year.
Byrd led the filibuster of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and
called notorious white supremacist Sen. Richard B. Russell, who was chiefly
remembered for blocking anti-lynching legislation, "my mentor." In
1972 Byrd sponsored legislation to name the Senate's main office building after
Russell.
La Grange High School Reunion
Jim Mitchell is running an AD in the Canton Paper to get a whole La Grange High School class reunion
If you are interested in getting your class together, contact Jim at 217-221-9081
It doesn't matter if you graduated or not, Let's get together.
Jill Brocksmith 25 point
NINA PAINTER
An Open House will be held on November 26, 2:00-5:00 at the LaGrange Youth Center.
Cards only - no gifts please.
She will be 90 years old. Also, we are asking everyone to bring a story or memory of Nina to share, if they have one. If not, come anyway and enjoy talking to an old woman.
The United Nations now wants to take over the internet and charge a fee ONLY to United States users to give FREE internet to the MUSLIMS.
GRANDMA'S
CUPBOARD
FOR
DEER HUNTERS
OPEN
SATURDAY FROM 4:30am
SERVING
BISCUITS AND GRAVY
Also she has the best Eggs - Sausage and toast in the mornings.
November 9, 2005
Speaking of the Grandma's cupboard, I built the building and the property in the back by hauling tons and tons of sand and gravel from Ramsey Jones while building a lagoon. On the East side which is the alley side, I had problems with rain washing away the sand and leaving large ruts. So I pushed the sand and gravel back and hauled in large rocks and added concrete to keep the sand and gravel from washing away. This has been that way since 1979. Now, the other day the Public Works Foreman decided that the rock and concrete ON PRIVATE PROPERTY shouldn't be there. He asked the property owner if he could remove "just one big rock" that seemed to him was a problem. If you go back behind the business now, you will see that he decided that all the rock and concrete holding the sand and gravel needed to be removed. NOW, the property owner will have to spend unneeded money to replace what ED Ensor took.
Now, I also found out that another property owner had worked for a couple of years to make the ditch bordering his property into a nice grass waterway he could mow and keep nice. Then the Public Works Foreman comes by and took a backhoe and dug a ditch all along where the property owner was keeping nice.
It just doesn't quit. The MAYOR and the City Councilmen just let the COPS and the City employees run amuck and do anything they want. Ed goes on the Youth Center and takes its rock, builds a water dam and pushes over a tree and leaves a complete mess. The he goes and cuts two trees down near another persons property that were perfectly good trees and on and on.
The other day, I was coming North on 2nd street from the casino. A COP sees me and even while I am still in the street, he calls dispatch to see if the initials JB has the right to be on the property at 700 South 2nd. He was told yes. I watched as he drove by as I heard his search for a crime and he stared at me and then stopped and asked if I had a problem. I said no and that he really needed to mind his own business and like the other box of rocks, he started to try instigate a fight. But, he wasn't smart enough to get it done. They came by and stopped and stared as I was taking out the trash at the youth center and when I put my own out, they drove by slow and creeped up the hill looking back at me. Just more attempts at intimidation and harassment.
ED ENSOR and THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR SAY THEY ARE SORRY TO JERRY BRANDT
To show that they are sorry they PAVED the road to Jerry Brandt's Place
They did the most excellent job of paving they have ever done. take a look at this nice road.
And Richard Hess is selling his Ford tractor.
The Youth Center was Packed with kids last night.
HEAD START
114 North Main Street La Grange, Mo. 63448
More pictures are here CLICK HERE
2 registered sex offenders live within 300 feet of new Head Start
Mayor and City
Administrator
screw over poor people
Yesterday Ed Ensor doing
his best to screw over poor people who can't defend themselves went to a piece
of property in La Grange and cut down two nice trees. There was no notification
to the property owner at any time that Ed was going to do to her as he did to
the Youth Center. Here is a picture of them cutting the trees down. 
They ended up cutting both of her trees down. The Mayor said tough, the City Administrator said they had the right, The City Attorney Jeff Curl refused to stop the carnage.
So people of La Grange, if you have a tree on the street side of your property, ED ESNOR may cut it down too. WATCH OUT.
The people of La Grange are now harassed by the POLICE and The City street foreman.
SCREW THE PEOPLE ED ENSOR, JUST LIKE YOU DID TO THE KIDS.
NOVEMBER 12th United Methodist Church
GOD'S PORTION SALE
November 8, 2005
Jerry,
A couple of weeks ago, I asked you about printing a story about an accident back
in July. This is to let everyone know they have the right to question what goes
on after an accident, we hope no one else has to go through what we did.
Don Cleeton
Lewis County 911
Emergency Communication Center (or lack of)
The story you are about to read is true. The names have not been changed to
protect anyone.
On July 27, 2005 (around noon) Evan Laws from Canton and his friend Kelley
Walker from Quincy were en route from Canton to meet Evans mother (Heidi) at
work. Kelley was driving his mid-size Buick; a drive that should have only taken
around half an hour. They never made it. Heidi began making phone calls to
Evan’s friends to see if anyone had heard from or seen them. Evan’s
girlfriend had talked to him around 12:00 on the cell phone, they were on their
way to Quincy. This was the last time anyone ever talked to him. During the
course of the day, several attempts were made to contact him on the cell phone,
only to receive the voice mail. That evening still having not heard anything,
Kelley’s dad drove around the Quincy area as well as to Canton and back
looking for the boys; Heidi did the same. Around 9:00pm Heidi made contact with
Canton Police Department to file a missing person report. Officer Tuter (#104)
took a detailed report. Heidi didn’t have all the pertinent information;
license plate information, driver’s license numbers, etc; so she went home and
returned with this information. The report was finished and okayed by Chief
Bringer around 9:55 pm. In most cases, missing persons reports are not made for
24 hours, but the situation warranted this early report.
The 911 center was contacted at 10:24pm by Officer Tuter that he was faxing the
missing person report. The full report was faxed to 911 and received by 10:40
pm. The report was forwarded to the Missouri Highway Patrol in Macon via the
M.U.L.E.S. (Missouri uniform law enforcement system). They received this report
at 11:02 pm and broadcast it at 11:04pm and again at 9:00am the next morning,
July 28. The morning of July 28, 2005, John Walker (Kelley’s dad) made another
trip to Missouri looking for the boys. He stopped at every overpass, ditch and
creek on the north bound side of Highway 61 till he got to Canton. He then
turned around, headed south on highway 61 doing the same thing; stopping at
every overpass, ditch, and creek. At approximately 10:30am at Durgens Creek
about, 5 miles south of La Grange, the wreckage of the Buick and the bodies of
my nephew Evan Laws and his friend Kelley Walker were found upside down at the
bottom of Durgens Creek by John Walker, some 21 hours after they were last seen.
Law enforcement was contacted as well as Medic 1, first responders & rescue
crews from La Grange and Canton.
So do we really know how our paid professionals handle our life and death
emergencies? Should we have to be the ones to find the bodies of our loved ones?
These are a just a couple of our many questions that needed answers. How do you
get answers to these questions ? We started calling for meetings with anyone who
had any connection with this accident, with a very angry Heidi leading the way.
Our first meeting was at the Canton Police Department with the mayor, the police
board and the entire Canton Police Department as well as Heidi, Vicky and myself
in attendance. The big questions were why did John Walker have to find the body
of his son, why were the families never officially notified by Highway Patrol,
why did it seem no one had any compassion for the situation, and why did it seem
there was a break down in communication? The answers that we got that night were
not the real issue but I have to tell the whole story for the pieces to fall
into place. Chief Bringer did spend a lot of time informing us how the system
works; from the missing person report to the path the report takes after it
leaves their office. We concluded this meeting after receiving copies of the
report.
Heidi next scheduled a meeting with Missouri Highway Patrol. Attending this
meeting were: Lieutenant James Wilt from Macon, Trooper A.A. “Tony”
O’Brien (the investigating officer from Canton), and Sheriff David Parrish.
There were the same family members as before plus three more family members in
attendance for this meeting. Mr. Wilt had copies of the missing persons report
the patrol had received on July 27, it was nothing comparable to the one sent by
Canton Police Department.
After talking over the differences we found that the problem wasn’t with the
original report, it was with our 911 communications center. We concluded this
meeting knowing our next meeting would have to be with the 911 organization.
Heidi attempted to schedule a meeting with the 911 director and board members
only to get the cold shoulder and no returned phone calls. She finally contacted
Jeff McReynolds, the board chairman. He finally put her on the agenda to speak
at the next meeting. The meeting was held on September 20 at the 911 center.
Attending this meeting were board members Jeff McReynolds, Beth Kenney, Donna
Hoffman, Randy Route, Joe Clark, Greg Heindselman and 911 Director Gretchen
Keith. There were also 6 family members in attendance. The big question was
“Why was there such a difference between the Canton report sent to them and
the report that the patrol actually received. It took 2 months of digging to
find out that is the Lewis County 911 center has a problem sending a report,
they send what will go through without a lot of effort and disregards the rest.
The report which was filled out by Officer Tuter and faxed to 911 included:
1. Both boys full names
2. Description of Evan
3. Social Security Number
4.Color, make, model, and year of car
5. License plate information
6. Direction of travel and expected time of arrival
7. Last seen / heard from
The report sent to Highway Patrol from 911 included:
1. Missing adult - Evan Laws
(age, height, weight, hair and eye color)
At approximately 11:00am when Sheriff Parrish arrived, he apparently told the
Herald Whig reporter that he didn’t know of a missing person report until he
got the radio call concerning the accident. When we questioned him later, he
confirmed this. He’s across the street from the 911 center and was not
contacted.
Through out this whole ordeal, virtually every one involved from the accident
scene up to our final good-byes (to Evan) has treated us with the utmost
respect. We’ve learned a lot about policy and procedures; learned what can
happen behind the scenes (including KHQA Channel 7 news crews trying to film the
wreckage, while the boys’ bodies were still in it, until Trooper Tony
O’Brien stopped them). We met with the La Grange Fire Chief and his wife -
both offered condolences and assured us that the boys were treated with the care
and respect they deserved. Sheriff Parrish and M.O.D.O.T. made arrangements for
the Durgens Creek sign (that had notes written to the boys on it) to be given to
the family. I can’t say enough about Officer Tuter of the Canton Police
Department who drove by Heidi’s house several times that night in hopes of
seeing Evan’s return. I believe in this case Mr. Tuter went above and beyond
the call of duty.
As far as the Lewis County 911 Center - they botched a report to the patrol and
then admitted there was a hole somewhere that needed to be plugged. They said
that they tried to send this report at least 3 times and weren’t sure what
parts went. When I asked if they bothered to call the highway patrol to see if
the report had been received their reply was, “That’s not our job.” They
are a communication center, YES it is their job!! Anyone who listens to the
scanner can really get a good laugh at times…..Ex. “If you give me a minute
I’ll holler at them,” or in giving directions that you know are wrong.
During one meeting with several officers, I asked this question that no one
would answer, “Have any of you been given directions that have gotten you
lost?” The only reply was a big smile and a nodding of the heads.
I made a comment at the 911 meeting that one of my fears is that because of the
incomplete information or lack of communication is going to put one of our law
officers where there might be a weapon involved, the officer is not informed and
could be harmed, to which Donna Hoffman spoke right up and said, “That won’t
happen in Lewis County.” Well, Donna on 9/11 the people in New York City
probably said the same thing.
I could go on and on about our 911 center and I know I’m going to hear about
it; maybe I should start a watchdog group to keep an eye on things. Emergency
911 centers are a great tool in emergencies if you have well trained staff and
management that can handle the challenge. Through out the whole meeting, the
director kept her back to us and didn’t say a thing. Myself, if I thought that
I was in the right, I would want to defend myself and my staff.
In closing, I urge everyone to get to know their officials, from Mayor to
Representative, from Police to Fire. If you have something to report make sure
the information is accurate; they can only do as well as the information given
to them. The life they save could be yours or the life of a loved one.
Don Cleeton
Ewing, Mo.
These boys laid in a ditch 21 hrs. because 911 didn’t forward information,
this could be your family member. ASK QUESTIONS! Can you imagine the pain and
suffering they would have been going through if they had not died instantly. And
nobody looking for them.
Since Don talked to me about this, I was contacted by a prominent citizen in the
County about 911. If you live in Lewis County you may or may not know that the
Lewis County E911 is funded by a SALES TAX. All the other counties are funded by
a tax on the phone service at a flat fee.
By Lewis County going for a SALES TAX, the people of Lewis County get hit hard
with every car, truck, motorcycle, boat, that they purchase. This idea brings in
more money than any other way to finance E911.
NOW, the Lewis County 911 wants more money. They can't soak the people of Lewis
County as they will then have to divulge the large amount of money they are
raking in. They decided to do it a different way and ask Knox and Clark County
to join the Lewis County E911. The pretense is that it is wasteful spending to
have 3 E911 operations. So, it will be better for all for the other Counties to
join Lewis County.
This all brings us to the questions... IF, the other Counties join Lewis County,
are they going to have to pass a sales tax like we have? Will the other Counties
just collect their small phone fee and Lewis County tax payers pay the big
bills?
SO, will the Lewis County 911 make the people of Lewis County pay the big part?
Don't forget that the Mayor and City Council still haven't lived up to their
lies to get the bond issue passed for the sewer plant.
AND, there may not be any grants as Promised either.
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Don,
Don't know for sure how to respond to this information except to say that we live in a world where people don't take responsibility for their actions. It's a shame that some think that they get paid to do whatever they want and nothing more. I guess it's situations like this that has made me very cynical and not willing to trust people in charge. It's just too bad that it takes a tragedy like this to make us see how truly incompetent some people are. I hope that some good will come of this information and people will wake up and take appropriate action. Hopefully other lives will not be lost or seriously hurt in the meantime.
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