"End Of An Era" ..... From The Night Desk - 1/7/2010

Published by Jimmy Oldsun, Staff Reporter

A grand era of online news reporting came to a sad but unceremonious close today as the Hermann Muenster sign was taken down and the new Hermann News sign was hoisted into its place at 406 South Market Street in Hermann.  Apparently, Hermann News will continue to operate in the news offices once occupied by Hermann Muenster staff.

It's not clear whether or not litigation between the previous co-owners of Hermann Muenster will follow.  One of the co-owners of Hermann Muenster has intimated publicly that litigation is a possibility.  Hermann Hearsay will monitor court filings and report to you if any action is initiated by either party.

Jeff Noedel's new CountyNewsLIVE.com started up earlier this week amidst the fanfare of friends and supporters.  Noedel was a co-owner of Hermann Muenster.  Mr. Noedel and his ever-present, camera-totin' side-kick, MU Journalism School grad, Alex Luft, will be holding their Grand Opening tomorrow afternoon at their new office location on West 5th Street.

Hermann Hearsay wishes HermannNews.com, CountyNewsLIVE.com and the venerable Hermann Advertiser-Courier newspaper all the best!  My goodness!  With all this high-powered local news coverage, Hermann residents are going to know about every little fender-bender, every feral cat running loose within the city limits, every controvery in the halls of both city and county government, and every indiscrete or promiscuous action of their neighbor!

Jimmy Oldsun
Staff Reporter
Hermann Hearsay Night Desk

Is the GCCS still "operational"?

Published by Clark Kant, Editor In Chief

I was just wondering ..... Is the GCCS (Gasconade County Courthouse Society) still "operational"?  Does anyone happen to know what is or is not going on?

I paid my $10 membership fee and attended the first annual meeting of membership at the county courthouse on the evening August 10, 2009.  Since that time I am not aware of any further public meetings of the GCCS.  No meetings of the membership at large and no meetings of the board of directors .... at least none to my knowledge.  But I could be misinformed.

What gives?  Has the GCCS thrown in the towel?  Has the GCCS given up on its once passionate and determined mission to renovate the existing courthouse building and build a county office annex?  And if so, what is the reason?

I will be checking with the GCCS board members to see if anyone would like to make a statement on behalf of the GCCS for the record or would like to provide Hermann Hearsay an exclusive interview.  I don't see anyone else pressing this issue, so Hermann Hearsay may as well ask a few probing questions!

For historical reference and perspective, I am reprinting hereinbelow the GCCS press release dated 8/25/2009.

Clark Kant
Editor In Chief

GCCS Press Release
from Sharon Meyer, GCCS Secretary

The Gasconade County Courthouse Society, (GCCS), held its first annual membership meeting on August 10. Jon Held, the acting chair, called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. with 46 people in attendance that included the Gasconade County Commissioners.

In his opening remarks, Jon Held spoke about the reasons the GCCS was formed by concerned citizens on April 23, 2008 and reiterated the purpose and mission as stated in the By-Laws, which is to acquire monies to restore, retain, preserve, and expand the facilities of the Gasconade County Courthouse in Hermann, Mo., as the county seat in order to meet the current and future needs of county government.

Jon Held recognized Joe Roetheli, who drove in from Kansas City to attend the meeting. Jon recapped how Joe’s extraordinary donation was a huge spark for the Society that gave us the ability to purchase the four lots adjacent to the courthouse, which are critical in achieving our purpose. Jon explained that the four lots held by the GCCS cannot be sold by anyone and must be used for the courthouse by 2012 or they revert back to Mr. Roetheli. Jon then reminded those in attendance that the only body that can make official decisions regarding county property is the County Commission. Jon recognized the Commissioners.

Jon then laid out the challenges for the Society as developing a plan which the citizens support, securing six to eight million in funding, and most importantly working together as a county to accomplish the goal. Then the meeting turned to the agenda items, which included the election of the Board of Directors. Jon explained that the By-Laws had recently been revised so that the Board was increased to thirteen members and includes a representative from each of the County’s nine townships and four members at large. Jon thanked the nominating committee, Muriel Brison, Debbie Weingarth, and Sam Bennett for their work and reported they had volunteers wishing to serve in all but four of the townships. Jon then took nominations from the floor and the GCCS voted on the nominees by ballot. Jon Held is in the process of contacting all of those that were nominated and elected to serve on the GCCS Board of Directors. Out of respect for the nominees, the GCCS will announce the names as soon as everyone has confirmed they will serve.

As Roger Prior, the former County Clerk, and Jon were counting the ballots; Joe Roetheli spoke to the group about the unique treasure the courthouse is for Gasconade County. Joe also remarked that out of over 1,300 counties in the United States, the Gasconade County Courthouse appears to be the only one built entirely with private funds. This demonstrates the entrepreneurial spirit upon which our great country was built. And, this alone makes the Courthouse worth saving. Jon interjected that one other county in Wisconsin was built with private funds. Joe then asked the group to do the math and stated .15% of county courthouses were paid for with private funds. He asked if the citizens realized what a rarity this is and how he would love to find that in a business. Joe stated that this unique fact warrants the protection and restoration of the Courthouse.

During the meeting, the members took care of general items of business. At the end of the meeting, Sharon Meyer, the secretary reported that 27 memberships had been paid for during the evening and $1300 had been collected in dues. Jon Held and Sharon reminded those present to contact their family and friends about becoming members.

Annual membership in the organization is $10 for individuals and $15 for families. Additional information is available at http://www.gccourthouse.com/

The Gasconade County Courthouse Society encourages everyone to join and assist in such a worthy purpose. Together we can succeed!

From The Night Desk Of Jimmy Oldsun - 1/6/2010

Published by Jimmy Oldsun, Staff Reporter on the Night Desk

A credible source who prefers to remain anonymous at this time has told Hermann Hearsay that the owners of a certain well-known business located on Market Street were seen moving office furniture and equipment out of their rented office space on Tuesday evening.  Hermann Hearsay has not been able to confirm this report with an independent second source nor has Hermann Hearsay been able to contact the owners themselves to find out if they are moving to a new location or whether they are just upgrading to newer office furniture and equipment.  That is why we are not reporting the name of the business nor the names of the business owners.  If anyone can shed any further light on this apparent
developing story, please contact our news department as soon as possible.

In an unrelated matter, two ambulance vehicles were called out in the eleven o'clock hour.  Since our owner, T. T. Tiger, is too squeaky tight to buy us a police scanner, I am unable to report anything further on this matter.  I'm sure we will all hear more about it in a coffee shop or convenience store tomorrow morning.  I hope you can wait until then for heavensakes!

On the continuing matter of the stray cats running rampant in Hermann, I can't say that I've seen anything of them as I have driven around town tonight.  I suppose that they may have all died off in the terrible cold last night.  If anyone out there has any stray cats to report, please contact our news department or Alderman John Penning.

Elmer J. Fudd, owner of the recently opened Elmer J. Fudd's Wabbit Stew has asked us to keep our eyes peeled for rabbits.  I didn't see any rabbits tonight, but I did see a grey squirrel running along a power line in the downtown area just before dusk this evening.

If you haven't already taken your patio plants inside yet this winter, it's probably too late.  I'm pretty sure the extreme cold spell has killed all patio potted plants by now.  The Weather Channel says it's 8 degrees Fahrenheit at about 12:30 am, Wednesday morning, but my outside thermometer is reading 10 degrees Fahrenheit.  The flags at the V.F.W. and the German School Museum indicate a very, very slight breeze.

The 2010 Gasconade County Sheriff Calendars are now available.  I've seen them at Time For Pie and the Hermann Advertiser-Courier, both sponsors of this year's calendar.  I don't where you'd go to buy one or get a free one, I'm just reporting that they're out and about.

On a non-local matter, I am anxiously awaiting college football's national championship game this Thursday night between the Texas Longhorns and the Alabama Crimson Tide.  I haven't the foggiest idea how this game might go, but I think it's gonna be a real battle of two great teams.  Bama is favored by 3-1/2 points.

Well, Clark told be to keep these nightly reports crisp and to the point, so I think I'll conclude by reporting that it's a cold night in Hermann and everything throughout the community seems to be buttoned up tighter than a tick!

Signing off from the night desk,

Jimmy Oldsun
Staff Reporter