EX ALDERMAN NEWSLETTER 129 May 19, 2014

EX ALDERMAN NEWSLETTER 129
May 19, 2014
MAJOR CASE SQUAD CALLED IN ON THRONHILL ESTATES CASE...WITH AN
ARREST A WEEK LATER: A severe beating, first degree burglary (now robbery after the
beating) with the theft of electronics and a Ford Explorer at 2951 Thornhill Drive on May
8th or 9th. Was this a random violent act or was the victim Thomas R. Ruzicka the
intended target?
Simply judging from past court documents one has to think this was likely an attack
specifically targeting Ruzicka. In other words just from court records the suspect list
appears to be long. However if it was a random act as investigators claim, Ruzicka has
to be concerned about ever moving back into the 54-year-old ranch house, now that the
local media has told all those he has cheated and stolen from over the years where he
lives.
It really starts back in 1986 when Ruzicka didn't pay routine bills and local courts issued
judgments against him. Then in 2010 Thomas R. Ruzicka pled guilty in Federal Court
to stealing more than $100,000 from his employees' 401-K retirement funds. In
November of 2013 the Post-Dispatch ran a story on how St. Louis Police Officer
Association members were protesting that a spinoff of Ruzicka's last company, Ruzicka
and Sons, RE Contracting was doing the electrical work on the new police headquarters
building.
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Plus Ruzicka pled guilty in State Court in January of 2014 for stealing employee's tax
withholding money. This was four years after he was indicted by a Grand Jury. He got
probation after pleading guilty to both charges. Of course this assault and theft could
never had happened if only some judge had put Ruzicka in jail. But instead he has
been renting a house that is for sale as a tear-down in Town and Country. At the time
he pled guilty in 2014 He had already been convicted in Federal Court for stealing
between $100,000 and $120,000 of employee retirement funds. But Judge Michael
Burton thought was a good candidate for another probation term.
It is hard to be shocked to find out that someone had beaten up a guy convicted of
stealing employees' retirement money and their money that was supposed to go toward
taxes. My question was what took so long? But then it turns out his past is probably not
related to the case.
Here is a list of State Court Actions against the victim, Ruzicka.
08/12/11
07/09/10
05/03/10
04/13/10
12/31/09
09/22/09
04/22/09
02/02/09
12/30/09
12/23/08
01/15/08
03/17/07
08/23/05
07/19/05
04/23/03
12/29/98
St. Louis Bank v Thomas R. Ruzicka
Enterprise Bank & Trust v Thomas Ruzicka
Department of Revenue v Thomas Ruzicka
Settled prior to trial
judgment $22,908
$36,122 judgment (not
yet satisfied)
State v Thomas Ruzicka 2 cts Fail to withhold employees Pled Guilty 01/27/14
taxes felony
5 years probation
Capital One Bank v Thomas R. Ruzicka
Settled prior to trial
Western Extralite Co v Thomas Ruzicka & Ruzicka & Sons $360,543 judgment (not
yet satisfied)
David Kingen v Thomas Ruzicka
$5,184 judgment (not yet
satisfied)
Capital One Bank v Thomas R. Ruzicka
Settled prior to trial
1st Source Bank v Thomas Ruzicka & Discovery Aviation $177,247 judgment
against Ruzicka and
possession of 1978
Cessna
Capital One Bank v Thomas Ruzicka
$3,755 default judgment
(not yet satisfied)
Wells Fargo Equip Finance v Thomas Ruzicka & Ruzicka & Sons $75,667 judgment (not
yet satisfied)
Speeding 19mph over Limit reduced to Illegal parking $150 fine +$61.50 court costs
Pers injury Virginia Desantis v Thomas Ruzicka
settled out of court on 1/16/08
Kaplan Associates v Thomas Ruzicka & Ruzicka Electr $285,281 judgment on
10/16/06 (not yet satisfied)
Thomas Ruzicka v Department of Revenue (breath test ) 4/23/04 DOR petition is
confessed
American Family Ins v Thomas Ruzicka & Ruzicka & Sons $9,653 judgment
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06/04/98
06/03/97
02/11/97
01/28/97
09/05/96
06/17/96
06/23/95
10/19/94
10/29/92
10/09/92
10/11/90
05/01/90
12/11/89
07/21/89
05/23/88
04/26/88
02/18/88
01/28/88
04/06/86
12/31/87
06/12/87
01/21/87
06/24/86
06/05/86
04/16/86
03/18/86
02/19/86
State of Missouri Div of Employment Sec v Thomas
$16,084 judgment
Thomas Ruzicka and Ruzicka & Sons Elect.
Yellow Pages v Thomas Ruzicka & Ruzicka & Sons
$23,404 judgment
SW Bell Yellow Pages v Thomas Ruzicka & Ruzicka & Sons uncontested judgment
Southwestern Bell Yellow Pages v Thomas Ruzicka & Ruzicka & Sons
$29,255 judgment
SW Bell Yellow Pages v Thomas Ruzicka
uncontested judgment
amt not listed
OSL, Inc. v Thomas Ruzicka
$3,380 judgment
Cape Electrical Supply v Thomas Ruzicka & Ruzicka Elec out of court settlement
Popin and Stern Law Partnership v Thomas Ruzicka $772.53 judgment
Ronald Henges v Thomas Ruzicka
settled out of court on 8/18/93
Starbeam Supply Co v Thomas Ruzicka
$1,360.90 judgment
Speeding
Guilty cash fine
Ruzicka and his wife named defendants suited filed by
Integon Indemnity
No Disposition available
Francis Telle v Thomas R. Ruzicka
$14,468 judgment
Rainworld Supply Co v Thomas Ruzicka
$1,117 judgment
Kelly Services v Thomas Ruzicka
settled out of court
Follman Properties v Thomas Ruzicka
$1,000.31 judgment
Sieveking v Thomas Ruzicka
out of court settlement
St. John's Bank v Thomas Ruzicka
default judgment amt not listed
Frost Electrical Supply v Thomas Ruzicka
default judgment on 9/21/87
Frost Elect Supply v Marc Electric & Thomas Ruzicka settled out of court
La Marche Manufacturing Co V Thomas Ruzicka
Default Judgment no amt
given
John Aselage v Thomas Ruzicka
$6,699 judgment
Anixter Bros Inc v Thomas Ruzicka
$3,950 judgment
Kelly Services, Inc v Thomas Ruzicka
$542 judgment
W.W. Grainger V Thomas Ruzicka & Mars Electric
settled out of court
Seton Name Plate Corp v Thomas Ruzicka
$761 judgment
Manpower Services Inc. Marc Elec & Thomas Ruzicka $2,492 judgment
Ruzicka & Sons Electrical owes $5,981 in back vehicle taxes to St. Louis County.
He had the 2005 Ford Explorer registered to himself at the 17717 Chaistain Ct address in
Chesterfield in 2007. However, I cannot find where he has the vehicle registered now. The
police recovered the stolen vehicle on Friday May 9 in St. Louis.
Here are some links to Post-Dispatch articles on Ruzicka:
http://www.stltoday.com/business/columns/jim-gallagher/gallagher-k-needs-watching-forfraud/article_f1ae39ae-58ef-5729-ab06-9d41edf6a850.html
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http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/electricians-union-protesting-felon-s-linkto-work-on-new/article_1be0cc83-a77b-51c6-b2e4-7ccef64f968d.html
POLICE HOLDING THE CRIME SCENE FOR OVER 32 HOURS: The crimes scene at
12951 Thornhill Drive was held for a very long time. In fact the Town and Country
Police were paying officers overtime to hold crime scene.
The crime was reported at 11:30am on Friday May 9 when the victim's son found his
father beaten and unconscious. On Friday I was doing the public address announcing
for a college baseball tournament in Illinois. At 3:15 there were two T&C police marked
units, a detective unit and two County Crime Scene vans at the house. Plus a news
truck from every St. Louis TV station with a news department.
When I returned home close to midnight, there were three County Police Crime Scene
vehicles there, plus a detective car and a marked T&C Police car.
On Saturday when I headed back to the baseball tournament at 11:15am the County
Crime Scene Unit, a detective car and a marked T&C Police Unit were still there. On my
return at 7:00pm there was still a marked T&C car and a crime scene unit at the house.
The scene was released later on Saturday night.
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Holding a scene that long indicates to me there was an unusual amount of evidence
from the original crime or officers found evidence of other offenses.
The fact that a 3-D television and a 60-inch flat screen TV were reported to have been
stolen was troubling since Thomas Ruzicka owed over a half-million in court ordered
judgments starting with employees' retirement funds and employees' withheld
taxes...plus hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid bills. But he had the scratch to
buy some very expensive televisions.
BY LATE MONDAY NIGHT: The Major Case Squad released a surveillance photo of a
person of interest in the crime taken at a gas station convenience near where the Ford
Explorer stolen from the house that was let in St. Louis near the Jennings City Limit.
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Frankly if I had to guess about the employees who had their retirement funds stolen by
Ruzicka, I would think they were union electricians, mostly white living in South County
or Jefferson County. I would doubt if any of them (union electricians) white or black
would have dreadlocks down to the middle of their backs.
However by late Monday I have to remember that people who steal employees'
retirement money and tax withholdings are often well known by employees at
casinos...forcing me to wonder if Ruzicka was followed home after having a winning
afternoon on a gaming floor?
TUESDAY: I learned the "follow the winner home from the casino" scenario had been
eliminated.
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WEDNESDAY: Major Case Squad call outs are for five days and can be extend if there
are promising leads. On Wednesday the squad was extended one-and-a-half days to
noon on Thursday.
THURSDAY: 1:00pm The Major Case Squad receives another extension. This makes
one think an arrest is near.
4:20pm: Detectives with the Major Case Squad arrested a suspect:
Daniel D. Martin
Black Male Age 20
Resides in the 3400 block of Elmhurst in Bel Ridge, MO
The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office issued warrants against Martin
for Assault First Degree, Armed Criminal Action, Burglary First Degree, Stealing
a motor vehicle, and Stealing over $500.
Daniel Denzel Martin
Martin's past record are convictions for Peace Disturbance, Inteferring with Police and
Resisting Arrest on January 31, 2013 in Bel Ridge.
THE HOUSE: the house at 12951 Thornhill has been for sale on and off since 2008. It
was purchased by Muehlmann Design & Building in 2007. Zillow.com claims the
purchase price in 2007 was $415,000. In 2013 it was listed with Caldwell-Banker as a
tear-down with a new home to be constructed at $1,500,000.
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Planned new home for 12951 Thornhill.
It was taken off the market at the end of 2013, but went back on the market simply as a
house for sale for $500,000 in the spring of 2014.
The assessed valuation by the County Assessor dropped 17% in 2013.
A VIOLENT CRIME...UNMASKS OUR NEWEST MEMBER OF THE GANGS OF
TOWN AND COUNTRY. Stealing hundreds of thousands of employees retirement
money and money meant as payroll tax withholding certainly makes Thomas R. Ruzicka
a perfect member of our Gangs of Town and Country and he was living in the perfect
location, Ward-2 of Town Country where the subdivisions of Mason Valley and Thornhill
Estates are loaded with Gang members. It was unfortunate he was badly beaten.
You can see all the other members of the Gangs of Town and Country by going to our
website http://johnhoffmann.net and clicking on the "Gangs of Town and Country."
EXCELLENT CHOICE! BOARD OF ALDERMEN VOTES AND PUTS
TWO ETHICS VIOLATORS IN CHARGE OF CITY: Alderman Tim Welby, a
man who admitted committing 10 ethics violations and received a $1,000 fine ($900 was
stayed for a two year probation term) was elected on Monday May 12 to be President of
the Board of Aldermen. Who better to fill-in when Mayor/Cigarette Lobbyist Jon Dalton
is absent? Dalton was recently found guilty of 27 Ethics violations by the Missouri Ethics
Commission.
In Welby's case he failed to file 10 campaign finance reports over a two year period
despite having received a written warning from the St. Louis County Board of Elections.
(It was actually more, but the ethics Commission only investigates allegations two years
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from the date of the complaint.) Dalton was filing the reports, he just refused to fully
identify contributors. Dalton claimed he was confused. He is a lobbyist who has filed
monthly ethics reports for close to 20-years and is listed on his last two law firms'
website as an expert in "Government Regulation."
These guys are perfectly matched. They are both phonies and they both have midlife
crisis style expensive foreign sport cars. Just who you want leading a city with repeated
deficit budgets. Plus Dalton in a private move used eminent domain in the City of St.
Louis to steal the business and property of a widow for an underfunded nightclub district
that never got built.
Dalton
Welby
Welby replaces Lynn Wright who for one year was the President of the BOA. The times
when she filled in for Dalton she was so confused it was as if she was never paying
attention on how meetings are run during her eight years as an alderwoman.
Fred Meyland-Smith has had the position in the past and everyone on the BOA knows if
Meyland-Smith ran a meeting in the Dalton's absence it would mean an extra 20minutes at City Hall as the world class windbag droned on.
Skip Mange is a former mayor and at times still thinks he is mayor. He makes a terrible
candidate because if Dalton was absent Mange would try and convince the aldermen to
buy another log cabin and take up some more open park space.
COMMISSION ASSIGNMENTS SOME NEW, SOME OLD: Mayor Dalton announced
his appointments of alderpersons for commission chairs.
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OLD:
Lynn Wright stays with Parks and Arts Commissions. For the sakes of the parks it
would be nice to see someone new who would fight for the parks and stand up to Skip
Mange wanting to create a grossly inferior log cabin village when the excellent tax
supported one is located in the nearby County Faust Park.
Skip Mange keeps his one chair on the Conservation Commission. This was stupid.
It just encourages Skip to try and buy more and more houses in disrepair built 55 years
ago using a Frank Lloyd Wright blueprint or more log cabins. The Community Relations
Commission would be good for Skip...it doesn't have much of a budget and maybe he
could keep Mayor Dalton to just two pages instead of five or six in every newsletter
when he tells residents what a good mayor he is.
Public Works Commission stays with Tim Welby which is good because Public
Works Director Craig Wilde actually runs the whole thing. There are several members
on the commission who understand construction, contract bids and infrastructure
issues...however Welby is not one of them.
The Green Team chair remains Jon Benigas. The Green Team is another
commission with lots of vacancies. It would be perfect for elimination as city staff is very
good at making environmentally correct moves. This has always been a commission for
Mayor Dalton to appointment a couple of the city's very few Democrats and keep a
board coalition when he runs for reelection. All this said, Benigas is perfect for this spot
because he is a greenie.
The Community Relations Commission head remains Gussie Crawford. I know
she was hoping to unload this useless commission, that always has numerous
vacancies as members realize they are wasting their time and resign. I have a feeling
she made a compromise with Dalton that she would stay as the Commission head if he
appointed her to something else. He did and she was appointed as the city
representative on the West County EMS & Fire Protection District Board of Directors.
NEW:
Finance and Insurance & Benefits: Linda Rallo beat Phil Behnen and she got his
commission chairs. Rallo has a journalism degree, has worked on some blogs/websites
that cover Missouri politics so she has an active "bullshit meter." Without a finance or
accounting degree she ought to be able to spot some unnecessary budget items that
have been coated in sugar.
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Police Commission: There is exactly one member of the police commission who has
a clue about police operations. His background has been emergency medicine and he
has been on the County Police Reserves for a number of years. This is the top
commission people want on. I am guessing too much Batman and Police Commissioner
Gordon as kids. The police department has always spooned fed this group and has
always gotten what it wanted. So the fact that Dalton appointed Amy Anderson with
absolutely no background in first responders or law enforcement is not a big deal. In fact
it will probably just make things easier for the police department command staff.
Architectural Review Board: The chair for his board is vacant after Phil Behen was
defeated. Alderman Jon Benigas was missing for this Aldermanic meeting and I have a
feeling Dalton was learning toward putting Benigas on as the chair. One problem is that
Benigas is a marriage and anger management counselor (who oddly enough has a
temper) and has a tough time showing up for meetings that start before 6:30 or 7
o'clock.
REVIEW OF EXSISTING COMMISSIONS: Considering that Gussie Crawford wants off
the Community Relations Commission and prior to her recent election Linda Rallo was
on the CR Commission and quit along with a number of others. There is plenty of
evidence that some of the city commissions are not needed. Apparently Dalton, just
entering his second year of a four year term is also aware that his expansion of the city
commissions has not been a huge success. He announced he will be forming a "Blue
Ribbon" committee of alderpersons to review this issue. It might be a hard task, as I do
not know of anyone who has awarded any of the alderpersons a Blue Ribbon.
MANGE ADMITS SCREWING UP: As we reported last week, the estimates to complete Skip
Manges' Log Cabin rebuild and building a fake log cabin foundation and a wall came in just
about $150,000 higher than what was budgeted.
"I screwed up. We underestimated the masonry costs," said Mange, who was at one time a
engineer.
Mange at the agenda meeting with Gussie Crawford and Linda Rallo.
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DEER VERSUS VEHICLE INCIDENTS DOWN IN
APRIL: There were only four deer-vehicle accidents reported in April. That compares
with seven accidents in April 2013. Year-to-date there have been 14 deer-vehicle
accidents compared to 20 in the first four months of 2013.
The four deer related accidents in April were at Topping Road and Topping Estates
(04/06/14 10:32am), WB I-64 at Maryville Exit (04/18/14 2:32am), EB I-64 at Hwy 141
(04/22/14 6:22am) and EB Clayton Road east of I-270 (04/25/14 4:24pm).
Here are where the accidents have happened so far this year:
SB I-270 Between I-64 and south City Limits 2 (Ward 1)
EB Clayton Road east of I-270 1 (Ward 1)
Topping Road and Topping Estates 1 (Ward 2) E
Mason Road South of Clayton Road 2 (Ward 2)
Clayton Road east of Mason Road 1 (Ward 2)
I-64 at Mason Road 1 (Ward 3)
SB Hwy 141 at Clayton Road 1 (Ward 3)
I-64 at Maryville Exit 1 (Ward 4)
I-64 at Hwy 141 1 (Ward 4)
Ladue Road at Hwy 141 1 (Ward 4)
Old Woods Mill and I-64 Overpass 1 (Ward 4)
Conway Road at Babler Road 1 (Ward 4)
AFTER ELECTION CONTRIBUTION REPORTS: There are two types
campaign reports that have been filed since our last newsletter that listed the "8-day
Before Election Report." Those are the "April 15 Quarterly Report" and the "30-Day
After Election Report. Last year we discovered in the "30-Day After report" how Cole
McNary received over $20,000 from firefighter unions in his losing race against Jane
Cunningham.
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TOWN AND COUNTRY WARD 2
Amy Anderson: The winner in the Ward 2 race received $550 in money on March 31.
$250 from her neighbor Daniel Brewer at 6 Rutherford Lane and $300 from Tracy
Switzer 12906 Topping Estates.
Her "30-Day Report" showed that she gave herself $39 and she spent $1,164 on
stamps and printing costs. She has $125 left in her campaign bank account.
Chuck Lenz: The incumbent who basically financed his campaign out of pocket,
accepted no contributions immediately before the election. He spent $16 for wire sign
holders.
After the election the only money Chuck accepted was a $500 contribution from former
alderman Kevin Beckman. He also paid $1,437 in bills for printing and mailing costs.
He finished with $48.02 in his campaign bank account.
TOWN AND COUNTRY WARD 4
Phil Behnen: The losing incumbent's "8-Day Before Report" showed no contributions
and Behnen only spending $130 on printing.
In the "30-Day After Election Report" there was an interesting $150 contribution from
the Healthcare Leadership Committee Political Action Committee in Jefferson City. We
checked the last three years of contributions by Healthcare Leadership and found that
other than Behnen the only other person running in a municipal race to get a
contribution was St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay. Before the $150 to Behnen and two
contributions to Slay...all the 148 other contributions went to people running for
statewide office or to the Missouri House or Senate.
However back in 2009 Healthcare Leadership gave another municipal candidate a $500
contribution. That went to Town and Country Mayor/Cigarette Lobbyist Jon Dalton on
April 5, 2009 when I was running against Dalton. It turns out Dalton was using a client's
money to give himself a campaign donation. (see below)
Who is behind Healthcare Leadership? None other than Town and Country
Mayor/Lobbyist Jon Dalton and his secretary Shannon Hawk, who has followed Dalton
from law firm to law firm (Bryan Cave, Lewis-Rice and now Armstrong-Teasdale). Hawk
became the treasurer of the PAC in 2005. Dalton will hide much of his possible conflicts
by listing them under Hawk's name. The Healthcare PAC gave Dalton's buddy, John
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Diehl $1,000 on March 24, $2,500 on October 28, 2013, $5,000 on October 24, 2013,
$1,000 on September 10, 2013 and $500 on July 15, 2013.
Linda Rallo, who defeated Behnen, despite having been assigned to sit next to Dalton
on the Aldermanic Dais, should try and keep her distance from a guy who hid his
contribution to her opponent.
Linda Rallo: Between March 28 and March 30th Rallo accepted four contributions
totaling $700. Two were at ground zero of the rezoning battle with Maryville University
from residents on Hampshire Hill Lane.
Despite supporting the city's lethal deer control policy Rallo got a $200 contribution from
Susan Feigenbaum of Templeton Place in Ward 3. Feigenbaum, an economics
professor at UMSL, has long opposed lethal deer management. Finally Rallo got
another $200 from attorney Brian McGovern of Creve Coeur, whose office is in Ward 4.
She spent $1,419 in the last days of the campaign on mailers.
CHESTRERFIELD CANDIDATES:
Ward 1: Barry Flachsbart: The guy did not receive one contribution just before the
election or immediately afterwards. He did spent $239.54 on a mailing.
Ben Keathley: The only funds received by Keathley immediately before the election or
after the election was the $60.42 he leant his campaign. Perhaps this is a reason why
he only got 26-percent of the vote.
Ward 2: Elliot Grissom: Immediately before the election Grissom accepted $200. A
$100 from a Manchester resident and $100 from his wife. After the election Grissom
gave his campaign $860. Grissom gave his campaign a total of $5,060 to pay for getting
79-percent of the vote.
Tom Northcutt: The biggest loser in the Chesterfield races gave himself $854.44 just
before the election.
Ward 3: Mike Casey: Casey accepted $100 from C. Donald Ainsworth of Chesterfield
a week before the election. Casey gave his campaign $1,020 after the election which
he won with 73-percent of the vote.
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Andy Kazen: I accidently did not pull Andy's file at the BOE. I figured I gave him
enough grief running a photo of James Garner as Brett Maverick next to his week after
week.
Ward 4: Connie Fults: Fults accepted $800 immediately before the
election. I always have reported that Fults was a lap dog of developers just on the way
she voted. If you consider this late $800 in funds it proves my point as the money is all
connected to one big West County developer. $300 is from Jeff Schlindler, the president
of McBride and Sons. The $500 contribution is from a group which is hard to decipher
thanks' to Connie's penmanship, but appears to be "Builders Bloc" They have the same
business address of McBride and Sons.
John Gazzoli: John violated Missouri Ethics Commission law by not
providing the dates of the $2,125 he received eight days before the election or the city
and state of the contributor. However since Gazzoli is a lawyer the fact he did not follow
instructions and violated Ethics Commission rules came as no surprise.
Here is the list:
Hannilof Bagby 721 Fairfield Lake (Town and Country)
C. Hannell 4051 Rendon Rd (no city listed) Farrier
Mike Pratl 68 Picardy Hill Chesterfield
retired
Johnson 15792 Sanic Green (no city listed)
Steve Stetz 16009 Aston Ct
Bob Safron 408 Hunter Hill
Safron Group
Gundaker 2458 Old Dorsett
Real Estate
Joan Hill 62 Picardy Hill retired
C. Payne 9 Picardy Hill retired
"anonomous" (sp) Chesterfield
A. Poliozzo 1776 Schoettler Valley Tailor
Brandon Chisom 1933 Alfred Ave
Retired
Carl Greenberg 1776 Schoettler Valley
Edward Haynie retired
Doris Frazier retired
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$200
50
$200
$100
$200
$100
$200
$200
$100
$100
$25
$25
$25
$50
$50
Borrego Fernando 2052 Tramore Ct Martial Arts Instr
Bob Strothkamp 14390 Manchester Hardware retailer
Jermal Streward 2923 Allen financial Advisor
$100
$200
$200
UNAPPROVED CHESTERFIELD NEWSLETTER 74
May 19, 2014
By John Hoffmann
CITY FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST INSURANCE COMPANY: On March 14,
2014 the City of Chesterfield filed suit against the Travelers' Insurance Company. In
2006 Travelers sold a surety bond to Gunhay, LLC to that guaranteed the installation of
landscaping at the Reserve at Chesterfield Village if Gunhay did not perform the job.
The city claims Gunhay as a developer of the Reserve at Chesterfield Village failed to
install required landscaping. The city wanted $511,576 from Travelers to complete the
require landscaping. The City in 2011 rolled that demand back to $142,100 after a
portion of the development was sold and a new developer completed some of the work.
Apparently in 2012 Travelers claimed that mere letters filed with the insurance company
were not a formal claim. On May 24, 2013 Travelers offered to pay the city $60,000
instead of the $142,100 that Chesterfield claims it was due. The city refused to accept
$60,000 and filed suit in march of 2014. There is no court date set at this time.
THIRD OR IS IT FOURTH RESTAURANT IN FOUR YEARS AT 16125
CHESTERFIELD PARKWAY WEST: Let's see if I can list them all or how many I
missed. Restaurants that have been in the building at 16125 Chesterfield Parkway
West: There was The Crazy Fish, Yen Ching, Aqua Vin, Andria's Steakhouse followed
by Oceano. Now the Chesterfield City Council has issued a new liquor license for
Bishop's Post, which promises to be a "comfort food" dining establishment.
I used to go out to Andria's and listen to Anita Rosamond along with a very good young
guitar player perform in the bar. I had two meals in the restaurant during that time.
Both were overpriced and not nearly as tasty as what I get at Tucker's for 40% less.
I never tried Oceano, fearing it would be similar to Andria's only with seafood instead of
steaks. I think I will have to see the Bishop's Post menu before I head out to give it a
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try. If the chicken fried steak costs more than at Annie Gunn's for lunch...I might have to
skip it.
Do you think six places in 18 years might indicate it is a bad location or did the six
places just have either bad food or bad service or bad prices?
COUNCILMAN REBUTTAL: Chesterfield City Councilman Bruce DeGroot called
us and said that he thought our portrayal of him being a tree hugger in our last
newsletter when he was the only councilperson to vote against adding Sweet Gum trees
to the list of trees to be considered for immediate removal was unfair.
DeGroot said to remove all 2,000 Sweet Gum trees on city property would cost more
than $2-million and that was why he voted against it. However, I remember and took a
note of him saying he was against killing a healthy tree.
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Of course the $2,000,000 price tag was brought up in the agenda meeting and the
director of public services said only those Sweet Guns requested to be removed would
be considered and only within annual budget restrictions. He said it would take well over
10 years to remove all the sweet gums from city right of ways.
MONARCH MEETING: I was away doing the public address announcing for 27
innings of college baseball in a conference tournament when the last Monarch Board
meeting was held on Thursday May 8. I did have an anonymous stringer attend the
meeting and here is their report:
Increase in Security: Attendance at the Monarch Open Board Meeting was sparse, with the
exception of police officers. Apparently someone thought there would be a need for an unprecedented
three off-duty St. Louis County cops and they were there in force.
FIRE CHIEF MISSES FINAL MEETING: But during the entire meeting only five citizens and one
Union member were present, in addition to the District staff. This did not include Tom Vineyard, who
chose to skip his final meeting.
CITIZEN COMMENTS HAVE A FAMILIAR SOUND: Citizen comments started with David
Winchell, who asked the Board to do a better job than last time in selecting a new Chief and pretty much
let Director Swyers have it for his participation in hiring soon-to-be-former Chief Tom Vineyard. Winchell
finished by asking Swyers to "step down" as a Director and Swyers decided to spar with Winchell by
responding with a resounding "no" and disputing what he and former Union influenced Board member
Kim Evans spent on a search firm when Vineyard was hired (Swyers and Vineyard ignored the search
firm's recommendations and hired Vineyard, who many feel was selected by the Union). Marlyn Flauter
followed Winchell and thanked Vineyard for his service to the District. She went on to scold Directors
Harris and Cunningham for interfering with Vineyard as he brought the District to new heights in terms
of service and morale. It has been noted in the past that Flauter ran a failed campaign as a Union
backed candidate and her son is a Union firefighter. Finally Rick Gans addressed the Board about selfinsured health insurance and the Union's constant effort to paint the District and Board in a negative
light. Mr. Gans described what happened when the District went with a self-insured plan a decade ago
and it was not good. Gans also took the Union to task for trying to scare residents into thinking
Vineyard's departure would put them in some sort of new danger.
SELF-INUSRANCE Robin Harris brought up the topic of the self-insured health plan and before he could
express an opinion, Steve Swyers surprised everyone by announcing that he sees no reason to switch to
it. Swyers said it doesn't look like it will save the District any money and its cost volatility was not worth
the risk. This is a surprise in light of the fact that the Union has pushed for a self-insured plan for years
and Swyers usually does what the Union asks. Harris and Cunningham went on to agree and they
decided to table the discussion and decision making on this topic to a future meeting. The Board then
proceeded to formally adopt its new drug and alcohol testing programs and it passed unanimously.
17
Then in an even bigger surprise, Director Harris told the other Board members that he had been
approached by Assistant Chief Spiegel about his proposal last month to reduce the Pension Fund tax rate
(which would automatically lead to a reduction in how much each employee receives annually in his/her
pension account). Spiegel convinced him to defer any action indefinitely. Harris said that Spiegel pointed
out some factors that Harris had not considered and that time was needed to study and work on this
proposal. Harris gave the impression this will not come up prior to September, when the Board next sets
the tax rates.
ACTING CHIEF ANNOUNCED: It came as no surprise to me or anyone else that the
Board voted to make Assistant Chief Cary Spiegel the "Acting Fire Chief." I guess the
biggest surprise was that Director Steven Swyers voted for Spiegel to be acting chief
after he had voted against rehiring him as the assistant fire chief.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE REPUBLICAN WAY: Let's go back to the 1980s
when Ronald Reagan managed to capture the independent and conservative
Democratic vote. That was in the day when Reagan was selling Republicanism with
quotes like,
"Government is not a solution to our problems, government is the problem."
or
"Government's first duty is to protect people, not run their lives."
Ronald Reagan was apparently a different sort of Republican than what we have
today.
But if you look at the Republicans in the Missouri Statehouse you get a completely
different view. With them "more government" is fine as long as someone pays them.
Smithfield Farms of Virginia and now owned by a Chinese group gave large amounts of
campaign contributions to suburban Republican lawmakers who in turned passed a bill
that restricted the legal rights of small Missouri farmers whose land was damaged due
to hog waste runoff from Smithfield's two huge Missouri hog farms.
18
Now it is the Missouri Auto Dealers Association's Political Action committee, "Dealers
Interested in Government" who are funneling money to Republican lawmakers to make
sure Missourians cannot buy a Tesla. The electric cars that cost between $60,000 and
$100,000 and are sold online by Tesla. Tesla offers regional service centers for the
cars, but there are no dealers. The Missouri Auto Dealers Association thinks you should
be forced to buy a new car from only a dealer.
Sen. Jay Wasson (R Springfield) added to a ATV regulation bill that all new cars must
be sold through a dealer, which would make it impossible to buy a Tesla in Missouri.
The bill passed the house and went back to the Senate for the final five days of the
session. Wasson received $3,000 in contributions from the Auto Dealers Association in
the last half of 2013. (He also got $1,000 from the Chinese run Smithfield Farms people.)
Sen Jay Wasson doesn't want you to buy a Tesla and he was happy to take $3,000 to keep you out of the
drivers' seat.
LOBBYISTS AND CAR DEALERS ARE TRYING TO KEEP YOU FROM SPENDING
$100,000 FOR A TESLA.
"Dealers Interested In Government" gave John Diehl $300 on March 24, 2014, $1,000
on October 29, 2013, $1,000 on June 10, 2013 and $500 on February
25, 2013. They gave State Rep. Sue Allen $200 in 2011, however the
Auto Dealers lobbyist John Bardgett gave Sue Allen $1,000 on June
19, 2013. Diehl apparently wised up and realized all the rich people in
his district from Ladue to Frontenac to Town and Country to
Chesterfield don't like to be restricted from buying a $100,000 sports
car.
John Diehl took $2,800 in a year from the people who don't want you driving a Tesla .
Speaking of lobbyists both sides geared up for the "battle of the last week of the
session" in Jefferson City.
Here are the lobbyists now working for the Auto Dealers: John Bardgett of
Chesterfield one of the biggest lobbyists in Jefferson City was hired and joined the Auto
19
Dealer team of lobbyists that include Phillip Schnieders and Doug Smith of the
association, Andy Blunt and Jay Reischard of Schreimann, Rackers, Francka & Blunt;
and Bill Gamble, Jorgen Schlemeier, Sarah Topp, and Jeffery Brooks of Gamble &
Schlemeier lobbyist firm.
Tesla is not to be outdone in the lobbyist wars. They hired former House Speaker
Steve Tilley; Danny Pfeifer, Greg Porter, and Alex Eaton of the Catalyst Group; Scott
Penman and David Winton of Penman & Winton Consulting Group; Brent Hemphill and
Kristian Starner of Hemphill and Associates; Heath Clarkston, and Michael Grote.
We are waiting for the May lobbyists report due in July. I have a feeling no lawmaker or
at least no Republican lawmaker will have to use their per diem to buy lunch or dinner
the last week of the session.
By Tuesday Tesla had won the war when the bill restricting the sale of cars by the
internet died unable to get onto the floor for a vote.
Here is a list from 2012 through March of 2014 of politicians who received money from
the Missouri Auto Dealers PAC (Dealers Interested in Government).
City
Stat
e
Friends of Caleb Rowden
Columbia
MO
Friends of Caleb Jones
California
MO
Missourians for Mike Cierpiot
Lees Summit
MO
Citizens for Hoskins
MO
Friends of Diehl
Warrensburg
Town and
Country
Scott Sifton for State Senate
St Louis
MO
Citizens for Vicki Lorenz Englund
St Louis
MO
Missourians for Koster
Jefferson City
MO
Missourians for Tim Jones
Eureka
MO
Committee
Addres
s2
20
MO
Amoun
Date
t
3/24/2014
0:00
300
3/24/2014
0:00
300
3/24/2014
0:00
300
3/24/2014
0:00
300
3/24/2014
0:00
300
3/14/2014
0:00
500
3/14/2014
0:00
300
3/14/2014
0:00
5000
3/14/2014
0:00
3500
Citizens for Riddle
Holts Summit
MO
Friends of Jeremy Lafaver
Kansas City
MO
Citizens for Gary Cross
Lees Summit
MO
Committee to Elect Jeff Roorda
Barnhart
MO
Friends of Lincoln Hough
Springfield
MO
Citizens for Will Kraus
Lees Summit
MO
Dr. Dan Brown for Senate
Rolla
MO
Citizens for Black
Missouri Senate Campaign
Committee
Desloge
MO
Jefferson City
MO
Citizens for Riddle
Fulton
MO
Citizens to Elect Mike Kehoe
Jefferson City
MO
Citizens to Elect Mike Kehoe
Jefferson City
MO
Scott Sifton for State Senate
St Louis
MO
Friends of Ryan McKenna
MO
Friends of Kathy Swan
Crystal City
Cape
Girardeau
Citizens for Riddle
Fulton
MO
Scott Rupp for Missouri
Wentzville
MO
Citizens to elect Mike Kehoe
Jefferson City
MO
Citizens for Jay Wasson
Nixa
MO
Committee to Elect Ron Richard
Joplin
MO
Dempsey for Missouri
St Charles
MO
Citizens for Conway
St Charles
MO
21
MO
3/4/2014
0:00
2/18/2014
0:00
1/2/2014
0:00
12/19/201
3 0:00
12/17/201
3 0:00
12/17/201
3 0:00
12/17/201
3 0:00
11/7/2013
0:00
11/7/2013
0:00
10/29/201
3 0:00
10/29/201
3 0:00
10/29/201
3 0:00
9/30/2013
0:00
9/30/2013
0:00
8/29/2013
0:00
8/29/2013
0:00
8/29/2013
0:00
8/29/2013
0:00
8/29/2013
0:00
8/29/2013
0:00
8/29/2013
0:00
8/29/2013
0:00
500
300
1000
1000
5000
1000
500
250
5000
500
500
1000
500
1000
600
1000
750
1000
500
500
500
100
Citizens for Marsha Haefner
St Louis
MO
Friends for Diane Franklin
Camdenton
MO
People for Solon
MO
Friends of Diehl
Blue Springs
Town and
Country
Citizens for Mccaherty
High Ridge
MO
Friends of Sandy Crawford
Buffalo
MO
Friends of Mike Cunningham 16
Rogersville
MO
Committee to elect Lyndall Fraker
Marshfield
MO
Friends of Duggar
Hartville
MO
Entlicher for Election
Bolivar
MO
Missourians for Tim Jones
MO House Democratic Campaign
Committee
Eureka
MO
Jefferson City
MO
Citizens for Gary Cross
Lees Summit
MO
Citizens for Hoskins
House Republican Campaign
Committee
Warrensburg
MO
Jefferson City
MO
Redmon for State Representative
Genise Montecillo for State
Representative
Monticello
MO
St Louis
MO
Gatschenberger 4 MO
Lake St Louis
MO
Friends of Todd Richardson
Poplar Bluff
MO
Friends of Rick Stream
Kirkwood
MO
Romine for Senate
Farmington
MO
Friends of Holly Rehder
Sikeston
MO
22
MO
8/29/2013
0:00
8/29/2013
0:00
8/29/2013
0:00
8/29/2013
0:00
8/29/2013
0:00
8/29/2013
0:00
8/29/2013
0:00
8/29/2013
0:00
8/29/2013
0:00
8/29/2013
0:00
8/29/2013
0:00
8/23/2013
0:00
7/30/2013
0:00
7/30/2013
0:00
7/30/2013
0:00
7/30/2013
0:00
7/30/2013
0:00
7/22/2013
0:00
7/22/2013
0:00
7/22/2013
0:00
7/22/2013
0:00
7/22/2013
0:00
100
100
100
1000
250
100
1000
300
300
100
5000
2500
500
500
15000
500
500
1000
1000
1000
1000
250
Citizens for Torpey
Independence
MO
Sater for Senate
Cassville
MO
Friends of Jeremy Lafever
Kansas City
MO
Citizens for Jay Wasson
Nixa
MO
Committee to Elect Ron Richard
Joplin
MO
Silvey for Missouri
Gladstone
MO
Parson for State Senate
Bolivar
MO
Citizens for Timothy W. Jones
Missouri Senate Campaign
Committee
Eureka
MO
MO
Meys Nichols for State Rep
Jefferson City
Maryland
Heights
Citizens to Elect Kurt Schaefer
Columbia
MO
Friends of Caleb Jones
MO
Friends of Diehl
California
Town and
Country
Friends of Kevin McManus
Kansas City
MO
Citizens to Elect Mike Kehoe
Jefferson City
MO
Citizens to Elect Rocky Miller
MO
Friends of Wayne Wallingford
Osage Beach
Cape
Girardeau
Committee to Elect Jeff Roorda
Barnhart
MO
Dempsey for Missouri
Jefferson City
MO
Citizens for Hinson
Jefferson City
MO
Gumbo Bottoms
Lohman
MO
Missourians for Koster
Jefferson City
MO
23
MO
MO
MO
7/2/2013
0:00
7/2/2013
0:00
7/2/2013
0:00
7/2/2013
0:00
7/2/2013
0:00
7/2/2013
0:00
7/2/2013
0:00
6/26/2013
0:00
6/26/2013
0:00
6/26/2013
0:00
6/10/2013
0:00
6/10/2013
0:00
6/10/2013
0:00
6/10/2013
0:00
6/10/2013
0:00
6/10/2013
0:00
6/10/2013
0:00
6/10/2013
0:00
6/10/2013
0:00
5/24/2013
0:00
5/9/2013
0:00
3/28/2013
0:00
1000
1000
300
2500
2500
2500
2500
1000
5000
250
2500
1000
1000
300
5000
1500
500
500
2500
1000
323.5
5000
Mo Senate Democratic Campaign
Committee
Columbia
MO
Friends of Todd Richardson
Poplar Bluff
MO
Friends of Lincoln Hough
Springfield
MO
Citizens for Hinson
St Clair
MO
Friends for Elijah Harhr
Springfield
MO
Citizens for Rocky Miller
Osage Beach
MO
Citizens for Gary Cross
Lees Summit
MO
Friends for Gina Walsh
St Louis
MO
Citizens for Colona
St Louis
MO
Friends of Holly Rehder
Sikeston
MO
Friends of Caleb Rowden
Columbia
MO
Citizens for Torpey
MO
Citizens for Diehl
Independence
Town and
Country
Citizens for Vicki Englund
St Louis
MO
Citizens for Ryan Silvey
Gladstone
MO
Dempsey For Senate
St Charles
MO
Citizens for Timothy W. Jones
Eureka
MO
Citizens to Elect Mike Kehoe
Jefferson City
MO
Committee to Elect Ron Richards
Jefferson City
MO
Citizens for Mike Thomson
Maryville
MO
Friends of Lincoln Hough
Springfield
MO
Spence for Governor
St Louis
MO
24
MO
3/26/2013
0:00
3/26/2013
0:00
3/26/2013
0:00
3/26/2013
0:00
3/26/2013
0:00
3/26/2013
0:00
3/26/2013
0:00
3/26/2013
0:00
3/25/2013
0:00
3/11/2013
0:00
3/11/2013
0:00
3/11/2013
0:00
2/25/2013
0:00
2/25/2013
0:00
2/25/2013
0:00
1/7/2013
0:00
1/7/2013
0:00
1/7/2013
0:00
1/7/2013
0:00
1/7/2013
0:00
10/31/201
2 0:00
10/31/201
2 0:00
1000
500
500
500
300
300
300
500
500
300
300
300
500
300
500
1000
500
1000
1000
250
1000
5000
JEFFERSON
CITY
MO
KIRKSVILLE
MO
Friends of Jay Barnes
Jefferson City
MO
CITIZENS FOR TIM MEADOWS
IMPERIAL
MO
ROMINE FOR SENATE
MO
FRIENDS OF MIKE BERNSKOETTER
FARMINGTON
JEFFERSON
CITY
DEMPSEY FOR SENATE
ST CHARLES
MO
ENGLER FOR MISSOURI
FARMINGTON
MO
GATSCHENBERGER 4 REP
COMMITTEE TO ELECT KENT
HAMPTON
LAKE ST LOUIS
MO
MALDEN
MO
HOLSMAN FOR MISSOURI
KANSAS CITY
MO
FRIENDS OF LINCOLN HOUGH
MO
CITIZENS TO ELECT MIKE KEHOE
SPRINGFIELD
JEFFERSON
CITY
FRIENDS OF RYAN MCKENNA
CRYSTAL CITY
MO
GENISE MONTECILLO FOR STATE REP
ST LOUIS
MO
CITIZENS FOR RIDDLE
FULTON
MO
CITIZENS FOR RYAN SILVEY
GLADSTONE
MO
SMITH FOR MISSOURI
NORMANDY
MO
CITIZENS FOR STEVE WEBBER
COLUMBIA
MO
ANN ZERR FOR STATE REP
MISSOURI SENATE CAMPAIGN
COMMITTEE
ST CHARLES
JEFFERSON
CITY
JEFFERSON
CITY
MO
CITIZENS TO ELECT MIKE KEHOE
FRIENDS OF NATE WALKER
COMMITTEE
MISSOURIANS FOR KOSTER
25
MO
MO
MO
MO
10/16/201
2 0:00
10/16/201
2 0:00
10/10/201
2 0:00
10/10/201
2 0:00
10/10/201
2 0:00
9/17/2012
0:00
9/17/2012
0:00
9/17/2012
0:00
9/17/2012
0:00
9/17/2012
0:00
9/17/2012
0:00
9/17/2012
0:00
9/17/2012
0:00
9/17/2012
0:00
9/17/2012
0:00
9/17/2012
0:00
9/17/2012
0:00
9/17/2012
0:00
9/17/2012
0:00
9/17/2012
0:00
9/17/2012
0:00
9/17/2012
0:00
1000
500
500
250
1000
300
1300
800
500
350
1000
2500
1200
1500
1000
1000
5000
500
500
350
7500
9000
FRIENDS OF CALEB JONES
CALIFORNIA
MO
Missouri Senate Campaign Comm
Jefferson City
MO
House Republican Campaign Comm
Jefferson City
MO
Citizens to Elect Mike Kehoe
Jefferson City
MO
Citizens to Elect Mike Kehoe
Jefferson City
MO
Missourians for Koster
Jefferson City
MO
Citizens to Elect Mike Kehoe
Jefferson City
MO
Citizens for Nieves
Washington
MO
Bob Burns for State Rep
St Louis
MO
Friends of Sandy Crawford
Buffalo
MO
Engler for Missouri
Farmington
MO
Friends of Steve Hodges
East Prairie
MO
Penny Hubbard for State Rep
St Louis
MO
Friends of Caleb Jones
California
MO
Parson for State Senate
Bolivar
MO
Committee to Elect Jeff Roorda
Barnhart
MO
Citizens for Jay Wasson
Nixa
MO
Friends of Todd Richardson
Poplar Bluff
MO
Citizens for Sommer
St Charles
MO
Citizens for Spreng
Florissant
MO
PENNY HUBBARD FOR STATE REP
ST LOUIS
MO
GENISE MONTECILLO FOR STATE REP
ST LOUIS
MO
26
9/17/2012
0:00
8/15/2012
0:00
8/8/2012
0:00
8/3/2012
0:00
8/3/2012
0:00
7/31/2012
0:00
7/31/2012
0:00
7/24/2012
0:00
7/16/2012
0:00
7/16/2012
0:00
7/16/2012
0:00
7/16/2012
0:00
7/16/2012
0:00
7/16/2012
0:00
7/16/2012
0:00
7/16/2012
0:00
7/16/2012
0:00
7/3/2012
0:00
7/3/2012
0:00
7/3/2012
0:00
6/29/2012
0:00
6/28/2012
0:00
1000
2500
15000
315.3
678
1000
1325
500
350
350
500
500
1250
2000
2000
350
2500
1000
350
350
200
350
DEMPSEY FOR SENATE
ST CHARLES
TOWN
COUNTRY
JEFFERSON
CITY
MO
ST LOUIS
WARRENSBUR
G
JEFFERSON
CITY
MO
BLACK JACK
MO
FRIENDS OF STEVE WEBB
FLORISSANT
MO
FRIENDS OF WARD FRANZ
WEST PLAINS
MO
CITIZENS TO ELECT KURT SCHAEFER
COLUMBIA
MO
COMMITTEE TO ELECT RON RICHARD
JOPLIN
MO
CITIZENS FOR HINSON
ST CLAIR
MO
CITIZENS FOR COLONA
ST LOUIS
MO
Wells and Friends
Missouri Senate Campaign
Committee
Cabool
MO
Jefferson City
MO
Missourians for Koster
Jefferson City
MO
Citizens for Steve Stenger
St Louis
MO
Citizens for Gary Cross
Lees Summit
MO
Citizens to Elect Mike Kehoe
Jefferson City
MO
Parson for State Senate
Bolivar
MO
Committee to Elect Ron Richard
Joplin
MO
Citizens to Elect Kurt Schaefer
Columbia
MO
CITIZENS FOR DIEHL
MO HOUSE DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN
COMMITTEE
COMMITTEE TO ELECT MIKE LEARA
PEARCE FOR SENATE
MISSOURI SENATE CAMPAIGN
COMMITTEE
FRIENDS TO ELECT SYLVESTER
TAYLOR
27
MO
MO
MO
MO
6/25/2012
0:00
6/25/2012
0:00
6/25/2012
0:00
6/25/2012
0:00
6/25/2012
0:00
6/25/2012
0:00
6/25/2012
0:00
6/25/2012
0:00
5/23/2012
0:00
5/23/2012
0:00
5/18/2012
0:00
5/18/2012
0:00
5/18/2012
0:00
4/23/2012
0:00
4/13/2012
0:00
3/7/2012
0:00
3/7/2012
0:00
3/7/2012
0:00
2/27/2012
0:00
2/27/2012
0:00
2/27/2012
0:00
2/27/2012
0:00
2500
1000
5000
500
500
10000
350
350
1000
500
2500
700
500
750
6300
5000
1000
586
250
250
250
250
Citizens for Jay Wasson
MO
JAY NIXON FOR MISSOURI
REPUBLICAN SENATE CAMPAIGN
COMMITTEE
Nixa
JEFFERSON
CITY
JEFFERSON
CITY
Citizens for Gary Cross
Lees Summitt
MO
Friends of Thomas Long
Dempsey for Senate
MO Senate Campaign Committee
Springfield
Jefferson City
Jefferson City
MO
MO
MO
MO
MO
2/27/2012
0:00
2/2/2012
0:00
1/31/2012
0:00
1/9/2012
0:00
1/9/2012
0:00
1/3/2012
1/3/2012
250
5000
209
250
250
250
500
MEDIA WATCH...Baseball: For nine years I was paid to cover an American
League baseball team, dealing mostly with their minor league teams. On Tuesday May
13 I thought that moving back to St. Louis and being in a National League town with
extensive National League coverage I had lost how powerful the American League had
become.
In the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Sports Section they had stats titled "MLB Leaders"
showing the leaders in the National League and in the American League after six weeks
of play. Here is an example how the two leagues compared...at least in the PostDispatch:
NL Home Runs
AL Home Rumes
Tulowitzki COL 11 Davis BAL 53
Stanton MIA 11
Cabrera DET 44
NL RBI
Stanton MIA 40
Tulowitzki COL 33
AL RBI
Davis BAL 138
Cabrera DET 137
Turns out the Post-Dispatch listed all the top players using current stats for the National
League guys and the end of 2013 stats for the American Leaguers.
MUSIC:
If you weren't there you missed a lot of fun. I'll be missing from the next Rat
Pack Monday at the One-19 in Kirkwood, as I'll be in Reykjavik. The next Rat Pack
Monday with Dean Christopher at the One-19 will be Monday June 9 from 7:30 to 9:30.
Here is what you missed last Monday.
28
The trio of Dean, Jim and Chris
Valerie Tichacek making a guest appearance. Dean singing "What a Wonderful World" as Louie Armstrong
Dean as Sammy Davis. He also had Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Paul Lynn all singing What a
Wonderful World. Earlier in the evening while Jim Manley was playing an instrumental break on a song,
Dean played maitre when two customers walked in, only to break into song.
29
Blues Jazz singer Wendy Gordon does a number. Teresa, the One-19 bartender who performs in local
musicals gets the mic, but who is tending the bar? See below. Check out his shirt.
LONG AND SHORT OF IT: I couldn't resist snapping this photo while I was doing the
PA for the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament. Greenville
College made it to the championship round against Webster University, the #1 ranked
small college baseball team in the Nation. Greenville was making a number of pitching
changes in a 12-4 loss. This scene caught my eye with the very large first baseman
30
Jared Storment chatting with rather short third baseman Tommie Brown as another
Greenville pitcher warmed up.
Webster swept the tournament. After two straight years of reaching the D-3 College
World Series, Webster hit a roadblock losing in NCAA regional action 2-1 and 3-2 in 12
innings to end their season.
JAZZ IN THE PASTURE OR MORE COW BELL! My wife who grew up on a dairy farm
thought this was no big deal as she claims cows are always curious and are checking
things out, but it made me smile. From 2011 an American Dixieland jazz band stops
along a pasture in rural France for a concert.
Here is the link to hear it yourself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQGyOnYWRTA
31
CARTOONS:
32
33
34