December 31

December 31, 2004

You know, a person really hates to post something really bad on what is a joyous occasion of Christmas and New Years. But, I needed to post this information but, it doesn't need to be on this page. If you love dogs or children are near the computer, DO NOT click here.

December 30, 2004

Happy New Year

As a person that reads constantly and subscribes to everything, I came across an interesting article in contractormag.com, actually I get the magazine.

Do you remember why the City built the new $200,000.00 police station? Do you remember the employee that had such terrible eye problems because of "the mold"? How Councilman Sam Henderson and the Mayor decided that "the mold" was detrimental to life and limb of the police officers and the NEW $200,000.00 police station had to built?

Well, in a Riverside California Court, (one of the most LIBERAL courts in the land), there was a court case where a home owner sued a contractor for medical claims involving exposure to mold. A jury returned a verdict that there wasn't any medical problems that could be attributed to mold. The home owner lost and had to pay the builders attorney fees.

If you drive by the Foundry, you have seen all the water running out of the ground and down on the highway and freezing. Well, the City got it fixed. They went at the bottom of the hill and in the street and dug a hole and filled it back in.

In case you haven't noticed. The mineral well isn't putting out any water all now.

December 28, 2004

The year of 2004 is coming to an end. There is about 3 weeks left to sign up for Mayor and Councilman positions. For the past week or so the City has been at a standstill, well everyone except officer 118 and 114 who continue to "do their job". There will be several people who enjoyed their company for the Christmas Holidays. Good job boys.

December 23, 2004

The new manufacturing plant NEMO Mfg out on Route C. The old grocery store. They have been creating more and more work and have hired more workers and the outlook for the next year is even better. The Company has had the City Council and Mayor and City Administrator there several times, trying to explain to the City that a sewer line is needed for further expansion and more employment. They all agreed but said that the money is in short supply. Maybe next years budget.

At the last Council meeting the most intelligent Engineering Company in the world unveiled a NEW sewer line project for the City next year. Before you go any further, please click here and look at their New proposed sewer map for next year.

After looking at the NEW proposed sewer map, you probably recognized that the new sewer line is being proposed on the SOUTH end of town, a mile away from the mfg plant or Route C. Now, most of the possible people that will be able to hook on this new sewer line already have a septic tank and will not ever want to PAY for a sewer hook up until their present septic tank quits. So the benefit will be years to come

If you were the Mayor or Councilman, what would you do to an Engineering company that KNOWS that if sewer is not provided to a company that employs many people in town it will leave, but then proposed a new sewer line 5 times longer than needed for the mfg company??

You are right, they should be fired on the spot.

On another note. The new $15,000.00 boat dock is still attached to the river bank. There hasn't been thick enough ice to take it down the river yet. But, it is all at angles because of the ice. but, give old man river time.

December 22, 2004
The La Grange Foundry has been granted a pardon

News came today that the foundry has been sold again. This time the new owner wants to rehabilitate the place. The others saw dollars in scrap and wanted to scrap the place.

Now, just when you think you go them figured out... You get thrown a curve. The other night I again became in contact with another La Grange Police Officer. It was like the difference between daylight and dark. This officer knew what needed to be known and did his job in what anyone could call a professional manner. I can't just say enough how courteous and professional he was. This is one police officer the City can be proud of.

December 20, 2004

This past week end, the City put out their newsletter in which the Mayor addresses some of the doings of the City. He first commented on the snow removal, which we had twice so far and that they did a good job.

The Mayor then commented on the streets and the surveys sent out and he noted that YOU wanted water - sewer and streets done first. Then he complained about people complaining about wasting money.

Let me take time to explain to the Mayor and Council what the people are complaining about and what has been told to me. The people like the idea of the new street surfacing like what was done at the City Park. They like the curbing, but the problem comes up with the additional cost of all the underground huge pipes. The people think some streets need both resurfacing and curbing, they think other streets can just be resurfaced. Most of the people would have been very happy indeed with just putting on a smooth street.

On Annexation, I haven't talked to anyone who cares one way or another. But, there is a lot of pissed off people that the Officers of the Chamber sold the Ball Park to the City. Most everyone I talked to felt that if Pam Novinger and Ken Scheutz and Cheryl Lowe were to bothered by the Ball Park, all they had to do was resign and someone else would have taken over.

BUDGET. There isn't one person in town that would not like to see half a police department. They all think it is a waste of money and no one believes the lie that the Gaming Commission demands them.

We all knew that sooner or later the fire department will get a boat, the $19,500.00 bass boat they showed last year.

One last item: A Balanced budget. Let's do some math. A person makes $30,000.00 a year and has $30,000.00 in savings. He makes a budget so the he will spend $35,000.00. That is $5,000.00 more than he is making so he takes $5,000.00 out of his savings. Now he has a balanced budget.

The City of La Grange showed an income of $2.4 million dollars and an outcome of $2.8 million dollars. So they used $600,000.00 of savings to BALANCE THE BUDGET. It still comes out that the City is spending more money than it takes in. Period. That needs to stop.

Christmas decorations: As I said before, there has been many people happy to see the manger scene. But, there are some that think the city should have put in new light bulbs before they hung the decorations on the light poles. A lot of them are out.

Isn't it funny that after the City went after the old people in town and forced the demolition of their buildings costing these people THOUSANDS of dollars, that now they offer a $500 deal??? Let's be fair. Give these people their money back.

December 17, 2004

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I was coming down Broadway this evening in Quincy. When All of a sudden I see a fire truck go past me and on the side is LAFD. I could see after it went by that it was a La Grange Fire Department water truck.

Today I saw a LAPD watch a person assault another and then place a hand to another person which amounted to battery and when the assaulted person asked the officer to arrest the other for assault. he refused. Just another example of the box of rocks. Just another example of a police officer acting unbecoming of an officer. Just about like another officer lying to the Council in a hearing to get another officer fired. Too many unprofessional, untrained people with no direction.

There is an article in the St. Louis Paper about a city under investigation for nepotism. It is a good thing they don't come to La Grange, isn't it? St. Charles is under investigation for some people double dipping. It is a good thing they don't come to La Grange.

The city seems to be going to leave the new $15,000.00, 45 foot boat dock in the river to see how it handles the ice this winter.

When the City Administrator was hired back in June, He said he was going to come up with plans for the city for 5, 10 and 15 years and support local businesses.

December 16, 2004

Well, the Foundry has been sold one more time. The new owner was in town today to check it out.

FOUND: a nice, cute, friendly kitten that needs a good home or owner. Gets along well with dogs. CALL SOON.

December 15, 2004

I was at City Hall today and Ed Ensor the Public Works Foreman came in and informed me several times that the thank you to the Mayor above was wrong and that the Mayor had nothing to do with the manger scene in the City park. SO, now you know the Mayor had nothing to do with it.

Since the Public Works Foreman wants to be credited for work he is doing, I thought he should be congratulated for helping a citizen remove a large pile of dirt in his yard. Here is a picture of the City helping this nice citizen Dick Zahn.

The Public Works Foreman also helped out by allowing the dirt to be place on his property.

I noticed that the City Attorney collected over $2,000 for services rendered. Also, there were payments made to firemen for services rendered. Greg Heindselman $265, Henry Gunsals received $215 and $437 and Henry jr received $247 and Theresa received $243 and Bill Fountain $500, Mike Henderson $437 and other lesser amounts to other firemen. Klingner's made another $4,500 and Bleigh got $51,000.

December 14, 2004

I said it before and I say it again. The Stupidity of it all never quits. Case in point. The Quincy Herald Whig reports that the people coming to the Casino is down to its lowest level since the casino opened. A few months ago the paper showed a graph with a declining line of casino patrons. Since then the Gaming Commission had an article in the Quincy paper complaining about the declining attendance. And the Mayor and City Council can not put a stop to the constant harassment of casino patrons by the La Grange Police Force. Tonight the stops average 2 an hour. How many casino patrons have stopped coming to the La Grange Casino and go somewhere else to gamble to keep from being harassed by the LAPD. I know personally first hand how they can harass someone as they continually pester a business owner I know for permission to go onto his business property. For some unknown reason.

Case number two in point. A local manufacturing company has asked the city about getting city sewer to his manufacturing plant. And guess what? At the Council meeting tonight Klingers did a study clear across town on running a sewer line from the north west edge of the casino property west up that ditch. So, now, just how welcome does a business owner providing jobs feel?

The Public Works Director Ed Ensor and City Administrator Mark Campbell decided to run around town and see if their are any buildings that do not meet their expectations and guess what? Yes, you guessed it, they found some homes they don't think are good enough for them, I believe that they found 24 homes that are not up par for these two inspectors. Is one of these homes scheduled to be deemed substandard your home?? Are YOU going to be the one to pay next?

Next on their list were mobile homes that haven't got any skirting under them. These people were or will be sent a letter that they have (3) THREE days to get it done or it is $500 a day fine. Can you believe that one? Well, let me tell you another one, they are not through picking on Mary Jane.

I am proud that the Mayor has chosen to have a preacher come to the council to say prayers. But, it would be nice if the preachers would prepare the prayer before he gets to the meeting. The idea of the stuttering stammering and beating around the bush and trying to think of something to say isn't very professional.

The Mayor let it be known that the Officers, not the members, of the La Grange Area Chamber of Commerce, held a secret meeting and sold the ball park to the city. All they have to do now is pretend they are Project Brighter Future and take the money left in the treasury of the Chamber and go on a winter vacation to Cancun. They have sold out about everything the Chamber has.

The Council discussed their annexation and the people who they want to annex, but do not need to, don't want to pay any more taxes and the City attorney says that if they are annexed they will have to pay taxes. Yet, the Mayor and City Council absolutely refuse to do away with the City Taxes which amounts to a little more than a weeks income from the Casino.

Welcome to the City of La Grange. OH, one more thing, has anyone heard anything about what happened to the $50,000 the Betterment Committee was given??

December 13, 2004

Happy Holidays,
It was really good to see the pictures of all the kids and their parents, and grandparents at the Winter Carnival at the La Grange Community Youth Center this past Saturday. I am so glad that this tradition was continued. The Christian Fellowship Group from Culver Stockton has always done a good job on the carnival. The TKE's from Culver have been helping the Youth Center also for many years. Santa and the Mrs. looked great, and so did some of the old friends and neighbors I recognized. I do miss the Youth Center and the kids, but I know that there are people in La Grange that care, and love them just as much as I did and will try their best to keep the Center going.
Just 6 weeks ago the Center had the Harvest Party. Again their were many kids there to enjoy the evening. This was followed with a Halloween Teen Dance. Many hours of work in planning these events, decorating, and cleaning up. These events do not happen by themselves. They take many hours of work. This was one area that the Center has always had a problem with. They need volunteers to help with keeping the doors open in the evenings. The Youth Center is a safe, adult supervised facility that is open to all of the kids in the area. No membership or money is involved. All the adults are volunteers. Being honest with you, there was one thing that really bothered me with the Center. There were people in La Grange that would want to use the Center, free of charge, for their own benefit, but would not give any volunteer hours back to the Center, and was never around when there was a fund raiser taking place. I still think this is a very selfish practice. I remember the pain that it was in building the facility. Many gave no financial help or volunteer help. Some like Ed gave hours, and hours, and hours. Without Ed and some of his people, the Center would have never been built. Now La Grange has a great facility for the kids, and it is all paid for. To help keep it going and be proud of what you are doing for your community is donate a few hours. Don't come up with excuses. Even you want to do it or don't. Just don't push it off as being someone else's responsibility. It takes a community to raise children today.
In February the La Grange Community Youth Center will be having its annual fund raiser. Be there and show your support. You can't just take and take from a not-for-profit organization, you have to give back to it also, or it will be drained. This will be a fun day to be with other neighbors and friends of the area. Plan on it.

Visit the Youth Center.
A couple of years ago I wrote to the supporters of the Center. I started out saying," They say that at the end of the rainbow is a pot of gold. Those of us at the La Grange Community Youth Center have found something that is more precious and priceless. What could that be? The YOUTH of the community and surrounding area, along with FRIENDSHIP, LOVE and RESPECT. You just can't buy it. It has to be earned through caring for others."

I ended the letter with a P.S. "Who we are is God's gift to us, what we become is our gift back to God."
Miss all of you, but very happy in our new life, new house and hew job in Terre Haute, Indiana.
Merry Christmas to all and a Very Happy 2005 New Year.
Betty Bronestine

December 11, 2004

The La Grange Community Youth Center hosted Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus today. There was a soup and sandwich luncheon offered from11 to 1 and the kids had games to play and win prizes. The kids from Culver Stockton College came down to help. FOUR different groups this year. There was so much for the kids to do, some of the little ones got tired. This year was the biggest year yet for kids coming to see Santa Claus. I tried to take a digital picture for every Polaroid I took of each kid, but some got by me. I will be putting all the children I got pictures of up tomorrow. I will have to break it down to 4 or 5 web pages so dial up modems can get them all. This place was packed with people. It was hard to get around to get anything to eat or drink. A lot of people had to have their food taken to them.

But, with how great it was, there always seems to be some people missing that others ask where they are or did they come. The Mayor, some council people, police officers without their uniform, some firemen. People who are always asking the people of La Grange to support them, don't seem to think support is a two way street.

It was and has always been a pleasure to see the old timers there. They come, no matter the weather, but this year we missed Bob Bradshaw especially. There was a lot of talk of several people from the area that are ill. Mark Murphy, John White, Bob Waterman, and others.

December 10, 2004

Say a prayer for John and Elaine White

December 09, 2004

WAYNE MAPLES IS BACK!

Wayne showed up at the Casino this morning. The first time in six weeks since his back surgery. His arrival caused a quick shuffling of seaters at HIS booth. The manager came and officially greeted him back.

The City crew was busy yesterday putting up the new Antique lighting poles. They are the old La Grange school color green. Another good idea by the Mayor.

A week or so ago the City Administrator came to the foundry and took a look around. And guess what?? The other day the Department of Natural Resources came to inspect for hazardous waste. Coincidence??

The other day, the new owners of the pizza place next to the gas station called the City Administrator over to their building. One hour later the Department of Natural Resources calls the gas station with questions. Coincidence??

The one question on my mind is that if the City Administrator thought that the sewer gas smell was a gas smell, why didn't HE go over to the gas station and ask?? He would have found that the sewer gas has been coming and going for years.

By the way. Did you get the Canton Press News Journal?? On page 5 is a scam of a City financial Statement. The City Clerk has been putting out this mish mash of figures that have no bearing on a financial statement that other Cities and Counties put out. Everyone else is honest and above board by printing the actual income and all the checks the City issued so the public can see an HONEST statement. But, alas, the City Clerk of La Grange, Missouri continues the scam on the people with the blessings of the Council members and City Administrator wanting to hide their lavish and reckless spending of the money of the people of La Grange.

December 08, 2004

Jerry

Can you tell me why one councilwoman gets all the attention? I see the city administrator at her home all the time. The Public works main man is there all the time, and employees come and go all the time. What do all the employees talk to her about? Do all these employees go to the other council members homes every day too? if they do, then when do they have time to do any work?

December 07, 2004

A local cop made a point to me that the beach was under the jurisdiction of the City. I disagreed, but he said he was told that a contract existed. SO, the only thing to do is look it up at City Hall. and low and behold, I did find an agreement between triangle refineries and the City. But it was signed by Mayor Jim Wolfmeyer on November 9th, 1981 and another time Mayor Wolfmeyer signed another agreement on December 16th, 1981. I didn't remember Jimmy Wolfmeyer ever being elected as mayor of La Grange. So, I went to the City minutes book and looked up the Council meetings for August, September, October, November, and December 1981. There were 9 Council meetings during those 5 months.

And, at each and every Council meeting, the Mayor that presided over the meetings was none other than me, Jerry Brandt. There is no record in the City Minutes where there was at any time little Jimmy Wolfmeyer was elected mayor, or elected mayor pro-tem by the council, or even appointed mayor by the council. The appointed mayor pro-tem was made in May of 1981 by the then mayor Jerry Brandt was Gary Ludwig.

So, how did a contract between the city come to be fraudulently and illegally signed by a councilman forging his name as mayor of the city of La Grange? And, if a Councilman illegally and fraudulently signed a legal document and forged his name as Mayor, is the document legal and enforceable? A phone call to an Attorney who does a lot of municipal legal work suggested that the document is null and void as it was not done with council approval or knowledge.

Kerr McGee doesn't care. They like the idea as the city thinks it is legally responsible if someone gets hurt or injured on any part of the beach. But, since there is no LEGALLY signed document, the police have no jurisdiction on the beach property or any other private property owned by Kerr McGee and cannot arrest anyone for being there after hours or drinking on private property. But, they will anyhow and get the city into a wrongful arrest lawsuit.

But, the big thing about all this is that JIMMIE WOLFMEYER illegally and fraudulently forged his name as Mayor of La Grange Missouri.

Say a Prayer for the Mike Schnitzer Family

Say a Prayer for the Lamont Humphrey Family

If you do not have any virus protection, you probably have already received one called Worm sorber.i. I have received over thirty emails today alone with this virus. I use a virus protection for my entire network called PCcillin by Trendmicro.com. It catches the emails and deletes the worm as it comes in. In fact, this program does a whole lot better than Norton or McAfee or any of the others I have tried. It is a free download for thirty days.

We have had a lot of rain lately. It rained yesterday and all night last night. My yard is soaked and when you walk across it, the water squeezes out under your feet. In fact, the yard is so wet, I noticed that a mole drowned trying to get across the yard.

Don't forget Santa Claus coming Saturday and all that good soup. You need to try the Clam Chowder soup and praise the cook who makes it.

The Scouts used the Youth Center last Friday night for an all night lock-in. They say it was great. We now have all the computers p and running and updated some. The computer room will be open all the time for anyone of the kids needing a computer to do home work.

Jerry

The mayor of La Grange is dumb. Period. The Councilmen are even dumber so they match the box of rocks.

Jerry

Read the article and I will say that by my own observations of going to the Casino several times a week, I can tell that the La Grange Cops have made a serious dent in people coming to La Grange. Why can't the Mayor or City Council see how much it is costing the city? The police have run off all the other businesses in town and the people going to and from the casino are all that is left to harass.

Jerry

Read the Gossip page and I agree 100 percent. I was coming into town the other evening and one of the rocks came roaring north downtown and ran the stop light at about 60. Went two blocks and turned up the hill.

Jerry

I am a retired office from a nearby city of La Grange and from I see on your Gossip page, La Grange police officers are the only ones that seem to want to use private property. We never used private property for anything and even did not like it when someone we are stopping pull onto private property. It creates a lot of unwanted legal problems. Your city officials should try to put a stop to this practice.

December 03, 2004

A couple of days ago, I talked about a couple of cops that are dumber than a box of rocks. Well, today, I got to talk personally with an officer who I thought that had the intelligence and experience to be an excellent officer. BUT, sadly, after a couple of minutes of conversation, I found that he too doesn't care about the city or the people or the casino. He doesn't care that he feels the need to use private property to hide to run his radar. He even was dumb enough to try to use some wrong information to try to prove himself that the property belonged to someone else and still didn't understand what private property is..

It use to be that the actions of these cops pissed off every one in town, now, I have become to feel sad for them. They are stuck being Barney Fifes in a one horse dead town and they are trying desperately to be a Kojak. They got themselves in a dead end job with no prestige, and no respect and no where to go. You really have to feel sorry for them to be about one step from a rent-a-cop, and having to get a job in La Grange is about as low on the pole as you can get and still carry a badge. You can always get a job as a cop in La Grange when no one else will hire you.

December 02, 2004

There has been some talk around the County about the Casino and the fact the City of La Grange gets all the money and the County gets nothing. Well, we all know what time of year it is, TAX TIME. From what I can find is that the Casino pays almost three times as much taxes to the County than the foundry does now but won't next year. The foundry will be gone.

But, anyhow, it looks like the Casino pays into the County coffers about $200,000.00+ per year. It also looks like the C-1 school district gets about $140,000.00 of the money. The City only gets about $37,000.00. The La Grange Special Road District should get a healthy $12,000.00+. Sounds like the Casino pays the County and others enough to me..

December 01, 2004

A couple of months over two years the Gossip Page was questioning the City Council why they were not attempting to get property out near the highway. The then council's reply was that would be the business of anyone wanting to put a business out there. Six months ago the Gossip page was telling of a guy working for Wayland to secure a commercial business near Wayland's interchange. Today, the Quincy herald Whig tells a story of how Bob Smith secured one of the largest oil companies in the US and also a large motel and other businesses in Wayland.

Now, this Council is trying to annex property out to the highway for some unknown reason as annexing the property will not be owning the property, so what good will that do? Instead of providing for the future of future Mayors and Councils by investing 10% of the monthly income in future investments, and instead of building half million dollar streets that look good but not needed, the Council need someone to provide them with a future direction and make them do it. The people of La Grange needs a Mayor that will say that 8 cops are too many and it costs the people of La Grange too much money. How about over $1.2 million dollars in the past two years, and for what?

The City needs a Mayor that can see farther than the next Council meeting to go out and secure property near the interchange any way he can and do it now and needs a Council that will back the acquisition for the future of the town. The Mayor needs to put a stop to the engineers telling the City a bunch of crap and get on without their wanting to spend more money.

The purchase of 19 acres for just a small amount less money than the cost of 27 acres does not seem to be a very good deal. The stalling of getting a sewer line out the the new manufacturing plant will end up costing the city more if they move. But, at least they are doing something for the future.

The City Council is a lot like the County Commissioners. Take all you can now and to hell with the future. The County Commissioners refused to negotiate the taxes on the foundry because they want all they can get today and to hell with the future and it is going to cost the County taxes thousands and thousands from now on. But, they don't care, they got there money today.

The Gossip Page complained for years for the Council to let some of the Casino money be diverted to a not-for-profit organization that could use the money in ways the city couldn't to help other organizations and businesses. The idea was to allow just have of the dock rent or $50,000.00 go to this new organization each year.

The Council this year reluctantly followed up and the La Grange Betterment Committee was born. The Casino provided the $50,000.00 for the new organization.

NOW, just like the La Grange Revitalization Organization and Project Brighter Future, the New organization meets in private, does not publish any minutes of the meeting and show that no money has been spent for anyone's benefit. Everything is a secret from the people. You lose!

Just another secret group that benefits themselves and will the money disappear like the LRO money or the PBF money?

The other organizations suffer, the people of La Grange suffer. Well, all except the Medical Group members. They have thousands of dollars and just this year, they donated $2,000 to the La Grange Community Youth Center and even though they were said to provide a $1000 to the boy scouts, they only got $500.00. If they are not going to do anything with the money to help the children in town, why collect it? Does it make them feel big to hoard the money from the people?

The Chamber says they are not going to sponsor the Scouts any more. The Chamber refuses to take for FREE the old City hall for the Scouts stating insurance costs, yet pay nothing for the insurance or anything else on the present building. And, the Chamber is going to sell the Ball Park citing costs they don't pay anyhow. If the officers of the Chamber don't want to take the responsibility, why don't they resign?

The City, The Chamber, The Betterment Committee, the Medical Group, the LRO, the PBF, it doesn't matter, they all take the money and the people of La Grange lose.