Hermann Hearsay: Thursday, January 27, 2011

'Herkimer' welcomes you to Hermann Hearsay, a place where you can discuss news, rumors and hearsay of local interest with other Hermannites. Your comments are always welcome, and will be published in their entirety. We ask that you refrain from using profane language, that you respect the opinions and viewpoints of others and that you report plausible hearsay only. Hermann Hearsay ... FREE, FUNNY, FLIPPANT and FARCICAL. Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. www.HermannHearsay.blogspot.com

Thursday, January 27, 2011

New Poll Open: If you have a Facebook account, how do you view your "friends"?

Published by Lois Lame, Assistant Editor

Date: 1/27/2011
Post: 1,573

New Poll Question:

If you have a Facebook account, how do you view your "friends"?

Response Choices:

I am willing to share my "friends" with other people.
I am possessive of them and I tell them to be a "friend" with me alone.
I like to collect lots of "friends".
"Friends"? What are "friends"?

You may select multiple answers.Reciprocal Links: http://www.DSchaefer.Vemma.com (Nutrition For A Lifetime), http://www.Heart2HeartLyrics.blogspot.com (Song Lyrics Seeking Singer-Songwriters), http://www.HermannMoNews.blogspot.com (The 'Drudge Report' of Hermann), http://www.RivertownRecipes.blogspot.com (Great Local Recipes)

Other Recommended Links: http://www.AccuWeather.com (Weather Forecasts), http://www.DorasSpinningWheel.com (Embroidery), http://www.HermannAdvertiserCourier.com (Gasconade County's Newspaper of Record), http://www.MUTigers.com (Official Website of the Missouri Tigers), http://www.RushLimbaugh.com (Conservative Talk), http://www.Time4Pie.com (Great Pie, Coffee & Conversation), http://www.ToedtmannGrosse.com (Obituaries), http://www.WatkinsOnline.com (Watkins Natural Products)

Poll Closed: Glenn Beck has said "The solution to violence is NOT silence." What do you think?

Published by Lois Lame, Assistant Editor

Date: 1/27/2011
Post: 1,572

Poll Question:

Glenn Beck has said "The solution to violence is NOT silence." What do you think?

Responses:

I agree with Glenn. 18 (90%)
I disagree with Glenn.
I think Glenn Beck is a right-wing extremist. 2 (10%)

Reciprocal Links: http://www.DSchaefer.Vemma.com (Nutrition For A Lifetime), http://www.Heart2HeartLyrics.blogspot.com (Song Lyrics Seeking Singer-Songwriters), http://www.HermannMoNews.blogspot.com (The 'Drudge Report' of Hermann), http://www.RivertownRecipes.blogspot.com (Great Local Recipes)

Other Recommended Links: http://www.AccuWeather.com (Weather Forecasts), http://www.DorasSpinningWheel.com (Embroidery), http://www.HermannAdvertiserCourier.com (Gasconade County's Newspaper of Record), http://www.MUTigers.com (Official Website of the Missouri Tigers), http://www.RushLimbaugh.com (Conservative Talk), http://www.Time4Pie.com (Great Pie, Coffee & Conversation), http://www.ToedtmannGrosse.com (Obituaries), http://www.WatkinsOnline.com (Watkins Natural Products)

Snake Alert! Snake Alert!

Published by Jimmy Oldsun, Editor

Date: 1/27/2011
Post: 1,571

Put your calf-length, thick leather boots on! There's a little snake in our midst! I haven't been able to shoo him away! Maybe I need to purchase a mongoose to protect our staff writers?!

Song Of The Day - Thursday, 1/27/2011

Published by Lois Lame, Assistant Editor

Date: 1/27/2011
Post: 1,570

Here is Aerosmith performing their hit song "Dream On" .....

Reciprocal Links: http://www.DSchaefer.Vemma.com (Nutrition For A Lifetime), http://www.Heart2HeartLyrics.blogspot.com (Song Lyrics Seeking Singer-Songwriters), http://www.HermannMoNews.blogspot.com (The 'Drudge Report' of Hermann), http://www.RivertownRecipes.blogspot.com (Great Local Recipes)

Other Recommended Links: http://www.AccuWeather.com (Weather Forecasts), http://www.DorasSpinningWheel.com (Embroidery), http://www.HermannAdvertiserCourier.com (Gasconade County's Newspaper of Record), http://www.MUTigers.com (Official Website of the Missouri Tigers), http://www.RushLimbaugh.com (Conservative Talk), http://www.Time4Pie.com (Great Pie, Coffee & Conversation), http://www.ToedtmannGrosse.com (Obituaries), http://www.WatkinsOnline.com (Watkins Natural Products)

Photo Of The Day - Thursday, 1/27/2011

Published by Lois Lame, Assistant Editor

Date: 1/27/2011
Post: 1,569

Stone Hill Winery
Hermann, MO
(As viewed from West 16th Street looking north.)
1/21/2011

Photo by Dick Schaefer (Hermann Hearsay).
Copyright protected. All rights reserved.

Laugh Of The Day - Thursday, 1/27/2011

Published by Lois Lame, Assistant Editor

Date: 1/27/2011
Post: 1,568

Way down in the deep south, in an area known as the 'Bible Belt,' there lived a Baptist minister with a very large congregation. One morning, after a particularly moving sermon, he announced, "Friends I have been hearing very nasty rumors!"

The crowd fell into an expectant silence. The Minister continued, "One of you, here among us, has been reporting that I am a member of the dreaded 'Klu Klux Klan.' This, of course, is not true! I am asking that the guilty party confess and apologize now - right here - before my flock of loyal followers."

Sister Margaret quickly stood up and pleaded, "Preacher, please, I don't know how this all came to be. I just mentioned to one of my close friends that you were a wizard under the sheets."

Our purpose this morning in publishing this humorous story is to illustrate just how easy it is to start and perpetuate false rumors.

Why friends, I can give you a recent, real-life story about how false rumors get started and how ignorant people perptuate them. I went downtown to pick get some gas and a cup of coffee at the local convenience store. A couple of my friends were waiting in line to pay. Knowing that I'm a top-notch journalist here in Hermann, they were eager to tell me their latest gossip:

Margaret: Lois, you can't believe what I heard this morning!

Me: What's that, Margaret?

Margaret: I heard that a former county commissioner came into the commission meeting this morning. He had no particular official business to discuss in the meeting. He just wanted to inquire about a "rumor" he had heard.

Joyce: Wait till you hear this story, Lois! I'm sorry for interrupting, Margaret! Please tell Lois the rest of the story.

Margaret: This is funny as hell! All the local press members were present. They were all poised to snap photos. Even Dave Marner from the Gasconade County Republican had driven up here to Hermann for the meeting. That's unusual for Marner. He doesn't attend the meetings here in Hermann very regularly.

Me: Yes, I know that. He only comes when he's been tipped off about a big controversy and when an ambush has been planned. Oooops! I'd better not say anything further!

Margaret: That's what I've heard!

Joyce: Me too!

Margaret: Well, the former commissioner asked one of the current commissioners whether the rumor about him drawing unemployment benefits was in fact true.

Lois: I think I get the picture! I'm sure I can guess the name of the former commissioner and the name of the current commissioner to whom he was addressing his question! Ha ha ha!

Margaret: The commissioner who was being grilled answered that he was not currently drawing unemployment benefits.

Me: Go on, Margaret! Then what happened?

Margaret: Well, at that point, another commissioner jumped into the obviously pre-arranged interrogation of his colleague. "I thought you told me that you were drawing benefits, just a week or so ago?!"

Me: What did the poor embattled accused say in response? Why didn't the Presiding Commissioner step in to stop this petty nonsense?!

Margaret: He said "You must be confused. I didn't say that." The Presiding Commissioner seemed impotent to redirect the meeting back to more constructive topics of legitimate county business.

Me: Then what?

Margaret: Well, the two eager inquistors looked dumbfounded and they dropped their line of questioning. Marner snapped a few photos, and the members of the press who had been summoned for the planned ambush scribbled down their stories.

Me: Oh boy! More drama at the county commission meeting, eh!? Don't suppose any real business was actually conducted, was there? Did they discuss the planning for the construction of the much needed new emergency courthouse access road? Did they discuss the county's budget problems? Did they disuss their inadequate financial accounting systems and purchasing procedures? Did Jerry give a report on what he, the Gasconade County IDA and GVEZ are doing about the county's 10.1% unemployment rate?

Margaret: Don't know? The person who told us this story didn't say anything about any real couny business getting done.

Joyce: I guess we should standby to read all about the false rumor which was brought into the county meeting by a former commissioner who had obviously conspired with others in an attempt to somehow publicly embarrass a current commissioner. Standby to see how CNL and the Gasconade County Republican report this false rumor. Reckon they'll cover this little flair up OR will they cover the real business of the county that DIDN'T get done?! Do you think the County Clerk will be so irresponsible as to actually issue official meeting minutes which include this false rumor? If she does, she will be guilty of publicly broadcasting a rumor which is false.

Me: You're right Margaret, the real story is the failure of our county commissioners to accomplish anything constructive. They're just playing their pathetic little vindictive political games. Distract the public's attentions from their own failures!

Joyce: Yeah, but false rumors can be very damaging to a person's character and reputation. People who start rumors against others need to be exposed. And those who knowingly repeat false rumors should be exposed. 'Hope you write an article exposing these individuals!

Me: I don't know. We're very busy. I'll have to check with my Editor.

Reciprocal Links: http://www.DSchaefer.Vemma.com (Nutrition For A Lifetime), http://www.Heart2HeartLyrics.blogspot.com (Song Lyrics Seeking Singer-Songwriters), http://www.HermannMoNews.blogspot.com (The 'Drudge Report' of Hermann), http://www.RivertownRecipes.blogspot.com (Great Local Recipes)

Other Recommended Links: http://www.AccuWeather.com (Weather Forecasts), http://www.DorasSpinningWheel.com (Embroidery), http://www.HermannAdvertiserCourier.com (Gasconade County's Newspaper of Record), http://www.MUTigers.com (Official Website of the Missouri Tigers), http://www.RushLimbaugh.com (Conservative Talk), http://www.Time4Pie.com (Great Pie, Coffee & Conversation), http://www.ToedtmannGrosse.com (Obituaries), http://www.WatkinsOnline.com (Watkins Natural Products)

Quote Of The Day - Thursday, 1/27/2011

Published by Lois Lame, Assistant Editor

Date: 1/27/2011
Post: 1,567

"It's a recession when your neighbor loses his job; it's a depression when you lose your own." ~ Harry S. Truman

Reciprocal Links: http://www.DSchaefer.Vemma.com (Nutrition For A Lifetime), http://www.Heart2HeartLyrics.blogspot.com (Song Lyrics Seeking Singer-Songwriters), http://www.HermannMoNews.blogspot.com (The 'Drudge Report' of Hermann), http://www.RivertownRecipes.blogspot.com (Great Local Recipes)

Other Recommended Links: http://www.AccuWeather.com (Weather Forecasts), http://www.DorasSpinningWheel.com (Embroidery), http://www.HermannAdvertiserCourier.com (Gasconade County's Newspaper of Record), http://www.MUTigers.com (Official Website of the Missouri Tigers), http://www.RushLimbaugh.com (Conservative Talk), http://www.Time4Pie.com (Great Pie, Coffee & Conversation), http://www.ToedtmannGrosse.com (Obituaries), http://www.WatkinsOnline.com (Watkins Natural Products)

Bible Verse Of The Day - Thursday, 1/27/2011

Published by Lois Lame, Assistant Editor

Date: 1/27/2011
Post: 1,566

Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. – James 5:17-18

James brings a profound insight about prayer. Notice that Elijah is identified as a man like us. We often place our attention on the person who is praying, but this Scripture puts the emphasis on the fact that he prayed. In other words, we may think that it was Elijah that made the prayer powerful, but what if prayer was the force that made Elijah powerful? How much power do you think is in prayer? It can turn people like us into people like Elijah! Pray and watch what God will do!

Today’s commentary by Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, GraceNYC.org.
Reciprocal Links: http://www.DSchaefer.Vemma.com (Nutrition For A Lifetime), http://www.Heart2HeartLyrics.blogspot.com (Song Lyrics Seeking Singer-Songwriters), http://www.HermannMoNews.blogspot.com (The 'Drudge Report' of Hermann), http://www.RivertownRecipes.blogspot.com (Great Local Recipes)

Other Recommended Links: http://www.AccuWeather.com (Weather Forecasts), http://www.DorasSpinningWheel.com (Embroidery), http://www.HermannAdvertiserCourier.com (Gasconade County's Newspaper of Record), http://www.MUTigers.com (Official Website of the Missouri Tigers), http://www.RushLimbaugh.com (Conservative Talk), http://www.Time4Pie.com (Great Pie, Coffee & Conversation), http://www.ToedtmannGrosse.com (Obituaries), http://www.WatkinsOnline.com (Watkins Natural Products)

Gasconade County Unemployment Rate Back Up To 10.1%

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

Date: 1/27/2011
Post: 1,565

According to research just completed by Poor Richard of HermannMoNews, the unemployment rate in Gasconade County is back up to 10.1% as of December, 2010. During the past year unemployment has ranged from a low of 9.2% during three months of the year to a high of 12.1% last January. The unemployment rate in Gasconade County has been and currently is unacceptably high. As of December, we have at least 747 of our friends and neighbors who are unemployed and collecting benefits and that is 747 too many! (The actual number of unemployed and "underemployed" is a much larger number, probably 1,000 to 1,500.) We need one or two large manufacturing plant or perhaps five or six medium size manufacturing plants to move into Gasconade County.

At the December 27th Gasconade County Commission Meeting, Southern District Associate Commissioner Jerry D. Lairmore made extemporaneous and I believe thoughtless remarks suggesting that the struggling unemployed themselves are to blame for the scarcity of good jobs in our county. (See official county commission meeting minutes of 12/27/2011 as printed in The Hermann Advertiser-Courier.) I thought these were particularly callous and insensitive remarks for Mr. Lairmore to make, and so I decided to investigate the subject of unemployment in our county.

Among many discoveries, I found that Commissoner Lairmore sits on the board of directors of the Gasconade County IDA (Industrial Development Authority) and on the board of directors of GVEZ (Gasconade Valley Enterprise Zone). To learn more about the Gasconade County IDA click on IDA . To learn more about the purpose and mission of GVEZ click on GVEZ .

Commissioner Lairmore, along with other board members with whom he serves on these two groups, is tasked with attracting business and industry, and along with them, good-paying jobs into our county. But what has Lairmore and the other board members actually accomplished in this regard. Very little in my assessment!

Click here to read Poor Richard's report on Gasconade County unemployment rates and the remarks made by Commissioner Lairmore at the 12/27/2010 Gasconade County Commission Meeting.

Commissioner Lairmore, I'd say that you should stop pointing your condescending finger of blame at our struggling unemployed. We have unemployed all over this vast country of ours. Instead, get to work developing strategies and tactics for attracting good-paying jobs to our fair county! There is no doubt it won't be easy. But with vision, imagination and leadership, we should be able to attract business and manufacturing. And if you and your colleagues aren't up to the task, please quit pretending that you are doing something by attending board meetings, drinking coffee and talking about the problem. Please step aside and let others fill your positions.

Stay tuned for further reports about Gasconade County unemployment, the Gasconade County IDA, GVEZ and related topics.