Opinion
A Typical Day If Cap And Trade Becomes Law
Your alarm clock rings ($), you get out of bed and shuffle to the bathroom to shower ($), shampoo ($) and shave ($). Read More »
Special Elections Bill Filed
One of the fundamental principles our country and state were founded on is the idea of free and open elections of representatives and other officials. However, our state’s system of filling vacancies has a loophole in it. Read More »
Letter To The Editor
Tribute To Robert E. Yocom Dear Editor: Judge Robert E. Yocom passed from this life Feb. 5, 2010. I had known him most of my life and worked with him as a young lawyer, beginning in 1972. Read More »
Consent Bills To Be Passed By Missouri House
I’m sitting in my office in Jefferson City late in the evening writing this column and I can’t help but reflect a bit on the last 7 years. It doesn’t quite seem possible that it has been that long since I was first elected to represent you in the General Assembly. Read More »
Letter To The Editor Why Move City Hall?
A question as to why have we changed the location of city hall and the police department in Anderson has been raised by several citizens. Read More »
Great News For Some, Bad News For Others
Last week was exciting for anyone who follows politics. I know that the surprise election of Scott Brown was bad news for some folks and great news for others but regardless of your position, you have to admit that it is probably the best example of how our system actually works. To put this election into perspective, Republican Scott Brown won a Senate seat that had been held by a Kennedy for more than 50 years in a state that President Obama won in a landslide just over a year ago. Read More »
History Related Of The Henderson, Spears Families
We are still talking about updating the McDonald Territory research. Does anyone know of someone making mailings to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the McDonald Territory? If you have information referencing this interesting event, contact the McDonald County Historical Society, P.O. Box 572, Pineville, MO 64856. A mystery to solve: Did the Highway Department leave Noel off the map as an omission, an accident, a mistake, or was it intentional? Do you have an idea? A theory? Any information would be helpful. We are also still seeking information regarding athletes and ball games that were in McDonald County in the last decades, and unique strawberry recipes. Share them with us. We would appreciate it. Read More »
Letter To The Editor ‘Cash For Leakers’ Proposed
Dear Editor, After hearing about all the stimulus packages, bailouts, “cash for clunkers,” grants, etc., and not receiving any of this “free money,” I propose the following stimulus package that will benefit citizens of my ilk, I call it “cash for leakers.” As anyone of knowledge knows, Champion, Bass Cat, Ranger, Bass Tracker, Chris Craft and other boat manufactures are “too big to fail.” I propose a program similar to “cash for clunkers” with added improvements. If you have an old fi shing boat such as my 1958 Bluebird, you deserve a new Ranger, etc. Read More »
Message To Officials: It Is Time For Tax Cuts
We’ve reached the third week of session and what an exciting week it has been! Read More »
Small Engines Need Special Care For Winter
We use a lot of equipment that have small engines in caring for our lawns and gardens that would last longer if properly winterized. Any equipment with a small engine such as the lawnmower, hedge trimmer, chain saw, tiller, string trimmer, etc. can last for many years with proper maintenance. Read More »
2010 Legislative Session Off To Hot Start
Even though the temperature was cold my legislative year got oft to a hot start on the first day of session. I’ll talk about that in a minute but first I want to say a big thank you to all the public servants who have braved the frigid elements over the last few days to provide services to us. We should always be appreciative of those who serve but especially so when the conditions are as extreme as they have been since Christmas. Read More »
Letter To The Editor 2009 Angel Tree Project Congratulates County
Dear Editor, The 2009 Angel Tree Project of McDonald County would like to congratulate the community for their outpouring of support during the worst economical conditions in recent years. Read More »
Real Estate Property Tax An Important Issue
Missourians expect the government to spend their tax dollars wisely. The Republican majority in Jefferson City has taken a strong stance against tax increases over the past eight years. After gaining the majority in 2002, the atmosphere in Jeft erson City changed for the better. I was newly elected at that time and I vowed to represent the taxpayers who had no lobbyist(s) protecting their interest. Read More »
History Will Judge Our Efforts
LITTLE ROCK — Can you believe that we have fi nished the fi rst decade of the new century? I know that some people think that the new decade doesn’t oft - cially begin until 2011, but I’m not one of them. It seems like just yesterday that we were so afraid that the computerized world was going to come to an end at the start of the new century — remember the Y2K scare? — but here we are 10 years later, even more dependent on technology. I’m sure that for some, the last 10 years have been good, for others not so good and for most a mixed bag. Read More »
Agencies Available For The Homeless, Hungry In Our Time
As snow and ice create a beautiful landscape to behold, we are sometimes made aware of what we take for granted. Roads primarily cleared in this new year of 2010, have not always been so. Were you a resident of McDonald County in the ’40s? If you were a rural resident you were fortunate at that time to have paved roads, to have indoor plumbing and electric lighting. Your heat was probably wood and you may have reduced the area for living in your home to just the area you could keep heated. Read More »