THE
GOSSIP PAGE IS BACK
The City of La Grange's first Electronic News
Jerry Brandt jbrandt@gte.net editor
Since "1999"
To go the Main Page CLICK HERE
LaGrange Community Youth
Center
This summer there will be tutoring available at the LaGrange Community Youth Center in June and July.
This program will offer reading, writing and math opportunities for area children. There is no fee or
special sign-up. It is open to any grade school child June 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 30. Also on July 1, 2 and 3.
It will start at 8:30am and run until 12:30pm. Some pre-arranged times will be set up for students receiving one
on one tutoring, otherwise, those students who attend will receive age appropriate instruction in the areas of
math and reading. Each child will complete one craft activity daily and a snack will be provided.
The child is not required to attend every day.
For information you may call: Sharon Sherwood: 573-655-4954
Linda Hutcherson: 573-655-2238
ASK YOUR COUNCILMAN AND THE NEW MAYOR THESE QUESTIONS....
1: Why do you keep allowing BFI to dump in our sewer to screw it up?
2: When are you going to do away with the property taxes so you can benefit from the casino?
3: Where are the long term investments? What about the future Councils of La Grange after the boat is gone?
4: How can you have a $2.5 million dollar budget on a $1.5 million dollar income?
5: Why does the fire department need a $20,000 speed boat?
6: Who was the idiot that dreamed up the $1000 fine Ordinances
CANTON
MISSOURI HIT BY A TORNADO CLICK
HERE
Pictures or local area tornado damage (CLICK
HERE)
NEW PICTURES OF THE MOTEL in CANTON (CLICK HERE)
For those interested in the Rutledge Flea market here is their
website
RUTLEDGE FLEA MARKET
The first 20 pictures from inside the last day of the Foundry (click here)
The United Nations click here
If you want the lowest priced long distance service WITHOUT a monthly fee, click on the banner.
Mark Twain Casino donated $630
to the Youth Center.
CATFISH BEND Donated $630,000.00 for a swimming pool in Iowa.
The people of La Grange should be proud of Jenny, Fred, Ralph, Mike,
David.
and the Mark Twain Casino.
CANTON
MISSOURI FARMER'S MARKET AND FLEA MARKET
June 28-29 July 26-27 August
22-23-24 September 27-28
Saturdays and Sundays 8am to 4pm
Food Concessions, Crafts, Antiques, Produce, Bingo
RIVER HERITAGE DAYS WILL BE AUGUST 22-23-24
If you Donated to the LRO or purchased a brick with your name,
contact me.
You could get your money back.
Our place is getting to look like a zoo. First this year we had up to 19 squirrels feeding here. Four red ones two black ones and the others gray. And down at the creek ponds there were four pair of wood ducks and a grebe and a kingfisher hanging around. Next we had a pair of wild Canadian geese move in and stay during the day. Then another pair moved in and there were fights for awhile and now they tolerate each other. But when the third pair tried to move in, the other two pair chased them out. But, they keep trying every once in awhile. One of those gray coated cranes keeps stopping by for frog dinner, but the other day, another crane came by and the fight was on. Finally the intruder left. Then outside our glass door at night, we get a stray tom cat that passes by for a bite, then a couple of young possums stop by to clean up. But last night, we had a lot out and first the tom cat came, then came a small raccoon, then the cat chased off the coon and then a skunk came by and the tom cat and the skunk squared off for a bit and then they shared the food. After the skunk left and all the rest left, the the possums came up and cleaned up what was left.
Our garden is doing great. click here
WARNING ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL CREDIT REPORT CLICK HERE
June 8, 2003
There was an interesting article in the Quincy Paper from the Lewis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office. The interesting part is the two faced way the Missouri Gaming Commission talks out of both sides of their mouth. The slimy commissioners say that crime is so bad that La Grange needs to have TEN police officers to handle all the crime because of the Casino and then in the Quincy Paper the slimy commissioners say that it has never been reported that there is any increase in crime because of a Casino. Which is it two facers? Well, Mr. Bailey, which is it? No need for money to the County because of no increase in crime, or the need for 10 police officers in La Grange because of increase in crime or to prevent crime.
But, the Mayor of La Grange should be more helpful with the rest of the County. Why, he has it in his $2.5 million dollar budget a gift of $9,500.00 to the Hannibal Drug Enforcement. All they did was come an ask, and they received. No questions asked. If he so generous with them in Hannibal, which Hannibal with 20 times more population than La Grange gave the same amount, then why not Lewis County? Doesn't make sense. Mayor Rossiter states in the paper that the County PA didn't provide him with sufficient accounting, yet he gives the Hannibal group $9,500.00 and they told him they do not give any accounting.
It doesn't make sense that the people of La Grange have to pay for security for the Casino because the Gaming Commission "suggests it". ONE HALF A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR out of the People of La Grange's income from the Casino.
The new Mayor should stop and ask himself this question. What if the County put on a ballot to vote for legalized gambling in the County and it passed? Why doesn't the new Mayor request that the Casino pay their fair share? Billy Bob Thursby says it isn't his concern, why is the people of La Grange's concern whether the Casino gets 10 Police Officers or not? Just another case to show that the Casino does not care anything about La Grange, about the County, or about the people of La Grange. Screw them all.
June 7, 2003
A sports writer for the Quincy Herald Whig sure caused me a lot of extra work this weekend. It seems he made a comment in his article regarding the Gossip Page. First, my phone rang off the hook all night of people calling and asking if I saw the article about the Gossip Page. I don't read the sports pages, so I took a few phone calls before I got to read the article. And, how he knew, I don't know, but I did receive a lot of hate emails for my decision to end the Gossip Page.
But, the writer for the Quincy Herald Whig filled my inbox several times this weekend. He also added several thousand more hits to this page more than normal.
Well, it had to happen. The old tom cat got tired of the skunk eating his dinner. We will wash the cat in tomato juice tomorrow. but, I don't think the skunk will be back either. It was a nasty fight.
You cannot believe all the rumors going around about the last few Grand Jury indictments that were not publicized. Some are totally unbelievable. One rumor is that the PA is going after Heartland again for the same charges. Now, that one is really hard to believe.
Tonight would have been a great night for the mosquito sprayer, but as the City Administrator has to make the dreaded decision, and he doesn't work after 5pm Friday, we will have to suffer until maybe Tuesday next week. This decisions really need upper management decisions. To bad we don't have a Mayor that can make them.
June 6, 2003
There is a nasty rumor going on around town about an ex-politician and a spouse of another ex-politician having fun. I guess the old saying that when the cat's away the mice will play.
Another email: I know that BFI hauled 6 or more loads of waste and put in our sewer today !
The new Mayor needs to remember that many people are watching all the time.
Another email: Here's how you have a $2.5 million budget on a $1.5 million income...each of the 1,000 citizens of LaGrange will break, by accident or design, at least one of the $1000 fine Ordinances this year, thereby accruing fine funds for the city of at least 1000 people x $1000 = one million dollars. Council are fiscal geniuses. They have balanced the books on the projected fines they plan on collecting. They may even show a surplus to build statues in the few parks, those that are left, for themselves of course and hold Sewer Lagoon Day where everyone raises a cup of BFI slops and tosses in a penny or two for the FD speedboat raffle.
Another email: Jerry
At one time I had thought moving to LaGrange, but seeing all the unfavorable things that have happened in the past and what is still happening, it sure does not make it a primary for leaving Chicago. I have relatives living at
La Belle and it would be nice to be a little closer. LaGrange seemed to be a nice peaceful place
like Canton, but it really makes you wonder.
My Answer:: I see:
And you think maybe Canton or LaBelle or Palmyra would be better????
The only difference between any of the above Cities or any other City and La Grange is La Grange has the Gossip Page to air the dirty linen, so to speak. St. Charles Missouri has
Charleytown.
You just don't understand.
La Grange would be a great place to move to. There is no other City you can find that has a police officer for every
hundred people. 24/7 police protection.
No other City has this much money from this wonderful casino to spend.
Now, there are no factories to pollute the air or barge refinery to pollute the water, Just a nice clean casino.
You are seven minutes from a County Market grocery store and Dollar General on a road with hardly any traffic.
You are 25 minutes from a shopping mall that is half filled in Quincy. Wal-Mart - Home Depot - Farm Store and a
hundred restaurants that have any kind of ethnic food you will ever want.
The Casino has a first class restaurant, equal to any in Quincy.
Casey's General Store has gas cheaper than anywhere else.
Tiemann's MFA gas station, pumps your gas, checks your oil, washes your windshield, and will check your tires if
you ask, for only 7 cents a gallon more than Casey's. He will also come to your home and get your car for service
and bring it back. If you car won't start in the winter he will come out to jump it. You can't service like that in Chicago
and still have a car left.
We have guys in town that will mow your grass or push your snow.
La Grange is a quiet town where no one makes any noise. No hot rodders speeding about squealing tires.
AND, you show me anywhere where my taxes on 5 acres are less than $15.00 a year. License plates $35.00.
Water and sewer and trash for under $20.00.
AND, if I keep pushing, I will get the City to do away with our property taxes and personal taxes.
The only real downside to our town is that out school is 20 miles away. That hurts young people moving to La
Grange.
BUT, if you are old and retired like me, there is no place cheaper in the Country to live.
Yes, the people of La Grange keep electing dumb and dumber people to the Council. I can not for the life of me
figure it out. I have tried and tried.
You talk to a candidate that is running for office.
Yes, they agree we need to do away with the taxes until the boat is gone.
Yes, we need better streets.
Yes, we need to hold our police officers down from harassing everyone.
No, we do not need a million dollar sewer lagoon.
AND THEN:
They get elected.
And the first thing they vote for:
26 new Ordinances that make innocent things like walking in the street a $1000 fine.
Oh, we are looking at a new sewer lagoon.
Oh, maybe we can't do away with the taxes just yet.
So, we keep on changing at every election.
Like I say, I do not understand what happens to these people once they are sworn in.
Do you think I am too hard on them?
As of today, I have kept up on the police so that for the past 4 or 5 months, the police are quietly doing their job
and not harassing the people. We now have an excellent police force.
Would I ever move from La Grange? Not even if I won the lottery.
Come on down and visit.
Jerry Brandt
NOW WHAT DO YOU THINK?
If you are out looking around and trying to see where the money is being spent, trying looking on North 3rd Street near the New City Administrators house. There is a lot of work being done there. Why, the City Administrator even made a circle turn-around at the end of third street. But, it is the work of the Street Super that is getting the work done in spite of all the changes and more changes by the City Administrator.
Rumor has it that he likes the new Sewer Supervisor and the new Water Supervisor. It seems that both can't see who can get on their knees first for the City Administrator.
NEXT WEEK, a whole lot of stuff.
June 4, 2003
EMAIL: It's 10:32 A.M. and they are dumping the third load in the sewer so far today! I thought that the City was going to stop BFI from screwing up our sewer plant.
ANSWER: The New Mayor (Mayor Lagoon II the sequel), assured me that he was stopping that practice, but I guess since you have to work everyday, you can't watch everything that goes on in town. It is too bad we have a City Administrator that doesn't have a clue about anything. You would think that since Councilman Henderson is at City Hall several times a day every day taking care of sonny, that he would see the dumping. But, maybe he wants to make sure the people of La Grange has to pay for a new sewer lagoon too.
June 1, 2003
Daddy is taking care of sonny. Sonny started out as an experienced mechanic for the City and paid a handsome sum for his excellence in education and experience, only to find out that after daddy got him the job, he couldn't fix a lawn mower. The nepotism laws of Missouri and the Ethic laws of Missouri mean nothing to a Councilman wanting to see his sonny get the best. When they found out that sonny wasn't the mechanic he was paid handsomely for, daddy got Sonny promoted to Assistant Street Superintendent. Kiss any semblance of ethics good-bye. Then when they found that sonny couldn't grade a ditch, or pave a road, daddy got sonny promoted to WATER SUPERINTENDENT. The only thing sonny knows about water is how to flush a toilet. But, daddy is taking care of Sonny at all costs.
You would think that a good honest MAYOR would put a stop to this insaneness. But, when you have a Mayor in debt to someone, what else can he do but live with the stench.
May 30, 2003
MAYOR LAGOON II (the sequel)
Some people of La Grange, 130 voters, thought they were electing a new Mayor. WRONG, they just elected a different one with the same ole, same ole. Rumor has it that the new Mayor is still working to make you pay for a new sewer plant. He has not changed they wrong way of passing an Ordinance. He has not done anything to correct all the illegal Stop and Speed limit signs, He has refused to put money away for future Councils for the future of the City, and his budget this year is already a million dollars more than the City will take in. AND, he is still letting the City Administrator put in screwed up roads.
So, where did the people of La Grange gain anything by electing this new Mayor. Everyone can see why the Council voted for him.
The City decided that Mrs. Wiley, (now 99 years old), that her
property and only her property had grass to tall for the City. So, the City
decided to cut her grass for her. I believe the rate is now $60.00 per hour. And
here a couple of pictures so you can how Mike Henderson hacked and butchered her
grass for and the City now thinks that this is how your yard should look.
Click Here Click
Here Click Here, The
last picture clearly shows that if the weeds cannot be cut while sitting on a
tractor then those weeds are ok to grow. The New Mayor should be proud of this.
It makes one wonder why he doesn't go after the property owned by the Lewis County Prosecuting Attorneys Secretary. She owns the old Ford place on the South East corner of River View Cemetery. When Mrs. Reaves owned the property the City was there every week cutting and sending bills. But, now the City lets the new owner get away with weeds.
The City Administrator has decided that the street near where he lives needed to be widen and repaved. He had NEW tubes put in for the drives on the North side of the road, but left Mrs. Wiley's property with a ditch. Who cares for the senior citizens of La Grange anymore? They can't walk for their health in the street anymore. It is now a $1000.00 fine if they walk in any street that has a sidewalk. God forbid they cross a street and not do it in a designated crosswalk. Another $1000.00 fine.
130 voters have to be as proud as those 187 voters a couple of years ago. probably the same ones. Those 130 voters have voted that you will soon double your sewer rates for the casino.
Rumor has it the new Mayor is now talking about soaking you with the NEW MILLION DOLLAR SEWER PLANT. Rumor has it that he doesn't know how to stop it.
May 28, 2003
There was a Council Meeting last night. Who knows how much more money was spent on future/maybe income. I talked to the New Mayor about the mosquitoes. I tried to get him to have the crew go down into the woods where billions of mosquitoes were, but I got the same ole', same ole', like all the other Mayors. I tired to talk to him about trying to put asphalt on dirt on Bates Street, but I got the same ole', same ole', like all the other Mayors. The City Administrator is determined to put in the worst new streets in the State, come hell or high water.
Rumor has it the casino was bracing for an onslaught of gamblers over the weekend and called a lot of workers in, only to send them home.
The next Council Meetings will be June 9th and June 23rd, in case you want to watch all the money go.
The La Grange Library has a summer program called "Laugh it up" from May 24th to Aug 9th.
The La Grange Chamber of Commerce is having a flea market every 2nd and 4th Saturdays at the casino parking lot.
The City is still looking for someone to sign up for Councilman in the middle ward. Last day to put your name in is July 1st.
My electric bill went down and my water bill went up. I don't get a gas bill, I use propane and buy my gas in July when it is the cheapest and buy enough for a year or more at a time. Last winter cost me $550.00, for both homes. I keep the old home at 45 degrees during the winter, even though no one lives there. I guess I will keep it in case a friend from Florida needs a place to stay for awhile. But, I am going to need more oranges for the rent. I finally, got my phone bill to a minimum 4.9 cents a minute and NO monthly fees or extra call charges and my cell phone bills so there are no extra charges.
La Grange badly needs a dog barking Ordinance. Even though I am against the passing more laws to make more criminals, this one is sorely needed. I live just North of DOG ALLEY. DOG ALLEY, is the alley between 4th and 5th and Clay and Fillmore. This alley has at least 5 dogs for every house. But, one nut, has a lot of dogs and now has a dog the likes to bark all night long. How, they can sleep with the continuous deep barking all night is amazing. Some people who have dogs that run loose think it is ok for their dog to come onto your property and do damage, but you have no right to do anything to their dog. Some mutts in town are told to be worth $5,000.00, but are allowed to run. Even the City Administrator accidentally lets his dog out to run around.
For those who don't get the Quincy paper, Bob and Patty Waterman celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary May 15th.
May 24, 2003
Today was a bad day for local flea markets. I stopped by the one in Canton and not very many were there. The one in La Grange had many less. The farmers market in Quincy had a lot of vendors and people. It started raining before noon and hasn't quit all day. It is beginning to look more and more like 1993 and 1973. The river comes up and then goes down a little, the comes up higher and goes down a little. Some rain here and there and then we have a flood.
According to the stats, it looks like the casino lost some players last month and this month doesn't look an better by the parking lot.
I received a nice email today from new readers that formerly from La Grange. Jim Karl and Juanita Vestal.
As far as the City is concerned, it has been very quiet. The police are being police officers. I tried to warn the new mayor about the screwing up of the street by his old home and Mrs. Wiley's, but it doesn't seem to bother him that the street will be another one like by Ed Ensors.
The City had the mosquito truck out spraying the other evening. A few of still think the old one that Morrey fogged the streets with back in the 50's was the best fogger. But, this one seems to get a lot of them.
SAY A PRAYER FOR NINA PAINTER IN BLESSING HOSPITAL
RONNIE POWERS WINS AGAIN
May 21, 2003
You know you are getting old when you go to Wal-Mart and spend a $100 on flowers for graves.
Have you ever tried to buy anything at Home Depot? I needed screens to put over my gutters on my house to keep out the leaves. Half-a-Home Depot had four different models and not enough to cover a dog house of each kind. I wanted to get re-bar and wire ties to pour a patio. Re-bars they had, wire ties, they were out of. Another guy couldn't find more than three bags of sakrete. Pathetic.
May 20, 2003
TODAY IS NORTH WARD ELECTION DAY
The poor new Mayor tries and tries to do right and they go along behind his back and screw him over. First the police set up their radar trap on the North end against the Mayors wishes. The police probably went behind the New Mayors back and went to Elaine who probably said it was ok with her. Then the New Mayor told the police to start buying gas at Tiemann's but the lady cop has decided to screw the New Mayor over on that one and buy gas at Casey's. It wouldn't hurt for the City to have the police car's oil changed and greased at Tony's. At least then the City will have an accurate accounting and assurance the car was greased and the oil was changed and it was inspected.
AND THEN, while New Mayor is trying to do business in town, the City Administrator is stabbing him the back by asking bulk gas suppliers about buying gas direct from the wholesaler. I think it is about time for the Mayor to start firing employees who disobey his orders and do things behind his back.
I found out this morning that the rumor of the bank arrest is a rumor started by a disgruntled customer. Now, the rumor has it that things are starting to get hot.
I see the new sewer superintendent is on duty today. Maybe he will provide proper sewer analysis and straighten the sewer plant out. Maybe he can stop BFI from dumping their crap in our sewer plant. Maybe he can stop all the cooking grease from contaminating the sewer plant. Maybe he can figure out a way to get the sludge from the bottom of the tank without a million dollar new tank. If he gets that done, then he needs the raise and an assistant rather than the City Administrator. All he will need to do is put on a knife resistant plate on his back.
May 19, 2003
NORTH WARD ELECTION IS TOMORROW
The election for a North Ward councilman is tomorrow. We have running for the office if Ron Powers, Don Sherwood, and Penny White. I don't know Penny White so I will talk about the other two. Don Sherwood is a business person in town and "should be" more prone to make the City do business with local business in town first. He is the President of the Chamber of Commerce which "should" bring the City and Chamber together in doing more for local business and working to attract business or industry. Ron Powers came on the Council a few years ago and was at first a yes man and wouldn't vote for the people. But, after a little time and after some bad influence was removed, he seemed to be voting FOR THE PEOPLE of La Grange and has continued to do so. If you were to vote for someone willing to work with the Mayor, I believe that Ron Powers would be the one to vote for. He also has a track record of voting for the people. If you believe it is time to have someone on the council that is a business person, then Don Sherwood seems to be the best bet.
The election coming up for the middle ward will tell whether the Mayor will have the fight of his life or not.
I had a little old lady call me and say that since the coffee shop has closed, she hasn't been able to keep up with what is going on around town. No one talks to her. Then I read in the Canton paper where she had visitors from all over all week.
The police are now back in the groove. This morning radar was set up on the North end of town again. The scanner is starting to talk again with stops.
Rumor has it that the water commissioner will now be the "assistant" water commissioner as new blood is coming to town. I hear that the new someone will not put samples in the refrigerator. Maybe the new one will not crank up the chlorine for the weekend so that your eyes burn in the shower. Maybe the Council is trying to tell the old one something.
Regardless pf what you read about the Casino in the paper, it is still sucking a half a million dollars a day.
What is this rumor of a bank officer arrest?
May 15, 2003
WHAT THE H--- is GOING ON WITH THE NEW MAYOR?
If you get the Press news Journal you will see that the La Grange City Attorney Jeff Curl must be hurting for business, or it looks like the New Mayor and City Council need MORE MONEY for their $2 million Plus budget. According to the Public Notices, that having a junk yard now carries a $1000.00 fine. Having a child riding in a car without being restrained now carries a $1000.00 fine. If you don't have your drivers license up to date, now carries a $1000.00 fine. Reimbursement costs for a DUI now carries a $1000.00 fine. Not keeping to the right side of the road now carries a $1000.00 fine. Under 16 years old and driving a car now carries a $1000.00 fine. If the load on a vehicle exceeds 12 feet now carries a $1000.00 fine. What about moving a 16 foot wide mobile home, oh well, it now carries a $1000.00 fine. Entering into an agreement with the City to have a city dump now carries a $1000.00 fine. A DUI or DWI fine now carries a $1000.00 fine. Stopping a train in town over ten minutes now carries a $1000.00 fine. Not having an electric bell at the train track now carries a $1000.00 fine. Firing a gun in the City limits now carries a $1000.00 fine. Shooting a firecracker in the city limits now carries a $1000.00 fine. Having a machine gun in town now carries a $1000.00 fine. Shooting a crossbow now carries a $1000.00 fine. Shooting a Bow and Arrow now carries a $1000.00 fine. Shooting a pellet gun now carries a $1000.00 fine. Shooting a slingshot now carries a $1000.00 fine. Putting gasoline or any other inflammable liquids in your basement now carries a $1000.00 fine. Riding roller skates, coaster, or toy vehicle in the streets now carries a $1000.00 fine. Failure to yield the right away now carries a $1000.00 fine. Following to close to a fire truck now carries a $1000.00 fine. Driving over a fire hose now carries a $1000.00 fine. Driving on any sidewalk now carries a $1000.00 fine. No helmet while riding on a motorcycle now carries a $1000.00 fine. Riding a bicycle on the sidewalk downtown now carries a $1000.00 fine. Riding an ATV on the street now carries a $1000.00 fine. Walking in the road when a sidewalk is present now carries a $1000.00 fine.
NOW THAT OUGHT TO STOP THOSE PEOPLE WALKING FOR THEIR HEALTH IN THE STREET.
Crossing a road other than at a crosswalk now carries a $1000.00 fine. Parking on a sidewalk now carries a $1000.00 fine. Parking within an intersection now carries a $1000.00 fine. Parking within 15 feet of a fire hydrant now carries a $1000.00 fine. Parking in an alley now carries a $1000.00 fine. Parking a trailer on Main Street now carries a $1000.00 fine.
WATCH OUT TONY'S GARAGE.
Interfering with a police officer now carries a $1000.00 fine. Fleeing a police officer now carries a $1000.00 fine. Throwing any litter in any street now carries a $1000.00 fine. Not having your vehicle registered now carries a $1000.00 fine. Dumping anything in any city park now carries a $1000.00 fine. Being a vagrant now carries a $1000.00 fine. (IF HE IS A VAGRANT, HOW CAN HE PAY THIS FINE?) Your Child violating curfew now carries a $1000.00 fine. Committing an assault on someone now carries a $1000.00 fine. (SO WATCH YOUR MOUTH). Not having a sturdy trash can now carries a $1000.00 fine. Creating a loud noise to disturb the peace now carries a $1000.00 fine. Using offensive language now carries a $1000.00 fine. Using indecent language now carries a $1000.00 fine. Fighting now carries a $1000.00 fine. Creating a noxious or offensive odor now carries a $1000.00 fine. (SO DON'T LET A FART IN PUBLIC).
IS THE CITY OF LA GRANGE GOING CRAZY OR WHAT?
The first thing your Councilman who is going to vote for this insanity will say is, "now the rules does say that the fine can be lower than that". If you have appeared in any Court Hearings lately, there is no such thing as a person being fined the minimum.
THE NEW MAYOR AND COUNCIL will vote at the next Council meeting to make every one in town high priced criminals.
May 14, 2003
The La Grange Revitalization Organization is trying to pull the wool over the City Council's eyes. So far, no Councilman has gotten excited by the deception. Or maybe they don't know they have been deceived. It looks real enough. The Tompkins & Willing, CPA Independent Audit Report. But, dear Councilmen and new Mayor, that is only a very very small part of the story or books of the LRO. The pretend audit is only what the State requires for the NAP grant. To get the real books to see where everyone's money went that was donated, you will probably have to file suit against the LRO.
City Hall is handing out a pamphlet called "Travel the Tri-States". It has all the tourist sites in the tri-state area including CATFISH BEND CASINO in IOWA. But, there is not one word about the mark twain casino in La Grange. Old Billy Bob missed that one.
The new budget report for the City of La Grange shows a total Expense Summary of $2,509,285.00 for the coming year. And only shows income of $1,698,398.79 from the casino. $25,000 earmarked for "antique" down town lighting. probably for the bank. $24,000 for the mineral well. and $30,000 for the City park restrooms and other improvements. Here is hoping they re-concrete the tennis court for a basketball court.
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET for the Casino is now at $495,114.30. Among the items are a new 4X4 pickup, a new car, changing the decals on the cars, PLUS $57,000 to redo the police station, and $20,000 to demolish the $15,000 old building behind the police station that was only worth $7,500.00.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT budget is $108,755.52, of that comes a Brand NEW Boat 18foot and 100hp motor for $18,000.00 and $15,000 for a emergency siren. Maybe the NEW fire chief will take a look at what LEE County in Iowa is doing. It is a whole lot better.
THE NEW PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT now has a $691,776.85 budget. Out of that is $9,000 for sidewalks, $261,661 for streets $80,000 for a rubber tired loader, $2,300 for a $900 finish mower. AND $32,000 for another city shed. Another big purchase that is really needed, well, that is until they get the new million dollar sewer plant stuffed down our throats, is a $90,000 sludge truck (used)
Congratulations Rita for standing up at the Council meeting.
What is most puzzling is the City administrator is being rewarded for not completing his education and not doing his job very well.
Will any of the NEW Councilmen make a motion to end our property taxes so the people of La Grange can get a little benefit from the Casino money?? We will wait and see.
May 13, 2003
Last night was Council meeting night. If everything went right, Tim Rossiter was sworn in Mayor, and Rita Farr-Cox was sworn in as middle ward councilwoman, and Mike Lowe as North Ward Councilman. Good luck Tim with two women on the board.
We now have another election coming up May 20th. This will be to replace the seat that Steve Griesbaum resigned from. We have Ronnie Powers resigning up, along with Don Sherwood, the President of the La Grange Chamber of Commerce, and Penny White, the sister of the City clerk.
Rumor has it that the City Administrator slept in Sunday and had no idea that help was needed at Canton and had no idea that he should have asked if ay City employee would volunteer to go help clean up. Only, until he was asked about Monday while he was at his office did he think of sending some help to Canton. Meanwhile, all the other Cities were almost done with the work. I used to have sons like that too. Sleep until noon and wonder how all the work got done.
I wonder how long it will take for Billy Bob to get his new two business placemats out on the tables. Rumor has it that the Bank's vp (yessa Mr. Phillips) is pissed because I have brought attention on his plans to screw over the businesses in La Grange, helping Billy Bob come up with businesses that still do business with the bank, are members of the Chamber, and go to the Casino to lose money.
May 11, 2003
Last evening Canton was hit with a tornado. It started out by the new County Market and continued north East through the college and out through Carskaden's mobile home park. County Market was in a pile of rubble and the new motel was severely damaged as was Caldwell's big shed. Clark Todd was trapped in his basement. There were some injuries reported by 9pm last night. I took a lot of pictures and put them on click here, but I did not know all of the homes that were damaged. But, almost every street in town had trees down so you couldn't get anywhere. There were rescue vehicles, ambulances, police from La Grange, Lewis County, Marion County, Scotland County, Clark County, and others.
On the way back from Canton at about 8pm, I counted 53 cars on old high way 61 going to Canton. I'll try to get more pictures and information today.
May 9, 2003
Danny and Jerry Logsdon and others at Casey's this morning were trying to determine whether the bird seen south of town was a Pheasant or a Turkey or a Peacock. There was a Pheasant seen south of Canton, but they couldn't agree on what kind of bird this one was.
A city employee is pissed because his daddy can't vote for his pay raise or any promotions. Daddy is still trying to get around the nepotism and ethics laws.
Rumor has it that Jeff Bixenman a police officer in La Grange is leaving the force and taking a job in Kirksville. He plans to attend the University to continue his education. Maybe the City Administrator will continue his education as his contract states also. If the police committee is still committed to providing the City with as many police officers as the Casino money can afford, maybe they will try to find another old officer like two other old officers that need a retirement place.
In the PNJ paper it is shown that the Lewis County Sheriff is on the ball. Calling in a Grand jury for only the second time in 50 years, he got 16 true bills indicting 19 defendants with a total of 99 felonies and one misdemeanor.
Rain day, rain day, rain day, mow day, rain day, rain day, mow day, rain day, rain day, mow day, rain day, rain day, mow day, it doesn't quit. Still looks like '93.
Maurice Tonnies "MT", has a brother that is Executive Vice President of the Bank of Labelle.
May 8, 2003
I don't know who is overseeing the City Administrator but whoever it is they are falling down on the job. When I went passed Mrs. Wiley's place today I saw two of the City crew working on the South side of the road ditch. Mrs. Wiley's driveway tube was dug out and gone.
I was told they were to clean the ditch so the road could be widened two feet. The dummy didn't mark it off or show the guys how far he wanted it widened. If you drive by and look, they guys stopped half way up the hill and on the down side, they quit before they go to the end of the road. And, there is not an extra two feet prepared to put the widened road and it wasn't dug out and a base put down.
The Council needs to find a NEW City Administrator. Someone who has been around the block and knows something about roads and water and sewer. This guy knows nothing. He throws out half baked orders to the City Crew and when it isn't done right, he blames the workers for his mistakes and lack of knowledge. After Monroe Street concrete and the expensive broken up road at Ed Ensors and now this debacle, someone on the Council is going to have to bite the bullet and find another one.
Oh, right, I forgot that the Council thinks he is so great to make them look so dumb that they are giving him a $5,000 a year raise and letting him have the temp worker as his secretary and hiring him an assistant. Who cares, it's not their money.
May 7, 2003
I heard on the radio this morning that Donna Collier wanted everyone to know that today is her birthday. But, the people on the radio didn't say that she was born in 1943. Happy Birthday Donna.
Rumor has it that Sam Henderson is trying to get the State to allow him to skirt the ETHIC LAWS to allow him to vote to give his son a raise. Why? Why would he want to even be involved in the pay raise of his son. Isn't it bad enough he got his son on the City Payroll? Why doesn't he just bow out and abstain and let the other councilmen make the decision? Come on Sam, show the people of La Grange you have some ethics.
Will the Chamber of Commerce officers come to their senses and retract their idea of supporting some businesses in La Grange and kissing off other businesses for the Casinos warp sense of advertising?? Maybe the Chamber and Sam should go to the States educational program on ethics, and take notes.
$1,500,000.00 City budget, and not one penny set aside for the future.
May 6, 2003
A tornado went through Pierce City Missouri and a couple of buildings in town were left. A casino went through La Grange and only a few buildings are left.
There is a lot of buzzing going on in Canton about grand jury indictments being handed down. Rumor has it one person was charged with loaning his credit card money like a payday loan. I guess the money they loan you isn't really your money after all. So, it seems that if you use one of those credit card checks to make sure you read the fine print first.
The river is arising. The weather pattern and the high water looks an awful lot like 1993. 1962 was a high water year and 1963 was amost as high. 1973 the water was higher than anytime before. 1983, the water was high, but did not break any records. 1993, was a record breaking year, and now we are at 2003. Every ten years. Will 2003 be another record year?
May 5, 2003
The local coffee shop was filled with a lot of sorrow today as the group talked about the sudden death of Sharon Illa. Craig and Sharon have a shop in Palmyra and on the net www.illa-antiques.com.
There was also sorrow that today was the last day of Wilma's coffee shop. Another small business bites the dust since the Casino opened. Wilma did say that they will try to keep open the pizza business in the evenings. Here is a picture of the last ones today. click here.
Rumor has it that Councilman Sam Henderson might vote for pay raises for his son who is a fireman and City Street worker. It hasn't been too long ago that Sam told me about this big book describing unethical votes by a City Official.
The rumor that the Chief was only getting $27 thousand a year and will be bumped to $35 thousand a year is the correct amount.
I don't know about the rest of you, but our garden is doing great. Everything that was planted in the past couple weeks is growing well. The corn is up about 3 inches. The tomato plants are over a foot high. The peppers, lettuce and beans are all up and the potato plants are about 6 inches and we have been getting asparagus for over a week now and the strawberry plants have blossoms. Grass gets mowed on any sunny day we can mow without getting rained on. I have had my fill of mushrooms and now eagerly awaiting sweet corn and tomatoes.
May 3, 2003
I received a few emails and one in particular was interesting. Rumor has it that Little Billy Bob has issued a direct order that no one at the casino can talk about the Gossip Page and are forbidden to even look at it. Now, that is not fair. Maybe they can go to EBAY and look up marktwaincasino.com and bid on the domain name. There is already one bid, but it didn't meet the reserve. Let's see if Bill has the balls.
Here are some of the emails I have received.
GO JERRY GO
WE LOVE YOUR STUFF
WHEN DOES THE COUNTY AND TOWN OF CANTON GET IN ON THE
GOOD STUFF ?????????????
Jerry--warm welcome back,
Let's set things in a little perspective here from a N of the border viewpoint. The
Chief of LaGrange gets US $35,000 a year to "look after" a little town of about
1,000 in Missouri--which translated into Canadian dollars is about $59,000--which
is what most public servants get here in Canada to represent their COUNTRY in
Washington and at the UN in New York and Europe and other places overseas!
Is LaGrange Council taking resumes? Need a new chief?
Jerry,
I do enjoy your LaGrange news. I would have emailed you when you said there
would be no more gossip pages, but I assumed correctly that I would not have to-
everybody else would do it for me. It's a little like the situation when the electricity
goes off in the country-your neighbors will do the calling! Keep up the good work. I
like where the Mark Twain site goes and look forward to seeing how you top that.
Enjoy- I'm going back to Columbia for a follow up on the kidney thing-Again, thanks
for your information and for sharing on the web-you may never know how many
people you helped (or should we call it 'just being nice'.
I see, BFI dumped 4 or 5 loads yesterday. Can our sewer handle that much ? Not to
mention the semi tearing up the street !
COOL!!! That's my JERRY!!! -- GO GUY!!!
WELL I MUST SAY THAT THE REASON I READ THE GOSSIP
PAGE IS BECAUSE YOU TELL IT THE WAY IT IS. I AM SO
HAPPY YOU DID NOT STOP LETTING PEOPLE AROUND THE
WORLD KNOW HOW SMALL MINDED PEOPLE CAN BE. IT IS
PRETTY SAD THAT THE PEOPLE OF LA GRANGE HAVE TO
HAVE THESE KIND OF PROBLEMS. IF THEY WOULD HAVE
TOOK INTO CONSIDERATION WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN
SAYING ALL ALONG THIS POOP COULD HAVE BEEN
AVOIDED. I STARTED GETTING THE LOCAL PAPER UP
THERE AND IT IS SO BORING COMPARED TO THE GOSSIP
PAGE. I THINK YOU SHOULD RUN FOR NORTH COUNCILMAN
AND BE THE DIRECTOR. YOU HAVE A LOT OF GREAT IDEAS
FOR THE PEOPLE AND THE CITY ITSELF. DON'T GIVE UP
BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE
SUPPORTING YOU. I HAVE PEOPLE THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN
TO LA GRANGE THAT READ YOUR PAGE BECAUSE I TOLD
THEM TO CHECK IT OUT ONCE AND NOW THEY READ IT
EVERY DAY AND THEN WE WOULD GET TOGETHER A LAUGH
AT HOW YOU TEAR THE PEOPLE APART THAT ARE SUPPOSED
TO BE IN CHARGE OF THAT LITTLE TOWN. KEEP THE
GOSSIP PAGE GOING TO HELP EDUCATE THOSE IDIOTS UP
THERE
LOYAL READER
My cousin in Tallahassee, FL checked out the La Grange Missouri
website --
just on a whim, I hadn't mentioned it to her, since she isn't a Missourian --
and she was SO impressed with it!! She looked up all the graduates of the
high school, found mine, looked up the residents back in the 1800's and found
people that she knew she was related to, names she had heard, and was so impressed.
So of course I wrote her back and said "One of my friends does that web page!!"
Anyway -- just wanted you to know she was really impressed.
How ya doing Jerry,
I just thought I would write to see how my favorite police dept. is
doing? I don't talk with very many people in la grange anymore, I was wondering if
you won the election, and if that was why the gossip page was taken down. If so,
good for you....and congrats. I think that was a very professional thing to do on your
part. Since I left la grange I have been missing it (mostly the river in the morning), I
have been working with computers, and I am currently a Deputy in Macon
County (my home county). Well I just thought I would write to say hi. Good luck, and
tell everyone god bless.
I guess you never got elected. I also see the Gossip Page is gone.
So who is now poking the new mayor and council and administrator and cop chief
and cops and casino owners and fire-chief and hangers-on and beneficiaries of
municipal favors, etc, etc, ad infinitum, in the collective guts to keep them all
somewhat honest and possibly accountable to the public?
Is the new one drinking lots and lots of beer to get the pee flowing to boost the flow
of fluids through the plumbing of the old well now that, through miracles of 2003
engineering and a good amount of duct tape no doubt, it has been transformed into
a sparkling municipal fountain dedicated to Sewer Lagoon?
Who is looking after what parks remain in La Grange and the future of play areas for
the kiddies?
Are the scouts relegated back to tents? Lord Baden-Powell would be so proud but
he never shivered in the winter.
Are the churches now turning over their entire Sunday collections to pay for the
speeding tickets of the faithful en route to worship? Is the police chief REALLY
going to recommend that council put up signs outside of town saying
"Godspeed" as you enter" and "Thank you for your contribution" as you leave?
Who will look after La Grange now? The Mayor? Council? The Casino??
Hmmmm--very bad track records.
If you have to go then so be it and thanks for the years of dedicated service. The
Gossip Page (remember visited by literally thousands from all over the World each
month and year) will be sorely missed. If you have a change of heart then your fans
are with you and all saying..."Jerry, kick some more ass, keep the buggers honest!"
GOOD NEWS. KEEP IT GOING. WE WATCH AND READ IT IN FLORIDA ALSO
----- I THINK ITS GREAT. I'M GETTING TIRED OF GOING THERE EVERY DAY AND
NOT SEEING ANYTHING NEW. NO KIDDING. GREAT NEWS. LOOKING
FORWARD TO GETTING IT AGAIN.
Dear Jerry,
I'm so glad you will continue a column.
I can still feel connected!!
Thanks,
Sincerely,
Jerry; One can only appreciate your views and certainly your concerns about La
Grange, Mo. I also must add that the City Council as well as the readers of "The
Gossip Page"
have to admire your statement about Tim Rossiter. Which as of today I understand
is the new Mayor of La Grange, Mo. As I trust your views I have NO doubt that he
WILL do a fine job.
However now a slight disagreement and only my opinion as I
am not a
resident of La Grange, but if I were my opinion would remain the same. Your "The
Gossip Page" is a forum which should serve as a beacon to many communities.
For the lack of a local newspaper and or radio station "The Gossip Page" has filled
that void.
If I were the new mayor of La Grange, Mo. and or councilman and or
businessman and or resident I certainly would want to read about the news in La
Grange, Mo. How better to know the feelings of the PEOPLE, than what is written in
a forum such as "The Gossip Page".
My Hearty Compliments to the efforts made via "The Gossip Page".
Remember that because people disagree doesn't make the forum wrong. This is a
right that we have been given and protected by the sacrifice of many lives.
I personally hope that Jerry Brandt will reconsider the termination of
"The Gossip Page" and if I were the Mayor and or Councilman and or Businessman
and or Resident of La Grange, Mo. I would urge him to continue!
This is just a few of the over 200 emails that filled my inbox.
May 2, 2003
Some my gossip I received was half right. The Chief will make the $35,000 but he already was making $30,000. And the other half of the rumor is that the City Administrator will get another $5,000 that he put in the budget for himself. I like the thinking of the Council. If you can't do the job that you don't have the education for, give him a raise and hire someone else to work under him to do his job. So far the council has the budget up to $1 and a half MILLION dollars. Isn't that more than the City gets from the casino in a year??
SO, since Billy Bob has made the statement that the casino doesn't need Oyster Park that was improperly and immorally sold to them for a measly $15,000.00, then why doesn't the Casino DONATE Oyster Park back to the City?? What about it Billy Bob?? Or don't you have the authority to make "important" decisions. Oh, I get it, just like the City Administrator, just a manager and your buddy a just a security guard. What a resume, I was an unimportant manager in a two bit casino in a one horse town.
May 1, 2003
Rumor has it that the City Council voted give very generous indeed raises. Rumor has it that the Chief is going to be $8,000 a year richer, now up to $35,000.00. Poor ole Ed Weathers, he was low man on the totem pole again.
Another rumor is that the New City Administrator is so over worked that he will need an assistant to help. So the City is rumored to combine the water and sewer and streets into a public works department and then hire another assistant city administrator to administer to the public works department. Maybe that is how the council came up with the figure of about $90,000.00. For what? Well to put in a new water line and repave a (ONE) block of city street. How many blocks of streets are there in La Grange?
I feel sorry for the new Mayor. He has a woman as the police committee chairman that has a son in prison for being a cop killer and she is in charge of the police department. He has a councilman that wants to be the chairman in charge of his sons department and he says there will be no conflict of interest there. He has Mike Lowe coming on board as a relic from the "Fred & Ralph screw the city team". And, unless someone else runs in the middle ward he will get stuck with another of the "Fred & Ralph screw the city team" a 3burb. With a City Council like that, may God have mercy on the new mayors soul.
Since ole Bob decide to play screw the businesses in La Grange game, I thought it would be nice to help him out. So just point your browser to marktwaincasino.com and see where it goes to now. I even got a letter from a person that is pissed off at the casino and works (well around) Catfish Bend that offered to pay me $200.00 per month to leave marktwaincasino.com where it is. Since I own it, I can leave there or point it anywhere I want, to any kind of a website. So, keep tabs on it and see where it goes to next.
One a lighter note. We have all our garden in now, do you? I have enough mushrooms that I am freezing them for later. And my tomato plant in the house has blossoms setting.
April 28, 2003
Well, I hear that Nina Painter is home, well, at Alma's place. The customers at Wilma's are waiting for her return for coffee. Looks like Ed Esnor is moving a lot of dirt. Looks like a big slide.
I had many many calls and emails wanting me to keep the gossip page. But, I had a friend ask me to change it to this new page. He said it was disheartening to have people ask him about the atrocious goings on in La Grange. So I decided that I would change it to just put on what is happening in La Grange but, MARK TWAIN CASINO couldn't be nice about it. The Casino just had to use the Chamber for its personal gain and screw over the businesses in La Grange. Well, Thursby, you lied to Wayne. The Casino is only for the Casino and only the Casino. Whereas, Catfish bend donated $630,000.00, Mark Twain Casino gave a pitiful $630.00. If it were not for State Law that the Casino can't crew over, the City wouldn't even get what it gets now. And now the Casino put the Officers of the Chamber of Commerce in a pickle. And laugh how they did it.
I reported the other day about the Chamber of Commerce deciding not to hold the annual 4th of July Bar-B-Que chicken dinner this year. The rumor is they cited that there were not enough members to help.
Well, I am here to tell you that the actions of the Chamber of Commerce Executives will result in LESS members and with these actions, the Chamber might as well fold. Sucking up to the Casino is the death knell for the Chamber.
I was told and shown a letter from the chamber to one of the officers that asked his business to be placed on a placemat at the Casino. But, only a very few businesses were sent this letter signed by Pam Novinger and the business was to reply to Ken Shultz. The President of the Chamber, when contacted, hem hawed and didn't know what to say.
I can not believe what I hear and see. I thought that the creed of the chamber was to do whatever it can to benefit ALL businesses in La Grange, whether they are a member of the Chamber or not. Three of the main businesses in town were selected NOT to receive this letter.
This is the old 45 years, 2 months, 5 days, 13 hours, and 15 minutes sacrificial person who used to be President of the local paycheck cashing service, way of screwing over the other businesses in town.
Anyone want to join the La Grange Chamber of Commerce, the local bigotry, narrow mindedness, small mindedness local organization that practices pettiness and promotes divisiveness?
No wonder the Chamber can't get members or anyone to help. For the past few years since officers of the bank have been involved in pitting some businesses against the others the membership has fallen to a small petty minded few people.
April 24, 2003
If you want to call Blessing Hospital to check on Nina or Mildred use this number 1-800-382-8833
If you have a lot of Brush and tree Limbs you want to get rid of, get them to the curb by May 5th and the City will take care of that for you.
Other trash needs to be put out by May 3rd for BFI to pick. Get out everything you can to let BFI know they have been in La Grange.
"Wheels for life" bike-a-thon will be held on May10th at City Park. (the only one we have left) All proceeds go to St. Jude Hospital. Anyone ages 5-10 call Theresa at City hall 4301 or her home 4173 before 7am or after 9pm.
Wayne was telling me what Billy Bob said about Oyster Park. I told him that Billy Bob is a great story teller and full of BS.
Proud grandma CLICK HERE do you know this harried woman?
PRESS NEWS JOURNAL STUFF
Fire Chief Heindselman has lifted the no burning ban after 8 straight days of solid ran.
The sixth Tri-State Development Summit was held with every town in the are but La Grange attending.
Sometime next month there will be an election to replace Steve Griesbaum who resigned
Sometime after that there will be an election to fill Tim Rossiters place.
La Grange Chamber had the annual Easter egg hunt last Saturday and they all got wet. And there was also the Ministerial Alliance that had a Come and see 2003. There was a Easter Bunny on the fire truck and inflatable rides by heartland christian academy. and Free Food
The Little Queen Rebekah Lodge will have a Mexican Dinner may 3rd. At their ages, don't be in a hurry to get served. You might want to come early.
Bud and Cleota's granddaughter Amy stopped to visit.
Ted and Margie Sturhaun visited Greg and Cathy Childers in St. Louis. I wonder who drove??
Arnold and Nancy Tiemann and Forest spent Easter weekend with Doug and Connie. That is why the station was closed and you couldn't get any gas.
Larry and Dorothy Gillespie made it 40 years together. I'll bet that was a lively celebration!
LLoyd and Dixie Griggs made it 40 years too.
Harlie Spratt, husband of Frances VanNess, Ludwig, Spratt will be 80 on May 3rd. let's see now, Frances is my age. That must have been one of those May and next December things.
The La Grange Police report didn't have one La Grange Resident on the docket. Locals are getting gun shy.
So far, the Lewis County Commission minutes hasn't shown any payment of $9,000 to the Drug Task Force as told.
Kathy Hinson of La Grange??? Caught two large bass. One 23 inches 6 1/2 pounds the other 7 pounds. WOW!
April 24, 2003
Let's see if you can guess who these people are. They are neighbors. They live in La Grange. Neighbor number 1 had their property surveyed and found that neighbor number 2 has a fence about a foot or so onto neighbor 1's property. Neighbor 1 is furious and forces neighbor 2 to move the fence back. But, the fence had been there for many many years prior to neighbor number 1 even living there. Neighbor 1 then mows their yard and when no was was supposed to be looking Neighbor 1 ran the mower into the driveway which picked up rocks and threw them at Neighbor 2's house and vehicle. Neighbor 1 has been doing such things for a long time now, all the while complaining about Neighbor 2. They have adjoining driveways.
Can you guess who they are?
April 23, 2003
Nina Painter did have a small stroke, she is in Blessing in room 3414. And then I just read a study that said over 37000 prescriptions last year were wrong that resulted in someone dying.
Mildred Bradshaw is also in Blessing Hospital.
APRIL 21, 2003
This morning I was informed that Nina Painter was taken to the hospital. We are afraid that it is a stroke. Will let you know later.
I heard the other day that the Chamber of Commerce Chicken BBQ was not to be anymore as the Chamber doesn't have enough people to work it.
BUT, I also heard that maybe the La Grange Fire Association will pick it up.
I have no idea whether it is on or off.
Will this do??
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