May 30

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.