Monday, August 16, 2010

"Not Disposed"

Published by Dick Schaefer, Award-winning, Unpaid, Part-time Contributing Writer and Amateur Investigative Reporter

Date:  8/16/2010

"Not Disposed" ..... such is the current "disposition" of Case # 10GA-CC00030, Larry Miskel v. Ronald Jost ..... at least it is recorded that way on Case.net as of 5:35 p.m. on Monday, 8/16.

The Honorable Gael D. Wood, Circuit Judge of the 20th Circuit, is apparently carefully considering the facts of the case as presented to him by attorneys for both appellant and respondent as well as Missouri statutes and case law.  This judge listened intently to a great deal of testimony given in the case.  He asked questions for clarification and when he didn't thoroughly understand something.  I like this judge!  I believe he will render a well-reasoned decision in this case where appellant Larry Miskel, who lost the election for Presiding Commissioner of Gasconade County to respondent Ronald Jost by only 16 votes out of 2788 total votes cast (< 1%), is seeking a partial recount of certain votes in question.

My personal observations and reflections:
  1. As a retired person, I was privileged to be able to sit in for the Miskel v. Jost hearing on Friday afternoon, 8/13.  Not everyone can attend court trials or hearings.  So many of our fellow citizens have to work.  I never attended a court hearing or a jury trial, except for serving jury duty for one court trial, during all the years I worked in the corporate world.  I should have spent a vacation day or two doing so.  I understand that now, but I didn't understand it when I was busy earning a living and making money for my employer.
  2. America, for all our problems, is a nation of laws.  Americans have the right to take problems which they cannot otherwise resolve into a court of law.  We have the right to have our case heard by an objective third party and in some cases by a jury of our peers.  We take that right for granted, it seems to me.  It was reassuring to see the legal system applied to the case of Miskel v. Jost.
  3. I was proud of all who participated in the Miskel v. Jost hearing.  Appellant Miskel and respondent Jost were both civil and respectful.  The attorneys for both parties (P. Dennis Barks, representing Miskel and Brett J. Hellmann, representing Jost) were civil, respectful and well-prepared.  Judge Wood was very engaged.  He listened closely to attorney arguments and to witness testimony, and he asked penetrating questions.  The witnesses (Mayor Miskel and County Clerk Lietzow) were both competent to give sworn testimony, and they both gave truthful testimony.  All participants played important roles in terms of exposing details of the contested issue so that Judge Wood could understand the facts on both sides of the case.
To all Hermann Hearsay readers, if you've never taken the time to attend a court hearing or a court trial, I recommend that you do so some time.  You will learn a lot, and like me, you will be reassured that our American legal system works.  Perhaps it doesn't always work perfectly.  But it does work pretty darned well!

Hermann Hearsay Endorses Sharon Meyer for Gasconade County Clerk

Published by Jimmy Oldsun, NDRIRSRWRAFTC & Editor

As you may already know, Hermann Hearsay is endorsing Sharon Meyer (D) for the office of Gasconade County Clerk.

Here is a letter from Sharon which we originally published on Thursday, 8/12 .....

Dear Friends, Neighbors, and Gasconade County Citizens,

As you may have heard, my name is Sharon Meyer and I am running for the office of the Gasconade County Clerk. My husband is Mark Meyer, and our son is Patrick.

We live, near Stony Hill, on 10 acres of the farm Joseph Benz, my great-grandfather settled on with his family in the 1890’s. E. G. Benz, who once served as this county’s Surveyor, was my grandfather.

My parents were Anna Marie and Edgar Benz. Through their love and nourishing I have become a person with principles and moral integrity. One ready to serve with the highest standard of accountability and professionalism because the citizens of Gasconade County deserve no less than the best!

As the County’s ELECTION AUTHORITY, I will work endlessly to make sure that the election process is conducted in accordance with all federal and state election laws. As the County Election Authority, I am committed to ensuring that anyone who wishes to and is eligible to is allowed to vote.

Managing the elections process is a great responsibility, but do you know it is not the only duty of the Clerk. The Clerk acts as the county’s CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER. Make no mistake! Gasconade County government is big business – approximately $5 million a year, which is generated from taxes, collected from you the citizens!

I will run the Clerk’s office with the highest level of accountability, transparency, and provide strong fiscal management of our citizens’ tax dollars.

People need to ask why the Clerk’s Office is not using a computer to generate a $5 million Budget Summary. Is it not time to put away the paper and pencil?

Finally, the County Clerk is elected to represent and serve the citizens. The Clerk is responsible for keeping the citizens informed. As the CUSTODIAN OF RECORDS:

I will attend all meetings of the County Commission and provide accurate minutes. If I cannot attend a meeting for some reason, someone from the Clerk’s office will.

I will no longer allow an official to give the impression that a document just needs to be filed and it will be up to a citizen to find it.

Currently, citizens in Gasconade County are sometimes charged fees for information at considerably higher rates than the surrounding counties? I will ensure that the fees charged are fair and correct according to Missouri law.

Finally, I believe it is time that Gasconade County Clerk’s Office has a quality Website. It is time that citizens can access county information and contact the County Clerk on line.

The clerk’s office is a critical part of the county government. I believe I am the best person to handle the responsibilities of the office, and I will bring a higher level of integrity, accountability and professionalism. Why, because the citizens of Gasconade County deserve NO LESS than the BEST! I would be honored to have your vote for County Clerk.

On August 3rd and November 2nd please remember to vote because it is not only our right as citizens of the United States, but it is our civic duty. Our votes can and do make a difference at all levels of government.

Sincerely,

Sharon Ann Meyer

Paid for By Citizens to Elect Sharon Meyer ~ Chris Penning, Treasurer

The Beatles - "Let It Be"

Published by Lois Lame, SSALRCYTMVDQJCP & Assistant Editor

Date:  8/16/2010

It's "Beatles Monday"!  Here is Paul McCartney and The Beatles with one of their most famous songs ..... "Let It Be".

Photo Of The Day - Monday, 8/16/2010

Published by Lois Lame, SSALRCYTMVDQJCP & Assistant Editor


Cletus 'Snowman' Snow's New K-Whopper
Photo sent in to us by the 'Snowman'. 
The 'Snowman' is an HH premium subscriber who lives in Canaan.
This photo may not be reproduced without permission from Cletus Snow or his dog, 'Fred'.

Laugh Of The Day - Monday, 8/16/2010

Published by Lois Lame, SSALRCYTMVDQJCP & Assistant Editor

Date:  8/16/2010

Part 3/3, "Call Lehigh 4-9900" .....

Quote Of The Day - Monday, 8/16/2010

Published by Lois Lame, SSALRCYTMVDQJCP & Assistant Editor

Date:  8/16/2010

"America must not ignore the threat gathering against us. Facing clear evidence of peril, we cannot wait for the final proof, the smoking gun that could come in the form of a mushroom cloud."  ~ George W. Bush