May 31

LIE LIE LIE. Mayor Lagoon told everyone that the City would do away with the franchise fees several months ago. Today, if you look at your phone bill (if you have a separate long distance bill too) and your AMERENUE bill, you will still see the fees still on there.

The tree trimmers came to my place to trim trees. They stopped at the property line. They got my neighbor to allow them to trim a tree, well cut it down, but that was it.

Unlike our rich mayor, one of us in our household had to get a job. We tossed a coin and Linda lost. She is cooking over at 17th and State at Jim's Family inn. That is in case you want some good food.

Linda's nephew has a band and they will be playing AGAIN at the Casino Saturday night. For some good music, that's the place.

Alan VanDeboe who is the City manager for Quincy sent an interesting email. Among the items he made comments on was the fact that he was considering early retirement and thought about applying for the City Administrator job here in La Grange which I think would be an excellent choice. He said he didn't apply because of the residency requirements. In my reply to him I just happened to mention that our Police Chief doesn't live in town and our fire chief doesn't live in town and both have stated that they never will move to La Grange. So, if the Mayor and Council will bend the rules for the two most important employees, why not for him??

For those of you who are friends of Jack Farr, you might want to give him a call for support.

Another emailer contacted me and asked what happened to the redrawing of the wards. A new election will coming up AGAIN, which will be the 2nd since the law ordered the redistricting. I guess someone will have to sue the City like is happening in Kahoka to get the Mayor and Council to do their jobs.

Boy did we miss an interesting Council meeting. Well, rumor has it that all the excitement was at the end and then continued outside. Rumor has it a Councilman wanted an explanation about the blueprints of the new city hall and Mayor Lagoon kept asking his buddy Powers to make a motion to adjourn the council meeting. Mayor Lagoon was rumored to have said that he had more important things to do than attend Council meetings. Mayor Lagoon was then suggested to that he should not run for mayor if he didn't want to attend Council meetings. Mayor lagoon then challenged the Council to go outside finish it. Rumor has it that an officer stepped in and Mayor Lagoon told the officer to get out of his face. Rumor has it that the officer told Mayor Lagoon that he was there to keep the peace and Mayor Lagoon supposedly told the officer it was too late for that and informed the Councilman that if the police wasn't there, he would punch him in the nose.

Let's see now, he has badgered the Chamber of Commerce President, chastised a former Mayor for asking questions, Threatened another former Mayor. It makes you wonder what kind of a City Council do we have to allow such actions. Had I as Mayor done any one of these things "Pave my drive free" and "no prayer here" would have had an impeachment hearing that night. But it seems Mayor Lagoon can perform verbal abuse on City employees, threatened citizens and Councilmen without any repercussions at all. But, I believe that when a Mayor threatens a Councilman in the 2nd degree, he has stepped over the line too far and the City Council should take some action.

I am sorry, I know that the Councilman really wanted to do something for the businesses in town and get a sign up. BUT, why? why? Didn't they ask for input from the businesses in town? I think it is great that the sign is up and all but, someone wasn't thinking.

Tiemann's has been here forever and not on the sign. All it would needed to save was "service station". But, it has "Liquor Store" which is closed. And, there is no mention of the insurance business, the medical clinic, and the dental clinic. As you can also see, it is placed right at the turn into the Casino. Those going to the Casino have their eyes to the left looking at the entrance and oncoming traffic, will never see the sign. When I was told that there was going to be the sign "at the Casino", I thought it would be straight across from the entrance/exit so the people leaving could see it and have time to read it. BUT?

Last, is someone in town was stopped by the LAPD. It is rumored that the license plates were two years old, and the title to the car was supposedly owned by an insurance company that sold it to a salvage yard. Darn the bad luck. I wonder who had the insurance on it? I guess some newly weds can get confused with all that stuff on the internet.

The State Auditors met with several people from the City at the Youth Center this afternoon, Toni M Crabtree and Lonnie Breeding were there to see what they should be looking for that may be wrong with the City books. Boy, did they get an ear full. Several pages of information were taken down. If you have any thing you might want to have the auditors look at, you can email me or Ms. Crabtree at tcrabtree@auditor.state.mo.us. They will also be at the Council Meeting tonight to talk to the Council.

The City put up a new sign for the Downtown Merchants on the levy on the South end of town. I took two pictures, one from the road about 100 feet and the other close up. The close up was so you could read what was on the sign. If you click on the above pictures, you can enlarge them.

The LAPD was running all around town today using his radar on every car he saw, even parked ones.

Well, rumor has it that Mayor Lagoon is still going ahead with his sewer lagoon legacy. Meetings between the City Attorney and the Engineers have been held in secret with a landowner to buy property for YOUR new MULTI MILLION DOLLAR LAGOON, compliments of Mayor Lagoon. Rumor has it the Mayor Lagoon is side stepping proper process to allow the secret meetings by giving the City Attorney FULL POWERS of the CITY to make any and all deals he wants.

IF, nothing else happens, the City Attorney will make a lot of money and the Engineers will make a whole lot of money. Speaking of engineers take a look a this engineering job. CLICK HERE CLICK HERE

Rumor has it that there are questions about the ball park out on Route C. and the soccer people. Bits and pieces of these rumors are as follows. Questions are being asked about a whole lot of money in the ball park fund. The Chamber of Commerce wanting the City to give more money. The City wanting to buy the park. The Chamber not wanting to sell. The Chamber not having enough money. The Chamber worried the City will sell the property to a hotel. The Soccer people wanting a soccer field in place of the shelter house.

I want to know why the soccer fields can't be made in the City's Oyster Park like they have been for the past few years? All they would have to do is put up their goal posts again. OH, I forgot, the Mayor gave away Your City Park property that was only supposed to be used for park purposes.

Several people will be meeting with the State of Missouri Auditors at 4pm today, everyone interested is invited to attend. This is a PUBLIC meeting and not a SECRET Lagoon meeting. And, the City Council will meet tonight at 7 pm.

I guess by now everyone knows that the grocery store on Route C has been sold. Rumor has it that a Robert Havermale formerly of Quincy Il, now a resident around Labelle has purchased it. Rumor has it that the Lewis County Industrial Development has helped. Rumor also says that the place will employ around 40 people, so if you need a job.....

Not much going on this weekend. Rumor of another ambulance call to the LAPD. M neighbor reported to me that Jeanie Farr was taken to the emergency room yesterday evening. He says she seems to be doing ok today though.

The QHW had pictures of the most excellent real estate sales persons and who have received awards. Here are their pictures, do you know either of them. CLICK HERE and CLICK HERE

Canton is having a large flea market and yard sale today. La Grange Chamber is watching the river go by.

Well now, the City employees have their new policy and procedure manuals detail job descriptions and such. I will give them about what, 3 months before it thrown in back somewhere and forgotten all about. The only time you will ever see it mentioned is when the Mayor will want to use it against one of the employees.

Next is the City Audit. Rumor has it that the auditors have already notified City Hall and got the cold shoulder. Rumor has it that City Hall thought it would only take about two days. Well, they way I understand it is that the State Auditors are professionals and they go through the City's books and also al the other city activities much like bank examiners. Mrs. 45 years or so should tell City Hall what to expect.

There used to be a family in La Grange called the Kiralys. Julius was a professional auditor for the United States Gypsum Company. A several hundred million dollar company. He would go to the outer offices, much like our City Hall to audit their books. If the State Auditors are anything like Julius, there is absolutely no way on earth they can cover up anything. Every entry that does not have corresponding entry that matches will be traced and tracked down. I am told that the State Auditors refer ALL attempts to fake entries or enter false data is referred to the Missouri Attorney Generals Office.

The tree butchers are in town again. Route C is getting a total nude look. It is plain to see that the tree butchers never took a class in forestry or horticulture or maybe even graduate from high school. That one poor old maple tree on top of route c only had 6 limbs with leaves on them and they cut them all off. Aren't these guys the greatest. Everyone should call AmerenUE's toll free number to compliment them.

Do you get junk mail? Well, if you get some with a prepaid return envelope, stuff the junk mail in the prepaid envelope and send it back to them. Better yet, fill it with all your other junk mail and let them pay for that too.

More and more people are complaining about the LAPD watching the Double G. Several emails said that they thought that the LAPD was hired to protect the Casino and wonder why they don't go down there and protect it. Here is a sample email.

Some of the people in la grange would like to know how police can sit outside the tavern and then walk around the vehicles that they are going to pick out to pull over later that night. Sounds like a set up to me. S0 be advised, if you are thinking of going to the bar to have a cold one after work, beware, the cops may be walking around your vehicle scoping it out!!!!

The Spratt family from Ewing hit all the papers today. In the Canton paper Frances (Spatt) was honored for 25 years of service. I would have sworn that should have been 45 years. And then in the Quincy paper Harlie had a half page about his wood working hobby of making Jesus fish.

The Press News Journal was full of good news for Canton. Just the other day Canton had a grand opening of the new County Market and in La Grange the Driftwood Cafe closes. In the PNJ there is an article of a big new Motel being built with an indoor pool and in La Grange the Riverfront Liquor Store closes. In the PNJ there is an article on a new Lube and Wash business going up and in La Grange the Ju-Joint closes. See there, Canton can't get ahead of La Grange.

I guess the graduation ceremonies at Highland was a joke on the graduates. Many County officers, searches, something about the diplomas, only 30 minutes to say get out and go home.

I heard that the Canton Chamber of Commerce was planning to meet with the La Grange Chamber of Commerce last Monday evening. Guess what? No one showed up. Only two Councilmen and one ex-councilman showed.

By now, almost everyone has received the KLEZ virus and are working hard to get rid of it. Well, if you are one of those who is into KAZAA, you got another one that is just as bad. Scroll back up to click here on computer problems.

There have been several emails regarding the local businessman that was arrested for various charges stemming from a LAPD officer watching the Double G door and following the person until he can make a reason to do a stop. It seems the man was a couple of blocks from the Double G and a couple of blocks from home.

A "good" officer would have made sure the man got home safely. A "COP" makes the arrest. La Grange has had several "good" Officers and still does, but as usual, La Grange seems to get a few "COPS". The main question I get from the emails is when is the Mayor, scratch that, the Council going to set some decent guidelines for the police department? One emailer wanted to know when they are going to get rid of the "Barney Fifes" and get more "Andy's"?

Rumor has it that the LAPD has new ones and they are interested in targeting us locals again. Rumor was that last weekend they were watching the Double G and waited until a target came out. The unlucky target this time was a local businessman who was going four blocks to his home. We can only hope that the LAPD officer is proud. We can hope the Mayor is Proud. And we can always hope the 184 voters are equally proud.

Going after a local businessman and trying to ruin another local business seems to be the goal of the Lagoon Mayor.

On another topic, someone named Fleer from La Grange had a baby. The Lewis County ambulance was in Bud Stahl's driveway this afternoon. AND, Ronnie Meyer made a half a page in the Quincy Herald Whig.

I did notice that the Casino as stepped up their advertising. They used to have a small ad in the Quincy Paper. The last one, you couldn't read. But, today, the Casino has run a full page ad.

Rumor has it daddy's boy went crying to the Mayor because another employee was getting off at 4:30pm and he had to stay until 5:00pm. So he made the other employee have to stay until 5 so he could get off at 4:30. Someone said they thought he had a tear in his eye. Rumor has it that he also wants to pick and choose what work he will do. Rumor also has it that the Mayor is spending a lot of time at the City Shed, comments were made that he was run out of City Hall so work could get done.

Two La Grange people graduated from college. Teresa Murphy and Bethany Callison. Congratulations!

As of April 30th, 2002, the City has banked $640,963.80 in CDs and MMDA's, put $142,940.21 in a checking account and deposited $98,576.79 in the General Fund. Yet, neither the Mayor, nor any Councilman has offered to do away with the City sales tax to benefit YOU, nor has any of these people offered to suspend or do away with your property taxes to benefit YOU.

No sooner that the City decided to replace the junk radios the ex-police chief bought off of EBAY, than the Fire Chief purchased a radio off of EBAY to sell to the City. Talk about dumb.

Do you have a Virus detector on your computer? Is the virus definitions up to date? If not, you are inn trouble. There are many virus being sent out all over the net. I get at least two a day sent to me by unsuspecting emailers. If it weren't for my virus scanner, scanning the emails, I would be in trouble.

The City now has 17 full time employees with salaries ranging from $200 to over $400.00. I have had several emailers agree with me that the City should make it a requirement that all the police officers take EMT training and also firemen training. Since there are so many and only a couple are on duty at a time, the rest could be available to be first responders and also be available in case of a fire. The City should provide the funds for the training and also it will allow these officers to be able to acquire overtime pay, which they could well use. Will the Mayor take the hint? Or will he screw it off as always?

A few weeks ago I sent my handwriting in to the handwriting doctor. A test, so to speak. She came back with generalities that were close enough to make it somewhat believable. One of the things mentioned was health, she said the writer had health problems, well I did have some aches and pains. So, today to see if she was really on to something, I went and blew away $700.00 and and had CTscans done. It fond nothing wrong. Now, I don't whether I am pissed because I spent the $700 or happy nothing was found.

Several days ago, a emailer for the Mayor asked me to put on this page GOOD STUFF about the City administration and the police. I said that I will ask readers to send in GOOD STUFF. Here is what I got.

The police department asked for and got $10,000 to put new police radios after one year. WHY? you ask. Well, the story I got was that the ex-chief Baker bought the ones they have now OFF OF EBAY on the net, used. Then Officer Roscher thought he as an electrician and installed these used no-good radios for the City. Rumor has it that not only did were the radios no good to begin with, the installer screwed up ALL the police cars wiring and drilled holes in the trunks to mount them and drilled right through the gas tanks. This Council, decided to purchase new radios from a local qualified dealer. I wonder if they will do the same for those obsolete computers?

Next, the rumor has it that the Mayor thought the concrete put on the hill met his specifications and qualifications as excellent work, well that is until the City clerk complained to him, now he has changed his mind.

One good thing that has come out, police officers and street super are starting to patronize the local coffee shop.

Right after Thanksgiving last year, in the November issue of the Gossip Page, I made the statement that three businesses would not be in La Grange by Christmas this year. The Driftwood is CLOSED. The Riverfront Liquor Store is CLOSED. The Ju-Joint is CLOSED. Being that Kevin sometimes opens up, I wasn't really predicting his closing, I was thinking of another business and it too will close before Christmas.

You remember the night of the election for the gambling issue? Remember the Banker lady of 45 years of suffering? Remember the news where she said the casino would be a great shot for La Grange, the businesses and the people? An emailer wants to know what she has to say today.

Rumor has it that the $50,000 per year mechanics has added two more people to the City worker circus. Rumor has it that some of the employees think they aren't employees. One thinks that daddy wouldn't want him to be a worker but a boss. A certain councilman should have known this would happen. The two $50,000 mechanics are doing well. They put the new lift in two different bays at the City shed before they got it mostly installed. Rumor has it that the Fire Chief is the only one qualified to do the wiring. Next, the $50,000 mechanics are taking the red tractor, that a precious councilman sold the city, to Mr. Cottrell to work on. And last, they decided that the worn out clutch on the blue truck is the fiver gears wearing out in the transmission. The question is now, where will the $50,000 mechanics going to take the truck to be repaired?

Rumor has it that the Mayor wasn't very nice to a previous Mayor at last Mondays Council meeting. Rumor has it that it was the same attitude he had with the President of the Chamber and bank. Rumor has it that he is that way with every one who asks to speak the Council and Mayor. The big rumor is that some Councilmen have been embarrassed by his high handed attitude and actions to visitors and may ask for sanctions against him, maybe impeachment. I have heard it has been bad, even with some of the employees, but the attitude of some of the Council is getting serious.

A couple of weeks or so ago, I was told about the City hiring another "mechanic". Questioning a couple of Councilmen brought only that they can't talk about it. Now it seems today that there actually is another "mechanic". It seems this new "mechanic" is a close friend of Councilman Powers. I guess that is better than being a son of a Councilman.

The questions around town are, why? Why does the City need one mechanic, much less two? The total cost per year will be about $50,000.00. The City doesn't even own $50,000 worth of equipment. And why does the Mayor want to deprive local businesses of any business at all? One Councilman said the first "mechanic" was also supposed to be a carpenter too so that when the City moves into the LRO building the Council would not have to pay a "REAL" carpenter prevailing wage. So the way it goes is this, to keep from paying prevailing wage to a "REAL" carpenter for what? A few weeks work? Spend $50,000 to save a couple hundred?

Rumor has it that the main La Grange Revitalization Organization person is about to skip town. People like them and others blow into town, do a lot of damage and blow out again. Remember Pomeroy? Will the financial records of the LRO be left in town, or will they disappear too like the Project brighter Future and the Flood Relief

What happened to the E911 dispatching for La Grange? What happened to the redrawing of the wards?

When this page isn't updated after two days, emails ask questions. Actually, the only talk around town is why a certain police officer is still working. The talk seems to question what it takes to fired. A wrecked car, spraying oneself with his own mace. Then the talk turned to who is actually in charge of training dispatchers. One quipped that running out the door screaming help was one part of the training. Rumor has it that the person in charge of training dispatchers has not even been trained.

A couple of emails asked what happened to the City Administrator? Why aren't streets being worked on? Where is all that money going to? What happened to redrawing the Wards? Will the Mayor do away with the peoples property taxes? Will he ask for the removal of the City sales Tax? Why won't any Councilman bring this stuff up? Are they scared?

Jerry; Read the news from La Grange last night and have added it to my "favorites". Enjoyed the gossip page, history and photos. This is a very professional job!!!!!!
Normally I am not a morning person, however I may have to get up early and come to the cafe and have breakfast.

And another wanting to know if I can put up some positive points about the City. My answer is this, I only have emails to work with. So, if any readers have anything positive to say about the City, send it...

Another email regarding the tree trimming. The tree above is in Arnold Tiemann's yard. Read this.

You know it is quite possible that AMERENUE is a subsidiary of LAGOON ENTERPRISES who designed the crooked concrete road with built in speed bumps. Leaving the big denuded limb on "half-a-tree" is a nice touch of eye-pleasing pruning and good forward planning because when it croaks it will fall off and bring down the wires. Now given the gap between "half-a-tree" and the wires it is obvious that that the environmental consultant reported that overhead cables grow faster than trees (ok, ok...he bought his degree off the Net). The poor owner now does have to cut down "half a tree" because with all its weight on one side it will blow down in the next big windstorm.. Could be onto his roof. Look up the street and you will see more "half-a-trees". A proposal is therefore before council to re-name La Grange CROOKED HALFWOODS, Missouri. Mayor Lagoon seemed pleased but hell it was hard to rip him away from the Laverne and Shirley re-runs!

Rumor has it that one of La Grange's finest was maced by his own mace the other night. The real rumor is the unprofessional hysterical calls for help by the dispatcher. Questions were raised as to who is doing the training.

As time goes on, there is some slippage in talk. Before the Casino finally landed in the City limits of La Grange, I put on a previous gossip page that "they" were planning to annex the bottom road to West Quincy and put the Casino there. (Pave my drive free) and (No prayer here) and (45 years of sacrifice) all poo pooed my posting. Well, today, in an unrelated conversation with one of the in crowd, the truth came out. It was planned and they tried to get it done. Plus, it was also found out that the Mayor and a high official of the bank had a secret meeting at a local residents home one night before the Mayor and Council made the choice of who got the license.

Sooner or later, we will get the truth about Project Brighter Future and where all that money went to. And, we will get to the truth of the La Grange Revitalization Organization's funding and where it went. We may have to wait until they leave town though.

In response to the letter you received in regards to the poor soul who is doing all the praying for "gossiping" evidently it hasn't helped him.....how did he find out about you? Is he reading your gossip pages?? What a joke.
The city police came to our door today giving verbal warning for not paying the city tax on personal property I was told if this certain person didn't pay up that he will be getting a ticket. When did this new ordinance take in effect?
I myself always paid late but certainly paid the penalty, so what's the big deal? Is the city broke already? It's pretty bad when they have to send a police officer to your door for collection.
But then again we do live in La Grange where the unbelievable happens!

In regards to the NEW CONCRETE STREET TO THE NORTH, there have been several comments on how rough the concrete is, the speed bump at the top and the one at the bottom. What was the name of that Construction Company?

Rain, Rain, Go away, come again some Hot August day. Sure makes it a chore to try to mow grass. This morning at Wilma's, it was almost a full house. I came up to the Stop light from the North at 6:30am and my radar detector was beeping. Looking around I find a City police car at the back of the Bank. I stopped to see what he was doing and he told me that too many people are exceeding the speed limit coming down the town hill. Then he had to leave as one 14 miles over the limit was turning into Casey's. But, those grain trucks can haul ass through town and that's ok.

Today, in the real mail, I received a letter with my name on it and some else's address. So, I suppose that the unsigned person who sent it doesn't know me. based on that, I must assume that the contents of the letter was meant for all you readers who send me "Gossip" to put on the Gossip Page. Then, there were these two red blots or dots. I can't decide whether it is signed in blood or just red ink. Well, for all you people who GOSSIP around town. Here it is:

"Here's what I did..."
For many years I had a problem with gossiping. I knew it was wrong, but I kept giving in to 
temptation. I prayed about it a lot. Then the Lord gave me two scriptures that have helped me 
begin to conquer it.
        The first is 1 Corinthians 10:13. That verse says that God will always provide a way 
to escape temptation's power. So I reminded myself of this whenever the temptation to pass on 
some juicy bit of news came my way. It helped some, but I still gave in more often then I 
wanted to.
        Then God gave me something that's helped me even more. It's salm 141:3: "Take control 
of what I say, 0 LORD, and keep my lips sealed." That's exactly the prayer I started praying 
whenever I was tempted to gossip. This prayer-verse became my way to escape the temptation: 
whenever I take the time to pray it, I find I can keep my mouth shut. But I have to take a 
moment to refocus my thoughts on the prayer rather then on the temptation to say something, 
or I find myself
giving in to temptation. This experience has shown me just how practical the Bible can be. 
With God's power I can conquer anything!
PSALM 141 A psalm of David 0 LORD, I am calling to you. Please hurry! Listen when I cry to you 
for help! Accept my prayer as incense offered to you. And my upraised hands as an evening 
offering. Take control of what I say, 0 LORD, and keep my lips sealed. Don't let me lust for 
evil things:  Don't let me participate in acts of wickedness. Don't let me share in the 
delicacies of those who do evil. Let the godly strike me! It will be a kindness! If they 
reprove me, it is soothing medicine. Don't let me refuse it. But I am in constant prayer 
Against the wicked and their deeds When their leaders are thrown down from a Cliff,
They will listen to my words and find them Pleasing. Even as a farmer breaks up the soil and 
brings up Rocks, So the bones of the wicked will be scattered With out a decent burial. 1 look 
to you for help, 0 Sovereign LORD. You are my refuge: don't let them kill me. Keep me out of 
the traps they have set for me. Out of the snares of those who do evil Let the wicked fall 
into their own snares. But let me escape.

Do you suppose that this is what Mayor Lagoon was talking about, getting down and dirty?

It was a relative calm weekend, well except for the storm. The Quincy paper noted that the Lewis County C-1 School Board picked one of their own to replace Mr. Hicks. Now, who would have thought?

I received an email from a person interested in the Mayor's new Lagoon and his new concrete street. He also put in a few words about the incident at the Senior Housing.

Ok...camera angle notwithstanding, I presume that the stop sign located on
the right side of Sewer Lagoon's crookedy road (photo 2) is to stop people
entering the crookedy road for fear of them getting all confused and ending
up in someone's living room. The sign on the back of the STOP, of course,
can only be read by a person illegally driving on the wrong side of the road in which case one of LaGrange's finest...parked conveniently without
permission in a nearby driveway...if awake...will issue a ticket.

Now the seniors home incident can be easily explained. The problem was that
one of LaGrange's finest locked his ammo in the glove compartment, couldn't
find the key, then locked the car thus rendering himself utterly
defenseless. It's the only explanation for all this door locking. He was
also worried...with due reason...that Mayor Lagoon would steal his
groceries. No big surprise as sewer mayor and his council buddies steal
everyone's money in LaGrange to build crookedy roads and make holes in the
ground to immortalize mayoral sewage! Ahhhh God bless America!!!

Not one, not two, not three, but four people have told me about the crooked road. One was adamant about saying that the Mayor designed it. And, until the equipment was all gone did I go down town and take a look at the road. Honestly, YOU WILL NOT BELIEVE IT. Here are three pictures I took CLICK HERE. CLICK HERE. CLICK HERE.

How many of you know the contractors name that built this new road. If you look at the pictures and extend the road on up the hill, whose house will it go through? Can you imagine doing such a screwed up job like this, in the middle of a town, where everyone who drives through town will see your work. Can you see yourself hiring these guys to put in a driveway for your house? This has got to be the biggest joke the Mayor ever pulled on the town. Well, that is until he builds his new sewer lagoon in his honor.

Now, another email tells me a story of a man and his wife bringing in groceries. The emailer says this is a continuous way his neighbors live. On this one occasion, the emailer says that his neighbor and wife drove in and parked. She got out, got a couple of bags of groceries, pushed the lock on the door and shut it. She walked up the sidewalk to the apartment door and waited. He was getting out of the car and he too locked the car when he got his bags of groceries and shut the car door. he goes to the apartment door and sets his bags down and unlocks the door and they both enter. The emailer said that didn't seem so odd, but, the guy came back out of the apartment and locked the door. Went to the car, unlocked it, got more groceries, locked the car and went back to the apartment and unlocked the door to go back in. When this happened several times the emailer said he started laughing at the stupidity of all the locking and unlocking of all those doors here in La Grange and at the Senior Center. The emailer wanted to know who these two people were scared of? What could the possibly be afraid of in the Senior Center in La Grange. But, then the emailer said was one of La Grange's Finest. Scary isn't it? To have someone with a gun afraid of his shadow.

It has been confirmed that Wilma's will be opening Monday morning at 6am for the locals to have a place to get breakfast. They will also take over furnishing breakfast for the foundry workers. AND, starting Friday night they will have two rib-eye steak specials for those wanting to eat out and not pay a high price for it. Maybe, just maybe, some of the City fathers, police, Chamber officers, ect. will step up to the plate. Or, will they continue to go to the Casino?

Did you know that the City provides police taxi services for bank employees going to the Casino to the ATM machine?? The bank gets benefits from the Casino, out of towners get benefits, but the voters and taxpayers keep on paying and paying.

What did you think of the storm this afternoon. Hail almost completely covered my drive. Traffic came to a stop between here and Canton because of heavy rain and hail.

Rumor has it that Wilma's is about to open early Monday morning to take care of the Foundry workers and local residents wanting a place for breakfast and coffee. Way to go Richard.

The Mayor of La Grange wants to get new residents to vote for him. All you have to do is haul your junk from Illinois, move to one of the junk trailers on North 4th street and the City provides excellent police protection and the City crew hauls rock for their driveway (kind of like pave my drive free). The crew even gets off their equipment and manually rakes the rock for them, and you can even see some landscaping done. Yet, rock and sand are piled on corners just a couple of blocks from the street super for drivers to bounce over. You don't even have to register your vehicles that you actually are living in Missouri or La Grange.

Rumor has it that the new employee isn't like the old Sam Green. It is beneath the new one to empty the trash barrels on main street. Some have been full for two weeks. The guess was that he has been too busy spending your money on new tools at the City shed. Just wait till next year and take inventory again and see. Rumor has it that mowing and other manual labor isn't a requirement either, I guess when daddy is Councilman.........