Man On The Street Interview - 8/17/2010

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

Date:  8/17/2010

As of 10:27 a.m. on Tuesday when I last checked, there is still no "disposition" on the recount case, "Larry Miskel v. Ronald Jost" (at least not according to Case.net).  Now, my ol' buddy "A. Nonymous" has stopped by to say that there is a ruling, but I haven't been able to confirm that with any "official" source.  "A. Nonymous" didn't say where he got his "inside information".  I checked Case.net once again at 10:41 a.m.  Case still "not disposed" per Case.net.  Perhaps "A. Nonymous" can tell us where he/she sources his/her information.  Can you help us out "A. Nonymous"?

We wondered what the people of Hermann might be thinking about this case.  So we decided to conduct another one of our "Man On The Street Interviews".  We caught up with Jethro Bodine, one our Premium Subcribers.  Jethro was having a cup of coffee at Hardee's before heading out on the river to do some fishing.  Jethro had a little time and was happy to talk with me.

Dick:  Thanks for your time, Jethro!
Jethro:  No problem!
Dick:  I won't keep you long, Jethro.  I was just wondering what you think about this vote recount case and when you think the judge will render his decision on it.
Jethro:  Well, I'm glad the judge is taking the time to carefully consider the facts of the case inlight of Missouri election law and established case law.  He seems like a real thorough judge!
Dick:  How do you think the judge will rule?
Jethro:  Boy, that's hard to say!  I just don't know Missouri election law that well.  I think the judge will rule according to the law.
Dick:  How do you see it, Jethro?
Jethro:  Since the margin of Ron Jost's win is only 16 votes out of the 2788 total votes cast or < 1% of the votes cast for Presiding Commissioner, I think it is reasonable to conduct a manual recount ...... either of partial votes agreed to by the parties or of all votes if the parties cannot agree on a partial vote recount.  Either way, Larry Miskel who is contesting the vote will have to pay.  No cost to the taxpayers.  This being the case, we should manually recount the vote in order to give greater assurance to voters that Jost is really the winner assuming that is borne out by the manual recount.  If it turns out that the manual recound shows Miskel to be the winner, then there will no longer be any questions about machine error or loss of votes in any of the precincts.  The manual recount will eliminate any further debate or lingering questions on the subject!
Dick:  You're saying it's important for voters to have assurance that the right man has won the election fair and square without any lingering doubt?
Jethro:  That's what I'm sayin'!
Dick:  Well, thank you for your time this morning, Jethro!  Good luck with your fishin' today!

Man On The Street Interview #3, Part A - Status of Courthouse Project

Published by Jimmy Oldsun, NDRIRSRWRAFTC & Editor

I caught up with Barry Schmelly of Hermann this morning in the parking lot at the Gasconade County Courthouse.  I asked Barry if he would consent to an interview on the subject of the status of the courthouse restoration project and expansion of county offices.  Barry generously consented to the interview.

Jimmy:  "Barry, I know you are busy, so I will try to keep this interview brief.  Thanks for your time!  You don't mind if I use this digital recording device to record our conversation, do you?"

Barry:  "No, I don't mind.  That's quite alright Jimmy!  Happy to address any questions you might have!  I do have to meet someone in about 20 minutes however."

Jimmy:  "As you know, we have been at a virtual standstill with regard to the courthouse restoration project and county office expansion project since the November election in 2008.  There was a great flurry of activity and discussion leading up to the election.  But after Prop. A (the ballot proposition to move the Gasconade County seat) failed to get the required votes to pass, we have seen very little if any activity or discussion.  What do you make of that?"

Barry:  "Well Jimmy, I'm real glad you asked!  I personally see a vacuum in county leadership at both the county government level and the business community level.  No group or individual seems willing to put forth the effort and step forward to move the "ball down the field".  The Presiding Commissioner of Gasconade County (Ron Jost) and the Associate Commissioner of the Southern District (Jerry Lairmore) appear to be stone-walling and dragging their feet on this project.  I don't know if their stone-walling and foot-dragging are intentional or if they are just plain incompetent!  Oh, they have plenty of excuses which they are quick to provide, but none of their excuses are legitimate.  They say they haven't seen the money for the project and they haven't seen a plan.  They say that now is not the time to move forward due to the economic recession and the political division within the county.  When reminded that it is their jobs as leaders of the county to find the money, develop the final scope of the project, and provide the leadership needed to bring citizens of the county together to back a solid plan, they seem dumbfounded and much offended.  The Associate Commissioner of the Northern District (Matt Penning) has tried to influence Jost and Lairmore on this issue on numerous occasions, but he is always overruled by a vote of 2-1, even on minor matters of clean-up and maintenance.  The GCCS and the Hermann Chamber of Commerce, two groups of business "leaders" and community "leaders", have acquiesced.  Seemly they have cowered, deferred to Messrs. Jost and Lairmore, and backed off from them.  For whatever reasons, these groups and the individuals who lead them have apparently decided NOT to push for progress in the county."

Jimmy:  "Wow!  You're certainly NOT pulling any punches there, Barry!"

Barry:  "No I'm not!  Frankly Jimmy, I'm fed up with Ron Jost, Jerry Lairmore, the GCCS, and the
Hermann Chamber of Commerce.  Ron Jost needs to be defeated this November.  I'm sure Larry Miskell, his Republican Primary opponent, will do a much better job.  I plan to do everything I can to support Mr. Miskell prior to the Primary Election.  I wish we could kick Lairmore out of office this November, but that will have to wait until November of 2012."

Jimmy:  "What, in your opinion, needs to be done to get the courthouse project back on track, Barry?"

Barry:  "Number 1 - Someone within the GCCS needs to step forward and reconstitute the group.  Jon Held, President of the GCCS, announced that he was throwing in the towel several months ago at a special Chamber of Commerce meeting at Hermann Hill.  Fine!  We accept your resignation, Jon!  Now, who wants to step forward and LEAD?!  Number 2 - Remove one the primary barriers to progress from his key seat in county government.  Vote Ron Jost out of office in the Primary Election or if not then, in the November General Election.  Number 3 - After Number 1 and Number 2 have been accomplished, organize an influential leadership group within the county to sit down with Southern District Associate Commissioner, Jerry Lairmore, and explain to him 'just how the cow ate the cabbage'.  Explain to him that the Game of Intimidation, Stone-Walling and Obstruction is OVER."

Jimmy:  "Wow, Barry!  You sure are blunt!"

Barry:  "You damned right I'm blunt, Jimmy!  Tell me, Jimmy, have you seen anything getting done while we've been pussy-footin' around with those who are obstructing progress on the courthouse project?"

Jimmy:  "Well, I suppose not Barry.  I haven't seen any measureable progress to speak of."

Barry:  "That's my point!  You won't see any progress either, not until we get completely NEW leadership!"

Jimmy:  "Look, Barry, I've kept you long enough.  I was wondering if we could set up a follow-up interview when you have more time?"

Barry:  "That would be fine, Jimmy.  Just give me a call, and we'll set up another date and time."

Jimmy:  "Super!  I'll be in touch.  Have a great day, Barry!  Oh, and Happy Cinco de Mayo!"

Note to readers:  I've set up the follow-up interview with Mr. Schmelly, and we've scheduled it for this Friday, May 7th.  Please look for that interview to be posted by Friday evening.

Jimmy Oldsun
NDRIRSRWRAFTC & Editor
http://www.hermannhearsay.blogspot.com/

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Man On The Street Interview - Hermann, MO

Published by Clark Kant, Editor In Chief

After spending almost a week trying to get our live webcam back up and running, we have given up!  I have terminated our incompetent technical crew!  I had planned to install a small webcam at every street corner and at the entrance to every bar in Hermann.  I thought it might be a fun thing to do.  But the technical execution of our strategy has become prohibitively expensive!  We will leave this webcam thing to other better capitalized media outlets in Hermann.

Instead of installing live webcams all over Hermann, we will now focus our efforts where others are not currently focusing ....... man (and woman) on the street interviews.  Yep, I thought it might be cool to interview unsuspecting people out on the streets of Hermann.  You know, kinda blind side 'em and get 'em to say somethin' goofy ...... like that Jay Leno fella does on TV.

Our first man on the street interview occurred at about 8:30 am this morning.  I caught Alfred E. Newman exiting Time For Pie, one of Hermann's premier pie and coffee shops.  Time For Pie is located at the corner of 4th and Schiller Streets.  I highly recommend their pie and coffee drinks!

My interview of Mr. Newman went something like this:

Clark Kant:  "Good morning!  I'm Clark Kant from Hermann Hearsay.  I was wondering if I could talk with you for a few minutes.  Would that be OK?"

A. E. Newman:  "Well, I reckon that'd be OK.  You say you're with Hermann Hearsay?  Just what the heck is Hermann Hearsay?  Never heard of it!"

Clark Kant:  "Hermann Hearsay is an online source of cool information about Hermann.  We cover some areas that the major media in Hermann just don't bother to cover.  By the way, I forgot to ask you your name."

A. E. Newman:  "Mr. Kant, may I call you Clark?"

Clark Kant:  "Sure, by all means, call me Clark?  And what is your name, sir?"

A. E. Newman:  "I'm A. E. Newman from Bland.  You can just call me Alfred."

Clark Kant:  "Well Alfred, what are you doing all the way up here in Hermann this morning?"

A. E. Newman:  "Oh, I'm just passing through on my way up to Columbia.  I've got some business up there today.  In fact, I need to get on the road pretty darned soon.  I can only give you 5 minutes."

Clark Kant:  "Five minutes will be just fine, Alfred!  Tell me, what is your business, Alfred?"

A. E. Newman:  "Oh, I sell prime cut beef to a few of the top steak houses in Columbia."

Clark Kant:  "Cool!  But you just don't strike me as the typical salesman type, Alfred."

A. E. Newman:  "Oh, and just how is that, Clark?"

Clark Kant:  "Well, first of all, you just don't dress the part.  I mean look at your scuffed, unpolished shoes.  And look at your wrinkled slacks.  And look at your rumpled sports jacket.  And your sloppily tied necktie."

A. E. Newman:  "Lordy, Clark!  We just met, and you're already criticizin' the hell out of me!  Maybe we should just terminate this interview!"

Clark Kant:  "Oooops!  I didn't mean to offend you, Alfred.  By the way, I think you spilled some coffee on your dingy white shirt.  You may want to clean that off before you call on your first client."

A. E. Newman:  "You can just kiss my ass, Clark!  I'm out of here!  Good luck with your stupid 'Man On The Street' interviews!"

As you can see, my first 'Man On The Street' interview didn't go real well.  Maybe I can get Jimmy or Lois to do these things!

Clark Kant
Editor In Chief