Gasconade County Financial Condition

Posted by Clark Kant, Editor In Chief

Conversation down at the coffee shop was very lively this morning.  When I arrived, my old coffee-drinkin' buddies, Elmer and Herb, were already there.  The conversation centered on the financial condition of Gasconade County.  Elmer had heard that the county is in very serious financial trouble, but Herb said it wasn't really so.  They asked me my opinion, and I said that I didn't really know for sure.  I told 'em that I was waitin' to read a full report in the County Commission Meeting Minutes that the Hermann A-C always carries.  I told 'em that I was sure the County Commissioners would be managing the county's budget very closely.  Afterall, I told them, the concern about the county's finances had been raised way back in July.  The County Clerk had urged the Commissioners to address the problem back then.  Surely, I told Elmer and Herb, our county officials have been cutting out unnecessary expenses all along and allocating county money according to the highest county priorities.

About that time our waitress, Sarah, approached the table to refill our coffee cups.  "Well good morning, Sarah!"  I said.  "Have you heard anything about the county's financial condition?"

"Well, I've just overheard people talkin' about it here in the coffee shop."  Sarah responded.  "Seems we don't have money to properly clean and maintain the courthouse, nor to pay the utility bills, nor to even pay the bills for housing prisoners up at the Montgomery County Jail." 

"Is that so?!" I exclaimed.  "So what's the County Commission gonna do about all this?"

Sarah said she didn't know.

I guess we'll just have to wait and read all about it in the County Commission Meeting Minutes.  Or maybe we could attend the weekly meetings of the County Commission.  I understand the meetings are held every Thursday morning at 8:30 am.

If anyone has information on this subject, please drop us a line here at Hermann Hearsay.

Wooly Worm Forecasts Harsh Winter Ahead?

Posted by Clark Kant, Editor In Chief

This morning while out for walk in the neighborhood, I came across a cute lil' wooly worm making his way slowly across the street. I noted that this particular wooly worm was very dark in color ..... nearly black.

Now I've always heard that dark wooly worms are a good predictor of a deep and harsh winter ahead. At least that's what my grandparents and parents always told me.

I wanted to confirm this with my good buddies, Elmer and Herb, down at the coffee shop. But I got a mixed interpretation from them.

Elmer said that indeed black wooly worms forecast a bitter winter ahead. But Herb said that the wooly worm fable is just a bunch of malarky.

So I thought I'd open up the question to 'Hermann Hearsay' readers. What do you think? Should I buy some new red flannel long underwear and a snow shovel .... OR should I just stop worrying about what might lay immediately ahead?