Just when I thought that all the dumb people who couldn't figure out how to vote and punch a hole in a ballot were all in Florida, I read a letter to the Editor of the Quincy paper by Russell Heindselman. He can't figure out what the electoral college is and then printed it in the paper. Now we will have people saying that people in La Grange are as dumb as those in Florida.

In the news today, about 70 dumb people were flown to Tallahassee to appear in court to tell again how dumb they are. This reminds me of what Ralph (pave my drive free) Martin and Fred (no prayer here) Weiwel did the meeting night after I fired the Chief for refusing to work. Remember that? Remember all those people from Ramsey Jones telling you how good the Chief took care of the trailer park? Remember the shaking trembling Jeanie Harmon? None of them were voters in the City. 

The Street super is happy again, his riding partner is back. How do you take a $200 old pickup and make a $5,000 vehicle? Give it to the Fire Department. Rumor has it that the Police Chief made an extremely excellent truck trade. He should be so proud. Another rumor has it that a bunch of workers at the foundry are already talking strike.

Questions have hit a couple of times about workers at the boat. It has been thrown up to me several times that Dean (the banker) Phillips promised the City Council and Hizzoner that La Grange people would be first on the list to work on the boat. So far, these emailers have not seen any local workers on the boat. So much for taking care of La Grange.

I had a chance to get a copy of the Deed of Trust and assignments of leases and rents & the Loan Agreement on the gambling boat for $14,000,000.00. $14 mil for that dinky boat. It seems the LRO and the City have pledged a whole lot more to the loan for the boat than the borrowers have. A whole lot more.

Why does this new contract, which the people did not vote on, have clauses that the money the City gets be designated ONLY to develop an industrial park or improvements for or around the boat? Why did the City only take $30,000 for 8 lots when everyone else was getting that much for one lot???

MY biggest concern and it should be everyone's in town concern is the fact that the lending company has including in the loan agreement ALL UNDERGROUND WATER RIGHTS. The gambling boat has pledged your water as collateral and the City Council and the Mayor agreed to it. Not everyone lives in Florida.

I guess the MAYOR and the CITY COUNCIL doesn't know where the city gets its water. Oh well, I guess we can buy our water from the gambling boat or the loan company rather than from the City. They sold out our school. They sold out to BFI. They sold out to Clark County Water. Why not sell our water to the gambling boat. 187 people have to be tickled to death the voted for THEIR Mayor.  

Today I spent a lot of time uploading pictures and also all of the Special (secret) meetings of the City Council. Also minutes of the Finance Committee - Police Committee - Fire Committee - Parks & Cemetery meetings. Wow, you cannot believe what Ralph (Pave my drive free) Martin and Fred (no prayer here) Wiewel have planned for you. If everything goes as planned, YOU the PEOPLE AND TAXPAYERS of the City of La Grange will not see one dime of the money from the gambling boat. It is either all spent or all owed. And 187 people are tickled to death of the performance of the Mayor THEY elected. We all bless you 187 people from Florida.

Thanksgiving day is almost here and we still do not have a President elect. 

Just a couple of items today. Email question was.  Don't you feel sorry that since Sam Green is on vacation this week that the street super has to ride around all day everyday this week by himself??

Do you wonder why the Chamber of Commerce held their meeting at the Lions Hall instead of the NEW LRO offices?

Do you wonder why the weenee wagon and Wilmas open and close all hours of the day?

Another Email from "anonymous" asked the question as to why, whenever the lady officer is on duty at nights, the chief works the same nights?? The second part was, what is so interesting on the river side of Bunge's?

Today I am reprinting emails I have received these past couple of days. But before I do here are the winners of the raffle held by the La Grange Community Youth Center. The centerpiece went to Elaine Jamison. The Angels Statutes went to Dottie Tonnies. The Angel tree went to Bobby Anders. The soup supper, raffle, and personal donations ( some of which are still coming in) have the total close to $1,000.00. This was excellent. A thank you to Mr & Mrs Ayers for their support.

Here s an email regarding the Soup Supper.

Jerry, 
Can you please put this thank-you on your gossip page? 
We want to send a special THANK-YOU to Andy and Mary Ayers for sponsoring the successful soup supper for the La Grange Community
Youth Center Building Fund. A big thank-you also to those that helped to prepare and donate the soup, ham, cakes, tickets, and supplies. 
Thank-you to those that helped served the supper. Thank-you to the La Grange Lion's group for the use of their building, Thank-you to all the
teens that showed up to help. Proud of you guys. Thank-you to all of you that came to make it a success, and bought raffle tickets for our
Teen Angel Program.
They say that at the end of the rainbow is a pot of gold. Those of us at the La Grange Community Youth Center have found something that is
more precious and priceless. What could that be? The YOUTH of our community and the surrounding area, along with LOVE, FRIENDSHIP,
AND RESPECT. You can't buy this. It is earned through caring for others. We do care!
Who we are is God's gift to us, and what we become is our gift back to God.
Thank-you everyone for all you have done.
Betty

Now, In regards to the La Grange Public Library, I have an email that was sent to me from out of state. here it is.

I am so thankful that your page prompted heat in the new library. I spent 
quite a lot of time in the library (old one) while I was (visiting) there -- and I think 
La Grange should be SO PROUD of their library -- and also of Dixie. She is a 
sharp gal, so helpful to everyone. La Grange really has a jewel there with 
Dixie and the Library. Also I talked to her quite a lot about the moving 
situation, and I was just totally appalled that there was no one offering to 
help her. If I lived there I would be on the phone to the mayor, city 
council, and everyone else I knew who was an employee, or connected with the 
City to get their butts over there, start packing boxes and MOVING that stuff 
over there, putting shelves together for her, etc. It just made me sick with 
the lack of support. Why couldn't the street and water people have been 
helping her? I thought it was awful. Let me make very clear Dixie was 
not complaining -- I asked very pointed questions as to who was helping her 
-- and why the city employees and others involved with the city were not 
helping. And the truth came out. (Being responsible for handling three 
different moves of our Foreign Languages Department at Colorado State 
University, I know all the effort it takes to get moves accomplished, and at 
least I had plenty of people available to help. But I still had to organize 
it and get 70 people settled in their offices.) But it just made me feel 
awful that no one was helping her. After all -- wasn't this an "official 
move" of a City entity? Isn't the Library tied to the city? Well, I guess 
it is really a part of the Lewis County or Northeast Missouri Library system 
-- but hey -- Colorado State University has ties to the federal government, 
and State government -- but I wasn't expecting people in Denver to come and 
help out! Get my drift? 

Oh well, enough of my soap box this morning. 

I'm so glad you are there with your gossip page -- you are doing a real 
service. 

I'm so glad that you helped them to get some heat. Do you happen to know the 
email address to the library? I would like to write Dixie and just tell her 
that she is doing such a great job, and that the La Grange Library is 
something that all citizens of La Grange should be VERY proud of. There was 
a darling "senior citizen" lady in there that I happened to know, she was a 
friend of my mother's for years. And this lady was in there wanting 
information off the internet -- and I thought it was so great that even the 
"oldsters" in La Grange know that they can come in and "learn about things" 
on the internet. Of course Dixie was doing the search for her -- but she was 
so patient and kind to her. (and the lady was so grateful!). I helped the 
lady as well when Dixie was busy waiting on other clients who came in. 
Anyway -- I was IMPRESSED. Put that in your page!

Also from what I heard about the Youth Center, I think they are doing a whale 
of a job! Are offering such a great things for the kids -- and for the 
"greater community" covering several towns around and out of the county as 
well. It made me almost wish I was a kid again and living there for the 
things that were offered. It breaks my heart that it doesn't get more 
support. Again -- I wished that I could live there and help. So much to do 
-- and people just won't help. Such a worthwhile endeavor. It is left on 
the backs of a few people. Not that Dixie was "complaining" -- I want to 
make that totally clear. But she was just telling "how things were."

Now, here is a reply to my article about the Youth Center.

Hi Jerry,
Thanks for the write up on the gossip page, but I do have some comments. My volunteer work at the youth center, is awarded by the success of the kids. Over the last 10 years my rewards have been great. Yes, I do put in many hours getting things done, but as long as the young people continue to come and take advantage of what we offer, I enjoy making it possible for them. I do not do this alone. Many people are in the back ground working on projects for us. Listing everything is impossible, but I will try. I have friends working on grants, working with foundations for funds, doing the paper work, refreshment committees, those that donate to the operating fund and building funds, those that sponsor fund raisers for us, like the soup supper this weekend, volunteers from Ewing, Canton, Hannibal as well as La Grange, and volunteers to help with the dances. Just like yourself, Jerry, I mentioned to you we needed another printer to go along with a computer that was given to us, and you gave us a new one. We have other people to come in to do the programs. University of Missouri Outreach does the Anger
Classes, and Teen Support volunteers are from Quincy. Last weeks field trip to the Correction Center in Bowling Green were volunteer drivers to take these teens. One was from La Belle, two from Canton, one from Quincy besides myself. Last Saturday we had cleaning day and Christmas decorating at the center. 4 young girls really worked hard. two worked from 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Because the Center has become so busy, it takes more time. We have gone from 20 kids a week to 20 kids a night. But also it is good to know that the parents trust that they will be safe at the center. 
I do it and others do it, because we care and we love kids. We care about what happens in our community and the surrounding area. This is why we are starting to take some of our programs on to other towns. Last week we went to La Belle with the anger program for teens. I have support
from all over. Over the years I have cross paths with many people, and I have kept that friendship. I have had to call upon that friendship many times for help, and yes much advice. I have lots of help and support. 
Please Jerry, if you can put this e-mail on the gossip page, and again thank-you to you and Linda for all you nave done for us. 
Betty Bronestine 

One only has to send a request or complaint or idea to the Gossip page and instant gratification.  On November 16, I wrote about problems with the Main Street Memorial Building and Presto!. The gas company and Hiemer was there the next day and HEAT! 

To add to the information regarding the wrecked police car. Rumor has it this was the second time she wrecked a police car. Not only did she not get a ticket or have to take a drug or breathalyzer test, or even docked or demoted, she has reportedly been promoted to SERGEANT. I suppose now she will need a raise AND a NEW car to WRECK.

Even though the Youth Center Soup Supper was a success, it is very disheartening that the very people  (the dogooders) do not ever show up to support local fund raisers. Only one Councilman (mike Lowe) showed up. No officers of the Chamber. No officers of the LRO. Where was hizooner? Hiding in the ice cream shack? What about Ralph (pave my drive free) Martin or Fred (no prayer here) Wiewel? Look at all what they have done to the town, and yet, no show of support. Where is what's her name ex bank president, when he needed the votes for the gambling boat, she was everywhere. What happened to (locker room) president of the Chamber? Or any officer of the Chamber? Wasn't it just a few weeks ago the Chamber was out trying to get support? Well, there is a Christmas Bazaar coming up, let's see who attends that.

By the way, are they ever going to advertise that grocery store auction the had last weekend? People are still wondering what they are going to sell?

Today I had the occasion to stop by the NEW library to pick up my wife for dinner out. No, we didn't stand outside the wenewagon. Anyhow, I asked why everyone had heavy sweaters or coats on. It seems that the temperature of the building is preset to 61 degrees. I guess we have to save money somewhere. And, on the way out the door I flipped the light switch to see what they turned on or off and guess what?  To turn on the front set of lights you flip the switch up, to turn on the back set, you flip the switch down. Let's see now, who was the electrician who had his sign out front for weeks??

I noticed in the PNJ that the City awarded Dennis Hedges and Kyle Spindler hero awards. That is what is needed in awards. In the regular Council Meeting news it looks like a gimme this- gimme that from the fire chief. Every other paragraph (like every other Council meeting), the fire chief is back asking again and again and again and again for MORE MONEY. 

BUT, the Mayor was there too BEGGING the Gambling boat for MORE MONEY. By the time these people get through taking front money and advances from the gambling boat at every Council meeting, fire meeting, LRO meeting, there won't be any payout for years.

AND, by the time the police chief hires all those officers to watch traffic, what money the City does get, he will spend.

And Ralph (pave my drive free) Martin and Fred (no prayer here) Wiewel, who doesn't attend the regular meetings but hides in the committee meetings, think either one of them can manage the City when the boat gets going. BIG JOKE.

Of course Ed Ensor won't be left out of begging for money either. He was right in there begging along with the rest of them. And the water super was there wanting MONEY. And finally, Jim Leeser was asking for a street light.

It seems that since the Gossip page let the cat out of the bag about the damaged police car, I believe it happened somewhat like what happened to the other police officer that was fired. Did she get a ticket for careless and reckless driving? NO! Did she take a breathalyzer test? NO! She would have made you take one. She would have given you a C&I ticket, failure to keep her your on the road. Was she even reprimanded? NO!!!

The laws of the State and La Grange are for you the public, not for La Grange police officers. Well, I guess if you can constantly trespass on someone else's property and continually park your car on their property, what is the big deal of wrecking the police car?.   And the Chief keeps on wanting to add more officers and more cars.

With over a million dollars that is supposed to come in the City Council has the nerve to raise the costs of hooking up a water line. With over a million dollars coming in, the Council should be looking at cutting costs to the residents of the City. You know, the taxpayers. I have always said from the beginning, the City will get the gambling boat and the taxpayers the shaft and this shows it.

Councilman Rossiter meekly brought up about a city administrator, he beat around the bush about wages and a full time Mayor, maybe. I bet by now the two have already stepped on his toes. They stopped him from attending the police committee meetings, so much for the sunshine law. Laws have a bad habit of getting in the way of those two, maybe someone will get tired of their flaunting the laws of the City and the State. 

I received some email the other day about a couple of different things. But, instead of just putting it on the gossip page I decided to ask questions around town to see what others think

One item is the La Grange Library moving across the street to the Memorial to main street building. Rumors are abound that the space is smaller and that the LRO hijacked the Library from across the street. Then the gambling boat people went across the street to where the library was and supposedly rented that space. Nice gesture.

Now, La Grange is one a few towns that has its own library. The people of La Grange should be proud of this fact, yet very few people have turned out to help with the move or putting the books on the shelves. 

Now here is where the other rub comes in. First off I want everyone to know that I whole heartedly applaud Betty Bronstine for all her hours, days, weeks, and years making the La Grange Community Youth Center work. I also believe that when the Chamber gave out awards, they should have included one for her in what she has singlehandedly done for the children of La Grange and the entire community. Kids from all over use the Youth Center all the time. Yes, there has been a lot of others who have helped over the years and continue to help her now, but everyone knows that the day she quits the Youth Center, it will fold.

Now, back to the rub. No matter how much the Youth Center does for these kids, they always ask for more. Yet, very few of the parents who kids use the Youth Center help with the Youth Center. The Library is also for the kids of the town and area. they all use it. That is one good thing, YET, none of these kids have come forward to help with the moving of the Library. When it is all done and ready, the kids will use it. I believe that the kids that use the Youth Center and the Library do not really appreciate all that is being done for them, and their parents should also appreciate all that is being done for their kids. 

Personally, I don't think La Grange should have its Library in a rented building. I believe that if a fund drive was started, La Grange could raise enough money to have its own paid for Library. The ideal location is the property just North of the Driftwood Restaurant or where the old Logsdon/Ellison 66 station was. It is a vacant lot that I am sure would be donated, and if the City takes possession, all environmental problems would be erased, and the new library could be built toward the back of the lot and high enough to allow wheel chair access off the alley. A nice big steel building could be built for half the cost of the Main Street Memorial building or less and still be twice the size of the area the Library is in now. This is one thing that the Chamber of Commerce could really do for the City. 

We built a Dentist office and survived. We built a doctor's office clinic and survived. We can surely build a new on its own library and survive.

Last night was a busy night for the LaGrange Police. People were being pulled over by the police right and left. Which brings me to the question. Why does everyone drive so safely when the police are not on duty and drive so recklessly and speed when the police are on duty? You people are going to have to change your ways. This continuous flaunting of the law while these officers are on duty has got to stop. You should try to drive safely when they are on duty like you do when they are off duty. I can not believe that so many of you want to be criminals. OH! I know the reason, you know that the City budget cannot support all these officers and you want to help contribute to their salaries. You all know we have the latest and greatest radar guns and video cams (that seem only to work when the police want them to). There is no way you can out run the police as they now have the most expensive high speed highway patrol type tires rated to 150 miles per hour.

There are some new pictures up. Another one of the wenewagon and its expanded menu. I am also posting aerial pictures taken of La Grange a few weeks ago. We did a complete circle and took over 70 pictures. Did we get your house? Go back to the main web page and scroll down to and click on pictures.

I guess Susan is thanking the Lord for the Library moving into the elephant. 

It seems that the national election and the State election isn't any better than the elections we have here in La Grange. The changing of the voting hours because of stupid people is just one of the problems here in La Grange. The other things include using State times to file for candidacy rather than our own City Charter. Using other State regulations set for other classes of Cities instead of our own Special Charter.

Can you visualize yourself going on national tv and telling the world "look at me, I am so dumb I didn't know how to vote for who I wanted to". Yet, several people have already told the world just how dumb they are and now want to vote again. How can we be sure that they are more intelligent the next time as the last time.

Where is the that NEW $50,000.00 fire truck? Why did that NEW Fire Station need 450,000btu heaters in the super insulated building? Why does water run away from the drains in the City shed? Why can't the street super walk three blocks to the shed rather than ride all around town in the city truck at your expense? Why was a Baptist church elder unloading a truck of trash at the church trash day?

If the vote tally in Florida gives Al Gore the election, will all the proposed lawsuits because of the dumb voters continue? What will happen if the tally in Florida gives Al Gore the election and when the electoral college gets together in December and vote for Bush? According to the rules only 50% of the electoral college is mandated to vote the will of the popular vote. The other 50% can vote the other way.

Today is election day, every get out and vote for or against someone or something.

I noticed today that the lady cop went to the apartments on the hill, and picked up a young black boy, and gave him a ride two blocks to school. WHY?

I heard that the Councilmen in charge of the Police Committee and trying to prevent other Councilmen from attending their police meetings. They have even suggested that the meetings not be posted at City Hall. So much for the Sunshine law which (pave my drive free) and (no prayer here) filed against the school board.

At one of the meetings it was told that the Gambling Boat people and the State Patrol said the City now needs 25 police officers. Well, there goes ALL the money. So sorry Fire Chief, I know you had planned to use up several hundred thousand for 24 hour full time firemen. 

The original wants of the police chief was only 10 officers, and that meant 4 dispatchers or more. Let's see 15 employees at $30,000 per year plus benefits, workmen's comp, insurance, ect. That's only $450.000. Now add ten more and that makes it $750,000.00 not counting ten more fully equipped police cars at $30,000 each.

Add the new 24 hour fire department and the $1.5 million is gone. bibi.

Boy did the St Louis paper tell it like it is on the gambling boats. According to the paper, the 14 casinos took in almost a BILLION dollars and now the casinos say the State and the Cities are getting to much of THEIR money and the loss limits are hindering them and Missouri is ranked dead last of gambling States. The paper says this, Why don't the casinos pack up and go back to Kansas or Vegas wherever the came from. Missorui would miss the taxes and the people working their would have to find other jobs, BUT, Missouri would get over it.

Rumor has it that the grocery store people are going to have an auction Saturday, plans are being made to post advertisements either Friday or Sunday.  

I got some more pictures back up in the picture gallerys. Working on getting the rest up.

Do you know what a "mandated reporter is"? It most generally is any officer of the law, but others are mandated reporters too. Most of them are people you don't need to fear. Some you should have great fear of, especially if you have minor children or in charge of a minor child or children. A "mandated reporter" is a person mandated by state law to report an abused child. Some of these mandated reporters take this authority seriously, kind of like a fire chief.  Here are some examples of a mandated reporter. A registered nurse or LPN like Wilma Garr or Cathy Combs. A school teacher or principal like Mrs. Hamspmire. A juvenile officer or deputy juvenile officer or anyone working for the Division of Family Services. Even a State Park manager thinks he is one. One mandated reporter used to be Kathleen Humphrys of Lewistown. She thought that she could lie in Court. Then there is Karen Moore and Mike Waddle.

Some "mandated reporters" have been known to question your child about sex, only to use it against the child. Some have been known to show your child sexually graphic pictures and ask your child about them, only to use it to call the child abuse hotline against you. There are psychiatrists who have evaluated you and your child and find no problem, but for several thousand dollars offered by the Division of Family Services change his mind and use your information against you in Court. And yes, even Dr. Newman of Quincy, Il., will commit perjury for $20,000.00.

I have received copies of signed statements by a park ranger in such a deal where he considered himself a mandated reporter in the best interest of a child. I have come across two signed statements and they seem to be about two different incidents and people and the statements made by the patrolman and Deputy juvenile officer are different yet. By all these different statements and because of the absurdity of the ridiculousness of the charge, the charge was rightly dismissed by the Court. Fortunately for the dad, criminal charges were filed that he could fight. Most of the time the Division of Family Services and the Juvenile Office use Court orders and petitions and keep the matter under the juvenile secrecy code so you can't fight back. Every time you beat them, they change the charge and file a new petition. Money is no object with them. 

Most of the time, mandated reporters file false child abuse charges because of revenge, get even, ego and other personal reasons rather than it being an actual abused child. In the State of Missouri, one out of ten families will be falsely accused of child abuse each year. Beware of "mandated reporters" they will turn on you and turn you in, most of the time just to get even with you. 

In listening to the radio today of which the spokesperson for the Lewis County C-1 was telling about the 20% tax increase, I thought I heard her say that "we took your school, so get over it". Maybe it wasn't in those exact words, but it came across that way. I also noticed in the paper where they did the compare thing. You know, that is whenever they want an increase in teachers salaries, and in this case, a bond issue, they trot out the compare charts. Then they say see here, see here, we compared our tax base with all the other schools and YOU LOW LIFE PEOPLE are paying next to the lowest taxes of all the others. YOU should be ashamed with yourselves, You should be paying the highest tax rate. Well, a 20% increase will put YOU close to the top.

 I usually go to Quincy a couple of times a week and come back in the evening hours. Tonite as I was coming back, I noticed Susan Dean, head of the LRO to revitalize and benefit La Grange buying gas at Ayerco in West Quincy. So much for supporting La Grange. Then of course most of the City Council and Mayor and Chamber do not support the locally owned businesses. 

Then as we come through town, and as always we pass the ice cream place and as always we see the Mayor sitting there by himself watching tv.Have you 187 voters no shame. You support your Mayor with your mouth but won't support his business. Shame on you. I would like to come in from Quincy some evening and see your 187 cars out there eating ice cream. Show your support for the man. 

Has anyone noticed that the lady officer's car has a dented bumper? Looks like the boat builders are coming up out of the ground. A lot of dirt has been hauled in. 

Election day is coming soon. The Lewis County School board had a meeting in La Grange and basically told the people of La Grange, "You lost your school, get over it". Pave my drive free and no prayer here cheered. I say, "You put those children in the Ewing school where you wanted them, keep them there". I VOTE NO.

Speaking of voting, there are several Amendments to vote on. Proposition 1, VOTE NO. 

Constitutional Amendment 1: Budget Reserve. That seems ok, if they use it.

 Constitutional Amendment 2: Time for Bingo people to be a member for 6 months. Who cares, but vote yes to give it to them.

Constitutional Amendment 3: That one sounds like a good to have a citizens committee be a part of salaries for elected officials. All the politicians in Monticello will vote no on this one, I think I will vote yes.

Proposition A:  A proposition to do away with Billboards. OH NO! how will I find the next Red Lobster if they take down the billboards? We need more billboards. I have to vote no on this one.

Proposition B:  This is one that everyone needs to vote no on. Why would anyone who contributes to the person he wants to win be forced to finance everyone else who runs against him. This is a stupid proposition, I have to vote no on this one too. 

Who cares about the judges? Our local judges names aren't there. Speaking of the local judge, did you see the letter to the editor in the Canton paper? I have heard several people who have been denied Court appointed legal representation only to be put in jail without an attorney. There seems to be more and more privileges taken that seem to be lopsided and not fair. I guess that once you have the power to do so, you use it.