March 30

If the rumors going around town the last couple of days are true. Not only should the Mayor and Council be totally embarrassed, but one Councilman should be totally MADD. I suppose that 187 voters are just tickled to death. Rumor has it that this is the second or maybe the third time. A good Mayor should do the right thing, but you know he doesn't have the guts to do it. It has been heard that the Mayor was warned once before about these antics at an accident on the new highway and didn't do anything then, so why now? But a MADD person should stand up, but we all know he won't either. All he wants to do is move that derelict framework from the old fire station over to the Lions property and make it look crappy. Here's a hint MADD, take it back out to the ball diamond where it belongs.

Now that the Fire Chief has been thrown off and out of the new casino, one wonders who will be doing the inspections from now on. Was he really told never ever to set foot on the Casino property again.

I guess everyone knows by now about the all expenses paid trip to Caruthersville by the Fire Chief and the Assistant and wives. By all accounts, the rumors say that it was an exciting one and very enjoyable. I wonder if they actually learned how to put out a Casino fire??

I hear that the Lions Club put on a good fish fry this time again. When we got there, they had just run out of fish in the pan and had to wait a few minutes for them to bring in more. The Mayor was right behind me and got a couple of carry outs and hurried out the door before anyone could speak to him. And of course it wasn't dark enough for Martini and Weasel to come out. The only talk I heard was about the potato salad. Seems the potatoes were a little hard. I don't eat potato salad so I couldn't tell.

I have an email that tells me that the LAPD doesn't recognize Court Orders that were not issued by anyone else but the local judge. It seems that an order of protection means that the one the person being protected from is the one that is protected by the LAPD. Doesn't make sense does it??

That business of a mother having to leave a 2 year-old alone in her car while being cuffed and stuffed so to peak is, well quite frankly bullshit!! Sorry for the profanity. You would think that a police force led by a foster parent would know better!! I think that officer should be brought up on child endangerment charges. If they can
nail you with that for not having a child restrained in an automobile, they surely should be able to get that idiot of an officer (and I use that term lightly) on it for making a mother leave her child like that!!

This has been a week of a lot of bitchen'. It seems our local internet service has gone bonkers. If all the calls I have received are any indication, their phone lines should be burning, well, except the other day when the boat workers cut the fiber telephone cable and shut off all long distant calls.

I received a couple of calls last night asking if I heard about Mrs. Hood from senior housing getting stopped by the La Grange Police. One of the callers wants to get everyone in town to go to a Council meeting and let 'em have it. I suggested we just wait and see how the election goes. If we come up wth the same, then let's go.

Everyone in town should immediately contact their home owner insurance agent to get their premiums reduced. The Fire Chief has stated that since he has done so well with the fire department that the fire rating for La Grange has dropped which will save everyone at least $50.00 per year on their premium. All the ones on the Rural Routes, because of their insurance being cheaper will be able to pay more to the Fire Chief. One of the members (a farmer) of the Rural Fire Association has said he talked to our local insurance agent and reportedly has a letter to state that insurance rates here in town will be lowered by $200.00 per year.

I received a couple of emails the other day. Two, were law officers here in Missouri. I am not sure that both were stopped and arrested, but I am sure that one was. Neither said that they identified themselves as law officers during the stop or Court. But, both were extremely verbal about the Cities chief and the department as a whole. One stated that after his brush with Martini and Weasel's law department, he went home and got on the Internet and searched for La Grange Missouri and came up with the web page and then went to the Gossip Pages. He stated that his impression of the LAPD was worse than what was on the Gossip Pages.

Jerry, I had recently passed through the City of LaGrange on two occasions, not just one visiting the area and thinking about the way things used to be, but on two occasions. As I drove into town I saw a white car sitting in a hidden spot facing north only to notice it was a LaGrange Police Department Officer running radar on a Sunday afternoon. As I drove past the location I looked down at my speedometer only to notice I had just entered the city limits and was driving approximately 46 in a 40 mile speed zone. As I drove by I was spared the usual stop and given a hard time attitude from an officer of the law who hides like a coward to catch the older people coming into town after a morning in church. What a waste of tax payer money and when drugs run
rampant, drunks drive the road during the late hours (not on Sunday afternoon, most of the time) and people ask for service only to get a lame response or a report taken over the phone. I have been around for a long time and understand the need for law enforcement and feel our society would be total chaos with out it, but come on for the folks which pretend to be officers of the law, the same folks who hide behind buildings to catch speeders, or in a dark hole on the south side of town.

I am writing to you because I used to live in LaGrange several years ago. It has been a while since I returned, and things have not always been swell, but I cant support this kind of cowardly act of what you might call law enforcement? I keep up on the news usually from what I read in the local Press News Journal, some of the things which have occurred in the city business are questionable to say the very least. I read the City plans to hire 10 police officers for coverage over the city in anticipation of the riverboat? What are they going to do, I don't think there are that many hiding places in LaGrange to run radar. They need ten police officers( of course this is my opinion only) like Monticello needs a traffic lights to control traffic flow? Yeah right! I will say I support strong law enforcement but from what I have seen during my time and years of being around, this is a
far cry from law enforcement. I also keep in touch with a friend from back home and they tell me someone is making another try at law enforcement? He could not handle being a deputy sheriff so why does he think he will be able to make it as a LaGrange Police Officer, unless he's required to do nothing, then he will do quite well. What a gem, my friend tells me that the new officer, supposedly came from the county as a dump truck driver after leaving law enforcement for several years. I am sure things have not gotten easier as far as training requirements? I guess I am in an unknown area there but I would sure like to know what makes him qualified to carry a gun, arrest people, and pretend to be a police officer. My friend tells me he is thick with the police chief, according to my friend the police chief and him will make a good pair. Early retirement...... on tax payer dollars? I do not want to make waves, just state facts, the fact is the LaGrange Police Department according to the information I have gathered and seen is a joke. I hope if something happens where peoples lives are at stake a trooper or a sheriff's deputy is around to help. Speaking of this I read in the Press News Journal that an officer by the last name of (R) has joined the mud and fud gang. I
was reading over his qualifications and they did not seem to be any better than the rest. A police explorer? I heard that is like what 15 and 16 year old kids join to learn more about law enforcement. Again I am a supporter of law enforcement and I truly believe that city hall needs a cleaning based on the information I read, hear about and my personal experience on the North edge of town. Should I continue or should I stop........ just a few more issues that make me
wonder. My friend tells me the police chief drives the city owned patrol unit to and from work. Is this an ethical issue, why should the people of LaGrange provide transportation for him to and from his place of residence which is about a 15 mile trip. How much does this cost tax payers..... besides that if he is chief of such a fine police department why doesn't he live in the city. How can he possibly be involved in the community when he spends all of his time away from it unless he's being paid for it. My friend tells me he does a good job of looking out for himself only to leave others
suffering. I also want to mention another point.... my friend tells me the mayor has no job? Does the city pay a large salary for mayor... there is rumor he's on food stamps..... more tax payer money down the drain, if this is a fact and not a rumor. I think I have made my point and will let it rest,
these are issues the people of LaGrange need to consider when they go to voting booth for another round of wasted money or hopefully a change in city government. I am very disappointed in what the city has become with the activities I read about and the way government has conducted itself. I am no supporter to gambling but it is the only thing the city has as well as the County. Oh, my friend also tells me county government is no better, I learned the voters put the same commission in for another round of ruthless conduct. I guess another round of wasted money and no economic development. That is a different issue which my friend talks about all the time....... Well I am not normally this critical of other folks activities but I get upset when I read about these activities,
and witness police units hiding to catch good people who work everyday trying to make an honest living......... Anonymous for obvious reasons, a target of retaliation the next time I visit, if I visit.

I have been warning you about the FIRE CHIEF wanting the City to adopt BOCA International codes. Here is SOME of the new rules and regulations you will have to abide by.

BOCA’s Code Adoption Toolkit helps you make the transition to the International Codes. This toolkit can be used to help jurisdictions understand and adopt any or all of the 2000 International Codes — Building, Residential, Fire, Plumbing, Mechanical, Fuel Gas, Energy Conservation, Property Maintenance, Private Sewage Disposal, Zoning and ICC Electrical Administrative Provisions. This allows the Fire Chief to physically inspect and serve court papers on anyone violating the BOCA INTERNATIONAL codes.

You have got to believe that this Mayor and Council are willing to follow the Chief.

Today has been an interesting day. The Boat people cut down and removed that huge old tree on the corner where you used to turn to go to the lumber yard. And while they were digging in the ditch, it seems someone cut the fiber optic telephone cable and we were all out of long distant service for quite awhile.

There are a lot of fish fries and a hog roast coming up very soon. I am going to get fat. ter.

This guy from Florida comes to La Grange last summer and gets into trouble with the locals. Now the same guy comes back to town with Florida Plates, goes into the bar, has a couple, (he says) and promptly goes out and drives his car. You know what happens next. He calls me about the arrest and says he didn't do the blow and now they can't prove how much he had to drink. If you only had two beers, why not blow?? He says he didn't trust the machine. You do realize that now it is an automatic lose the license time don't you?? Yeah, but what can I do about it? DUH??? Now he should look into hiring a chauffer or getting married so she can drive.

Now, have you looked up BOCA international Codes Yet?? You better, if the Fire Chief gets his way, YOU WILL PAY DEARLY.

For instance, there is a rumor that the two chiefs are looking into a blanket administrative SEARCH WARRANT. What is that you say???

Well, it goes like this, once it is in place, either Chief can come to your door and show you this lawful looking paper and come into your home and inspect it for building code violations. (see BOCAI.ORG). Oh, by the way, they will look for guns, drugs, porno, or anything else they might want to find useful to use against you in a Court of law. If you refuse the warrant and do not let them in, you get to go to jail. 187 people have to really be tickled to death about this one and vote for this Mayor and the Weasel and Lowely again and again.

There is this new councilman who still is trying to do right, but when the vote comes, it is 6-0. Andy did this when he was Councilman and lost.

A new member was added to the Rural Fire Association. You would think that a big operator that he is would be a better representative. If the first meeting is an indicator of his actions, the rural people are going to pay dearly.

Today we hear that (72) people were in court this week. SEVENTY TWO. Doesn't that seem obscene to you? I had a prominent citizen stop me on the street today to tell me this. His suggestion is for the Mayor to put a sign up at each entrance coming into town to say. STAY OUT, THE CITY OF LA GRANGE DOES NOT WANT YOUR BUSINESS. He also wanted to put up signs at each entrance to say RADAR TRAP TOWN ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK. He was sorely pissed. I just quietly said, the Mayor is just up the street. Go see him.

Now, every registered voter was sent a questionnaire from the City. If you didn't get one, CLICK HERE for a copy. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT YOU CHECK YES for a City ADMINISTRATOR and get it back to the City. Make sure all your friends and neighbors do so too.

By looking at the survey, you can easily see how this Mayor and Council are looking how to squander all that money. I would check mark the last one with a number 1 first. Except I would not want the Council to just LOOK INTO waving City Taxes. I would much rather the City Council pass an Ordinance to waive all taxes, personal and real on everyone as long as the casino is in operation. I believe the people of La Grange should get at least that much from all the police harassment and problems we will see.

Where would they build a new City Hall? Plus, the Police can move into the new Fire Station. Get them away from downtown.

I would go with waiving city taxes as number one. Improve water system (2). But, the Casino owns all the property and underground water rights, so now what?? Improving the streets would be nice, only if an outside contractor like Diamond did it. we already have seen how our street super improves streets. Just drive by Councilman Lowe's House.

Do you notice what is missing?? A library. Oh. yes we have a library, but it is in a rented place, that is too small. I'll be willing to bet that a certain person who owns the property that Ellison 66 used to be, would be willing to make a sweetheart deal with the City to build a library there. It could be built toward the back part of the lot, up in the air like the building on 29th and Broadway is, with parking in front and underneath. It would be accessible easily by wheelchair from 2nd street. And the big plus would be that it would be high enough to see the river from the front. And the most important part is the fact that the City Library would own its own building and not be liable to anyone. Somewhere between 2000 to 3000 square feet would be about right.

Have you looked BOCA up yet? Go to HTTP://WWW. bocai.org. You can easily see ALL the new laws you will be able to break once the Fire Chief gets his way. Now bear in mind, all these new laws will not affect him, remember, Martini and Weasel waived the charter part that says the fire chief has to be a tax paying citizen. 187 voters have to be tickled to death to see this coming.

When we all - voted for a Gambling boat to ply the river with a 24 million entertainment center, we were not told by the gambling boat people how much it will affect us personally. Everyone thought that it would be in the river and not have any affect on our personal lives or way of living. Now, daily, we are getting to know just exactly how much you, me, all of us, will be drastically affected. We will be living in a police state continuously and now we see that new laws will be made to control us even more.

If you live in La Grange, you had better read the Council meeting minutes for the past month. Do you know what BOCA is? Well, your friendly Fire Chief (who lives out of town and will not be affected) is setting you up for building codes and zoning laws. Martini - Weasel + Murphysboro will not be affected as they live in fairly new homes and postage stamp yards. So, everyone else who will want to add a room, add a garage, tear down an old structure, remodel or anything else WILL BE UNDER THE STRICT SUPERVISION OF THE FIRE CHIEF. You won't be able to burn leaves, trash, or park any undriveable vehicle on your own property. He will be able to call at your door to inspect YOUR home for fire hazards and smoke alarms. A person who will not have to live or abide by the laws he will force on you. You 187 voters have absolutely got to be totally tickled to death.

The only Mayor that would have been there to PROTECT your rights, your privacy, and you yourselves from police harassment and new constraining laws, was forced out by those who had no idea what these people had - have in store for them. The people who voted for Martini - Weasel and Hizzoner still do not know how these three are going to affect their lives for a very long time.

Now, the Mayor and Council have a change in our Charter that will allow the City to hire an administrator. Everything looks good except one of the requirements to be City Administrator is missing. That is, it should be that the Administrator should have a BA in business administration and a minor in accounting. You the people will be asked to vote on this issue. Hopefully, everyone will see the need of someone intelligent to run the City.

Today I posted the Council Meeting minutes for the past month or so. These you have to just go and read. See how the Council feels about the rest of the County. Find out about the Council meeting in KIRKSVILLE MO. Why?? See how far the City is in debt to the gambling boat, See how much MORE MONEY the city is asking from the Gambling boat. See all the money the Fire Chief wants to spend of YOUR money. You have just got to read each one of these meetings. See what the Police Chief has in store for you.

Whereas I have heard this comment several times, I would like to make a statement about it. The comments have been that a vote for Andy Ayers is a vote for a puppet for Jerry Brandt. I would like to make a few things clear. One, Mr. Ayers and I have not seen eye to eye for many years. And on a personal level there isn't any love lost either. My one and only reason for the support of Mr. Ayers is the fact that there is no one else to vote for against Harold Ludwig. I personally believe that inadvertently, Harold has done more damage to the City of La Grange than he can possibly realize. Only because, I believe he did not and still does not what the hell is going on. He has followed his instructions to the letter by the two.

I have talked to several blacks in town and have received the conclusion that the blacks do not want to vote for Andy Ayers because of a problem several (many) years ago. My problems with Mr. Ayers, even though it isn't what the blacks are upset about, it is almost the same reason. But, I believe that the black community should stop a minute, and like me, take a step back, and vote for Mr. Ayers. What he did and said in the past is just that, the past. I do not believe that the black community will want to continue the destruction of the City of La Grange, and a vote for Harold will do just that. I don't believe the black community will want to see a stepped up police force to continually arrest them time and time again.

There have been times when everyone who votes has come to the point that they do not like one candidate and have another candidate that they know is the wrong person for the job end up not voting at all. I think the black community should think about the future of La Grange, and their future, when it comes time to vote. If the cross to bear is too much to vote for Mr. Ayers, instead of voting for Harold, don't vote at all.

Jerry, how come when I click on the street map for the city all I get is a white page? (I will fix that). Also, I can't believe the mayor is that dumb on the news. It doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure out the reason people have left town, the same reason at least 10 that I know of left last year: NO SCHOOL!! not to mention no grocery store and the sad part is that now that the boat is just about done, we have NO Council working on getting any new business into town. Even Ewing, La Belle and Lewistown have decent places to get a meal and 1 of those even has a grocery store. If I had small children do you think I would stay in this town and think that I had to spend the next 13 (counting kindergarten) years running back and forth to Highland? Everyone that heard the broadcast is laughing at him for "just not being able to understand why people are moving". Why aren't committees being made to work on getting new business' to come instead of worrying about how much money to give Baker to spend?

The Dedication of the New La Grange Community Youth Center was held today. Many people of town were there to see the ground breaking. It was interesting to see who wasn't there. Only two councilmen showed up, Mike Lowe and Tim Rossiter. The Mayor failed to show and so did the police who were supposed to sound the siren. Mayor elect Andy Ayers and Mr. Powers were there as well as former state representative Mr. Demarce. The La Grange sesquicentennial members donated over $1000 to the new youth center.

To see pictures taken of the new youth center and the dedication. Go back to the home page and scroll down to the youth center. CLICK HERE.

If you want to see how two-faced a councilman is. Just drive up the last drive by the south end trailer park and see the dogs running loose. Here, you have Councilman, on the police committee, having the police pick up your dog and fine you while he lets these dogs run loose all over his neighbor hood.

Now for some good news. It seems there is a new grandma in town. CLICK HERE to see the new one. The name is Wessyn Marie. born March 13th. Weighed in at a spectacular 7 pounds 4 ounces. Looks just like grandma when she was a baby. I'll give you a couple of days to guess who the grandma is. A hint, mom and dad do not live here in town. And daddy is a police officer. Not a COP.

Did you watch Channel 10 news tonight? 187 voters have to be so proud of "their" Mayor. The newsman talked to the Mayor about the Census taken last year by the United States Census Bureau, just like every other city, town, and burg in the U.S. And,,, when the newsman stated the UNITED STATES Census Bureau figures showed that La Grange lost population, their Mayor said. "DUH, I just don't know where they got those figures, DUH". My granddaughter almost fell out of her seat. She was just "tickled to death". This is just like the premise that the million dollars was going to be paid to the City the day the casino opened. As Gomer says, Surprise, Surprise, Surprise. Hello? Didn't he see all those people the gambling boat displaced, move "out of town"????

Happy St. Pats weekend. Go out. Enjoy yourselves. Take a drive through La Grange. They are all waiting for you. Have you noticed that we are now using our walkie-talkies so those who have scanners can't hear them? Only those of us with outside towers and excellent antennas can hear the chatter.

For years we have been hearing the gambling boat people say that crime will not be a problem, then they said the gambling boat had its own security and hiway patrolmen on board. Then we find that over 1/3 of the income from the casino will be spent for police to protect the casino. Then we, hear the gaming commissioner "hope" that drugs, gangs, crime, and organized crime won't be a problem. He knows we are in for a lot of problems. He was just beating around the bush to keep from telling it like it will be.

Now, today, the rumor is that the City Police Chief and one other officer are at a school to be trained in SWAT tactics and maneuvers. WOW!!! If that ain't a kick in the ass. I told you before he will be getting AK47's for traffic stops and rocket launchers for those who try to get away. Now, for the Humvee.

Finally, someone in the Council got smart and set up two meetings a month instead of a meeting every other day or so. Speaking of meetings, how come when other committee meetings are held, other Councilmen can attend and speak and be a part of the meeting but when the police and finance committee meets, no one, not even another councilman can speak. Someone should ask the weasel or martini.

I guess the City computers caught the flu, ah, too bad. I am sure their computer guru will get them fixed.

The Mayor and martini and weasel and the intelligent city attorney are working overtime to stop the people of La Grange from getting a qualified City Administrator.

What is all the problem with the funds? Can't the Council talk the gambling boat people out of any more money up front to spend? Looks like some councilmen screwed up. It was to be that the boat was to pay $250,000 per year for a boat in the moat, now it is less money, and less time, and now the City is going to be short enough money to hire all the police protection for the casino. Let's see now, how many years advance money have martini and weasel sucked up. Is the first payment really going to be the year 2003????

Wait a minute, what is the fire chief with his own police radio going to do? He already has over $175,000 lined up to spend. Relettering the fire trucks, who cares how much? Spend the money.

Who was the councilman who put the BFI contract on hold? It seems that now with the shortfall of money for a few years, the City will have to beg BFI to dump their stuff in the City sewer plant. The engineers are doing a job on the Council and they are falling right into it. Spend the money, marinti and weasel. There is still $10.99 left in year four of the income from the boat not spent yet. Just think of it as Project Brighter Future funds.

May the Lord help the new Mayor and Council. I think they will be stepping into a pool of quick sand. It will take auditors a year to straighten all this mess out.

And did I read the PNJ right? A street culvert is plugged up and the street super is going to have the firemen clean it out??? Lordy Lordy, 187 people have to be just tickled to death.

Lastly, today. I was driving North past the foundry and saw the La Grange Police car coming in from the North. It got closer and closer and closer, and my radar detector never went off and I looked up to see Larry Penn driving and waved. Isn't it great to have someone on the force that actually knows what to do?

More on the ambulance - fire - police debacle. A citizen reports that he was near the site and saw the ambulance get within a half a block and then turned around a couple of times and left and then came back. He also said that he was admonished by the chief for being in the way, You would have thought that one, the police would have been ready to lead the ambulance to the address, or two, one of the many firsts would have been at the end of the road with his flashing lights so the ambulance could see them. As it was, everyone was at the site and no one was left to direct the ambulance.

The internet has search engines so that if you want info on something say, lagrange missouri, they search the net for references. I have a little better software program that does an extensive search on 100 search sites. Well, anyhow, during a search of lagrange missouri, a site called lovecity.com. In a search of lovecity.com it came up with a La Grange person. Do you know a Daniel, 49, recently widowed, about 5 9. Loves fishing movies. This master search program brings up a whole lot of obscure information on any subject.

Here is a funny for you. An ambulance was going to a call. The ambulance asked the local police to help get the ambulance to the right place. First, the officer doesn't know anyone in town. And the first boys got the address wrong at first, then corrected it. But, the best part of the call is that when the office told the officer that it was a medical overdose, the officer said "overdose! that is a criminal act". The directions to the ambulance went on and on for several minutes. Instead of a first leading the ambulance there, they spent several minutes talking on the two-way trying to direct the ambulance there.

My question is this. Why doesn't the Ambulance district go to the gas company and get a set of the City maps and have the City put the names of the people who live at the addresses on the maps??? When we do service calls in other cities across Illinois, Missouri, and Iowa, we use GPS on our laptops to get the business address.

I remember when my father died and the ambulance was clear over on the other hill South of his house looking around for many minutes and here was a man who had lived at the same location for 50 years.

The La Grange United Methodist Church is having its 43rd annual fish fry. That has to be the record. With a record like that, they have to be the masters of frying fish. Based on what I have eaten there in the past, they are the best. Only my dad at the old Pete's Boat House could match them. When you leave a donation to them, bear in mind that they also are one of the longest continuous supporter of the La Grange Community Youth Center. So make sure you take that into account when you dig into your pocket for the donation.

I received this email the other day from someone who not only did not support me for mayor, but actively campaigned against me big time. They left me their email address, but I will leave it as anonymous.

Mr. Brandt,
              I am writing this after much thought. I was one of those 187 people, and a big one against you. In the past year that I have been out of La Grange, I have learned and realized a lot. If I would have taken a step back from the situation when you were the Mayor I would have realized that you were totally in the right. I do apologize big time for that. I enjoy reading your web page as it keeps me informed on the wrong doings in LaGrange. I do have a few questions for you however.
             First, are there any laws in the state of Missouri about entrapment? I do know for a fact that the La Grange police do that and in Illinois that is illegal. I am thinking that if enough people get together, I think they can get most of the tickets thrown out. This entrapment thing is way out of hand. I was in LaGrange recently and I was flabbergasted at their games. There has to be someway of stopping this.
            Also if there was a way to get some sort of undercover people in there and let them get pulled over to see first hand what is going on maybe that would help. You know, some sort of police type official that could actually do something. I don't know, but something has got to be done.
            Once again I owe you a big apology. I am Sorry.
Anonymous

I usually do not print the letters that are for the Gossip Pages, mostly, because of the space. But, when you have one that is a supporter, but also wants something done about the police force, I print it. Those of you on the email list will see who it is.

Has anyone seen the ex vice-president of the bank anywhere? You would have thought that the x would have been at the meeting at the front desk. What happened?

It seems that the finance committee and the police committee, who incidentally are the same three councilmen, let's see now Martini (pave my drive free) Weasel (no prayer here) and Lowley (please tell me what to do)., anyhow, they have their committee meetings and refuse the other Councilmen to sit in. What are they hiding from us now? Ask HIZZONER at the ice cream shop. You can't ask at the weenie wagon anymore.

If you win the lottery of lets say $2 million dollars and you take the lump sum payment, you only get $1 million, right? Then taxes take half of that million, right? So, by the time you are done you wonder whether you won the lottery or not. Study the income and outgo from the gambling boat. It's the same thing.

Here is a question for you. When you come up the bottom road and come across the levy. 1: Are you now on a City Street? 2: Are you own a road controlled by the Special Road District? 3: Is it a County road? 4: Is it private property and you are trespassing?

La Grange is still going. The La Grange Community Youth Center is starting to build the new Youth Center building across from the North East corner of the City park. Here are a couple of pictures of the start. I will be adding weekly pictures as the building progresses on the Youth Center Page.

Now, here is a picture that will make 187 voters tickled to death and Hizzoner very proud of the Street Super. This is the kind of streets La Grange can look forward to as a result of a Mayor who cannot manage the employees and a Street Super just being ornery and not wanting to do the job right.

Click on the picture so you can see how the street is crumbling away because the asphalt was stupidly put in on paper thin. Can you count all the streets done last year this way? It is going to take a million dollars a year to do these streets all over again right. Well, in that case, with a million dollars, why not fire the street super and hire it all done by Miller Paving?

One other item that was glossed over at the meeting Monday evening. MONEY. It finally came out that the City has been begging front money from the Casino and so has the LRO. What happened to all the money the Bank was going to give to the LRO using nap grants? Wasn't that supposed to $50,000 per year, ex vice president? Isn't that what was promised at the Council meeting by Doc Holiday when (pave my drive free) made the grand statement that DEAN WILL TAKE CARE OF LA GRANGE, I make the motion to go with Dean.

Every time you hear, LA GRANGE WILL GET 1.7 MILLION DOLLARS a year, just remember, it will COST the people of La Grange $500,000 dollars a year of that money to PROTECT THE GAMBLING BOAT. But, the people of La Grange will get to LOCK THEIR DOORS, lock their cars, protect themselves. And once the FIRE DEPARTMENT gets their full time Chief and others to protect the Gambling Boat, another $500,000 dollars a year will be gone. By the time the Mayor gets done with upgrading the water and sewer for the gambling boat, the people may even get a water rate or tax increase.

I waited to write this summary of the meeting to see what the media had to say. Of all the media that was at the meeting, only the Press News Journal got it right. But, even the PNJ missed the important issue.

One item in interest was the gaming official stating I don't know how many times that the Gaming Commission does not mandate the City to have ten officers. One Councilman asked if seven would do and the answer was yes. After the meeting I overheard the Mayor tell someone that they had to have 10 officers or the boat would not get a license. I went straight to the gaming official and asked him twice, and I quote "The gaming commission does not mandate any City to have 10 officers". But, he also said ten officers would be ideal so there would be 24/7 officer on duty and also a reserve for those who need time off and vacations.

The problem I see is the training, whereas with the four we have now, half of us have been stopped and logged into their computer. When the other 6 are hired, are they going to practice their arrests on the other half of the people, or do they get to stop and or arrest the first half all over again.

The biggest loser in all this seems to be the County Sheriff. Whereas, his budget is already busted, 12,000 more people each week will push the County into debt.

The next item of interest was the back and forth talk of the gaming official regarding crime. Even though he brushed off organized crime, he wishy washed the talk about gangs, drugs, and theft. He was a little stronger on traffic crimes though. I could feel some bias or holding back in his talk.

The biggest problem I see with all this is the fact that the Bank and the City and the boat people all tried (and effectively too) to put to rest the talk about crime. But, this meeting brought it out. And, if this meeting was held before the election, it may have passed but I believe it would be a close one.

One other item the news media didn't pick up on. And that was that whenever anyone brought anything about the police actions lately, there was a noticeable clapping in the audience. And when the girl was done telling her story about her child being left in the car, there was a lot of clapping. Even though the Mayor tried to stop it all so the media didn't pick it up, and they didn't.

After all this, I believe that if the police changed their attitude about the townsfolk, a lot of the problems would disappear very quickly. But, if the heat is kept on, the election will make the story a completely different one.

PS:. Both the gaming official and the hiway patrolman stated they read the gossip page regularly.

Boy was the town buzzing about the police this morning. A couple of La Grange citizens were in Canton over the weekend and really got bitched at by some Canton people about our POLICE FORCE. The main subject was the meeting that is to be held tonite. All it is gong to be is just another bunch of propaganda again, just like all the other so called meetings. As one emailer stated, get over it, we are going to be stuck with this Gestapo POLICE FORCE because of the boat for a long long time.

After a couple of conversations with an officer, I am beginning to see another bigger problem. That problem is FEAR. And a lot of it. Take the deal with Ed Weathers and the police stopping him taking his laundry home the other night. Ed had the FEAR that when the officers put their hands back to their guns, he might be shot. Then, I was told that the officer was upset that Bob Waterman didn't stop on the foundry hill the minute the police turned on the red lights. Because, Bob didn't comply immediately, the officer was ready to call in back up. FEAR.

And worst of all, the Police Chief is rumored that he is afraid to order anything to eat here in town as he is afraid that they want to poison him. It is also rumored that he will not work alone anymore and has to have at least one other officer or even two on duty before he will go out. FEAR.

When you have a police officer in a small town like La Grange that FEARS the very people he is to serve and protect, we have a major major problem. With the public driving around in FEAR of being arrested and the police department have a FEAR of everyone they stop and keep their guns at the ready on each stop, it can only come to one thing. Someone will be seriously hurt in the future.

Only 12 more days till the Weasel signs up for the write-in. And the most intelligent person in La Grange, the Martini is planning to be the first City Administrator. Let's see now, he has been in office over 6 years and he never has gotten the Street Super to put in a full week, and now wants to be City Administrator. And, as head Councilman, put the City so far in debt to the gambling boat, that if it changes its mind, the City would have to file bankruptcy. Sounds like a good resume to me.

More info on the police last night. First, it is rumored that the FIRE CHIEF was the one that saw the black man coming down the rabbit path and went to his personal work truck and used his personal two-way radio which has the capability to talk to the police department and called the police on the black man and made the call that the black man was possibly drunk. Then promptly went into the tavern himself. Doesn't Canton need a new fire chief?

Questions?? What is a private citizen doing having a police capable radio in his personal vehicle? Who else has he turned in for drunk driving or other things he deems in his mind to be suspicious. When he goes into a tavern to drink, is he scoping out others to call the police on?? Why don't the police stop him??

I was told today that Mary Jane was courteously stopped and warned about a headlight out. But, we got to run her vitals and get them on record at the police department. Only 285 people left to get stopped and they will have records of everyone in town on file.

I was also told that Bob Waterman was stopped (and warned) about speeding, not ticketed. Because Bob went on and drove the last block home before he stopped his car, he almost was considered to be fleeing to avoid arrest and backup being called in.

Four police officers now and 6 more to go. It seems that they are running out of people to arrest, well I guess they can start on us all over again and arrest us all again. That gambling boat better hurry up and get going so they will have more targets to go after.

When the paper guy delivers the Quincy paper, here is what he does to your yard. click here
When you complain about what he did to your yard, here is what happens click here This time he is stuck. One time wasn't enough, he did it again and got stuck and had to call a friend to pull him out.

The GESTAPO is still working in full force. Now, a black person can not walk down town without being harassed. It seems that, to the GESTAPO, that everyone they come across is a falling down drunk. This black person was asked where he came from, where he was going, he was asked to provide identification, to take breathalyzer, he was asked if the place he came from whether the homeowner was drunk. Then, the GESTAPO gave the reason for the stop. There seemed to conveniently be an anonymous phone call about a prowler in the neighborhood. Yet, everyone in the neighborhood knows the black person very well and none would have made this call. So stupid, but that is what the Mayor wants. That one alone ought to be worth about 50 more votes for Andy.

Now that the Mayor and Martini and Weasel has sold all the City property and streets on the South end, people trying to come up the bottom road are now finding themselves stuck twice. First they get stuck in the mud and second the get stuck with a trespassing ticket for trespassing on the gambling boat property. Chalk up 20 more votes for Andy

The Lions club members are going all out tonight with the fish fry for the Youth Center. It looks like the turnout is huge. Nobody can say that the people of La Grange aren't generous. Even the Gestapo has joined in and is hiding behind the old Imperial gas station radaring everyone coming and going to get the City's share of the money. Why don't the GESTAPO use the alley nest to the Mayors ice cream palace. The Mayor could furnish coffee and donuts while they are radaring everyone going up and down the street? Why don't they use his business as their place to trap people?

I received a nice letter today wanting me to vote for Andy Ayers. Well, I think the letter was to me for that. My name was spelled wrong and it had the wrong address, but the postman was so excited about making sure I got it, I also received someone else's mail too. The letter that looks like some little kid printed it says, "Vote for Andy Ayers (well they got his name right) He will unplug the computer idiot on the northendd. 2d's. Actually, I believe that when Andy gets elected, the Gossip page will change more to look like the Press News Journal.

Rumor has it that Martini is not running as he thinks he is intelligent enough to be City manager. Let's see now, he has been head Councilman for over 6 years now and the Street Super hasn't changed a bit in all this time. The City is debt up to its eyeballs and if the gambling boat sinks or changes its mind, the City might end up filing bankruptcy. As head Councilman, he continually smokes in violation of laws at the Council meetings, allows the Police and Fire Chief to live out of town, and is prejudice against other employees making them live in town. He couldn't control the police chief in six years. He couldn't control the fire chief in six years. And now he is dumb enough to believe he can be City Manager. Who can go against all those qualifications. That should be good enough for 187 voters and just tickles the Mayor to death with all those whiskers.

Rumor also has it that the Weasel is planning a write in campaign. Sorry Sammy, I thought you had a chance. Looks like you are going to lose now. Nobody can beat out the one who helped sell out our school. Nobody can beat out the one who helped sell out our City. How can you top that?