Editorial Comment: "Spring Thaw Central"

Published by Jimmy Oldsun, Editor

Date:  2/6/2011
Post:  1.663

We don't like being last!  We don't even like being second place!  We want to be #1 in everything we do!

That's why I pulled our staff together yesterday to discuss our coverage of recent winter storms and especially this past week's blizzard.  Another online "news" outfit has layed claim to the title of  "Snow Central" ..... and ya know what?  Maybe they are right!  Maybe we didn't put forth enough effort to claim that mantle!  Afterall, we didn't recommend the best snow route to Berger, we didn't cover school closings with a posting for each and every school in the area, and we didn't organize a cadre of young snow shovelers and then dispatch them as a public service to clean the driveways and walkways of the elderly.  In too many ways, we were remiss in our duty to cover our recent snow events.

However, we have now taken stock of our shortcomings.  We have discussed all the things we could have done .... and should have done.  We have searched our souls and resolved to do better in the future.

My staff members and I have resolved that we want to become known as "Spring Thaw Central" here at Hermann Hearsay.  In the pursuit of that lofty objective, we have put together a comprehensive 
action plan.  We have decided to split up responsibilities as follows;

Jimmy Oldsun - Announcements, shameless self-promotion and overall coordination of the program.
Lois Lame - Organizing and dispatching young people to wash the cinders and salt off the vehicles of Hermann's senior citizens.
Dick Schaefer - Organizing and dispatching unemployed volunteers to sweep and wash the driveways and walkways of Hermann's senior citizens.  What is Southern District Associate Commissioner Jerry Lairmore doing for our unemployed?!
Frank Furter - Weather reporting, flood patrol, high-water reporting and road advisories (including an advisory on the safest route to Berger during heavy flood conditions). 
Clark Kant - Special reports regarding the availability of bird feeders, garden tools, spring flowers, lawn fertilizers and lawn mowers at Hermann's stores.

Hermann Hearsay is indeed "Spring Thaw Central"!

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)

Editorial Comment: Open Letter to "Ralphie Boy"

Published by Jimmy Oldsun, Editor

Ralph and Alice Kramden
"The Honeymooners"
"Hey there, Ralphie Boy!  Why are you always
so frustrated and angry?!"

Date:  2/4/2011
Post:  1,649

Dear "Ralphie Boy" a.k.a. "Joe Citizen" a.k.a. "Little Joey" a.k.a. "Madman" a.k.a. "A. Nonymous" or whoever you really are:

We are in receipt of your most recent vitriolic and threatening communique.  We find it to be a boorish 
repetition of your angry, malicious, unsubstantiated, unproven accusations against an honest man in our community who carries more integrity in his little toe than you carry in your big fat skull.

You have sent us a total of eight (8) such comments now.  None of them have been fit to publish.  Why you think Hermann Hearsay will publish your lies, half-truths and innuendos without persuasive corroborating evidence is beyond my ability to comprehend!

Give it up, "Ralphie Boy"!  Take your lies, half-truths and innuendos elsewhere.  We are not interested in the obsessive-compulsive rantings of a lunatic!  Your comment(s) will not be published here.  We are ignoring you and your false accusations completely.  Maybe you can get your buddy "Ed Norton" to send us the next comment!

Jimmy Oldsun
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)

Editorial Comment: Hermann Hearsay Endorses Jerry Spurgeon for Presiding Commissioner

Published by Jimmy Oldsun, NDRIRSRWRAFTC & Editor

Date:  11/1/2010
Post:  988

Hermann Hearsay is announcing our endorsement of Jerry Spurgeon (D) for Presiding Commissioner of Gasconade County.  Earlier this year, we had endorsed Larry Miskel (R) in the Republican primary, but Miskel was narrowly defeated (16 votes) by incumbent Ron Jost (R).

It is essential that we have new leaders for Gasconade County.  Replacing incumbents Jost (Presiding Commissioner) and Lietzow (County Clerk) will represent a good beginning toward that end.

Hermann Hearsay endorsed Sharon Meyer (D) for County Clerk several months ago.  The County Clerk is the "chief financial officer" in the county.  From the looks of Gasconade County's 2010 state audit reports, we desperately need a new County Clerk!

$45,046.24 is a lot of money!

Published by Jimmy Oldsun, NDRIRSRWRAFTC & Editor

Date:  9/13/2010

$45,046.24 is a WHOLE lot of money!  If Hermann Hearsay had $45,046.24, we could purchase the following:

• 1 - Ford F150 Platinum 4-wheel drive pickup (Hermann Ford) - $38,000.00
• 1 - Fancy paint job with Hermann Hearsay 'Herkimer' logo - $2,000.00
• 1 - Year supply of gasoline for new pickup - $2,000.00
• 3 - Gateway notebook computers w/ cases (Granneman's Radio Shack) - $2,000.00
• 3 - Nikon Coolpix L22 digital cameras (Granneman's Radio Shack) - $500.00
• 1 - Mr. Coffee coffee brewer (ALCO) - $50.00
• 1 - Year supply of premium coffee (The Kaffee Haus) - $450.00
• Miscellaneous office supplies and hard candy (ALCO) - $46.24

Editorial Comment: "Gangsta Hanksta" gets it wrong once again!

Published by Jimmy Oldsun, NDRIRSRWRAFTC & Editor

Date:  8/29/2010

Political pundit and provocateur "Gangsta Hanksta" has it ALL figured out!  Just ask him!  He recently proclaimed the reasons for Ron Jost's narrow victory over Larry Miskel for Republican nominee for the office of Gasconade County Presiding Commissioner.  As is so often the case, "Old Hank" is wrong again.

My take on the results of the August 3rd election differs from Hank's.  I say this:

• Jost won by 16 votes (maybe).  16 votes out of a total of 2788 votes cast ..... a slight margin of only 0.57%.   Nothing much there to crow about!  And what would a 100% manual recount of all votes cast have yielded?  We will never know.  Yet, "Old Hank" seems to be crowing anyway!
• Jost won because of the low voter turnout of approximately 30% county-wide.  I don't understand the voter indifference!  If the voters couldn't get excited about the race for Presiding Commissioner, I don't know what they can get excited about!
• Matt Penning's interview with HermannNEWS.com had little if anything to do with the election results. The Penning video interview by HermannNEWS.com reporter Anna Wiegenstein was posted on August 2nd (one day prior to the election) and remained posted on HermannNEWS.com for ONLY one day.  The last I remember it had only been viewed by just a handful of readers prior to election day.  Today (8/29) the three-part interview remains posted at YouTube.com.  The YouTube view counts are as follows:  Part 1 - 179 views, Part 2 - 129 views, and Part 3 - 99 views.  Nice try "Hanksta", but I seriously doubt whether Penning's video-taped interview factored into the election results one way or the other.  I only regret that the three-part video-taped interview wasn't posted on HermannNEWS.com a couple weeks earlier when it was originally recorded.
• This was Larry Miskel's first run for a county-wide office.  He ran against a two-term incumbent. IF Miskel runs again, he will win!  IF he and those of us who supported him had campaigned just a little bit harder, he would have won this time!

Editorial Comment - We don't threaten our readers and subscribers!

Published by Jimmy Oldsun, NDRIRSRWRAFTC & Editor

Date:  8/9/2010

During the course of just the past two days, another local online "news" service has threatened their readers and subscribers NOT to:

1. copy articles and photos (8/9), nor
2. transfer subscriber account privileges (8/7).

Ha ha ha!  Can you believe it?!  Well, we surely can't!

Loyal readers and subscribers of Hermann Hearsay, please be advised of the following:

1. We will never threaten you for ANY reason!  You are our friends and loyal subscribers!  IF we were to threaten you, we suspect you wouldn't be our friends and loyal subscribers for very long!  Threatening people (especially customers) is downright stupid!
2. You may copy and share any Hermann Hearsay article or photo you want!  In fact, we encourage it!  Copy all of them you wish!  We want as many people as possible to know about us!  (Special offer:  Make 100 copies of any Hermann Hearsay article you want and distribute the copies to friends and relatives.  Provide us proof of your copying and/or mailing expenses, and we will give you a one-year Premium Subscription complete with a premium quality Hermann Hearsay logo golf cap!)
3. You don't have to worry about transferring your subscriber account privileges to friends and relatives since our basic subscriber account package is FREE!  Everyone can be a Hermann Hearsay subsriber FREE OF CHARGE!  Heck, we even have a computer literate cat ('Tator_Tot') who is a loyal subscriber!

Editorial Comment: Reflections About A Week Gone By

Published by Jimmy Oldsun, NDRIRSRWRAFTC & Editor

Normally I don't work on Sundays.  Sunday is the Lord's Day ..... a day of rest!

But today I am moved to speak out about a few things that have been bothering me this past week. 

Have you noticed that increasingly things seem to be upside down, topsy turvy?  Up is down, down is up.  Black is white and white is black.  Have you noticed that actions and behaviors which are evil and shameful are too often overlooked or brushed aside instead of being confronted head on while other actions and efforts to expose the truth are attacked?  Have you ever noticed that actions and behaviors which are righteously indignant (and understandably so) are "misunderstood" and criticized as mean and "nasty"?  Have you ever noticed how so many people rally around, protect and even support people who should not be protected and supported while so many people seem to abandon those who should be protected and supported?

• On Thursday, 7/22, Jerry Lairmore,an elected official of Gasconade County called his colleague, Matt Penning, another elected official of Gasconade County, a "lieing son-of-a-bitch" during an official county meeting which was attended by three county employees. 
• Previously, when out of earshot of other people, this same elected official (Jerry Lairmore) has called the same colleague (Matt Penning) a "dickhead", apparently attempting to goad him into a physical confrontation.
• On Thursday, 7/29, the elected public official who was called a "lieing son-of-a-bitch" on 7/22 (i.e. Matt Penning) confonted his colleague (Jerry Lairmore) during the County Commission meeting at the courthouse.  No apology was offered by he who has a very foul mouth and is very disrespectful of others.  Instead, Jerry Lairmore stood by his comments from the previous week.
• During this same meeting on Thursday, 7/29, John Penning, the elderly father of the elected public official who was called a "lieing son-of-a-bitch" waited patiently until the public portion of the County Commission meeting to confront the foul-mouthed, elected public official (Jerry Lairmore) and ask that he apologize publicly to the Penning family.  Again, the foul-mouthed, disrespectful elected public official (Lairmore) refused to do so. 
• During this same meeting, Ron Jost, the Presiding Commissioner of Gasconade County threw John Penning out of the meeting and said nothing to the foul-mouthed elected public official who called his colleague a "lieing son-of-a-bitch" during a county meeting the week before.  No reprimand of the foul-mouthed, disrespectful elected public official was handed down by the Presiding Commissioner.  The subject was immediately dropped when Presiding Commissioner Jost abruptly adjourned the meeting.
• Twenty-two minutes later (nearly as fast as a speeding bullet) and in his apparent zeal to slam the two Pennings, Jeff Noedel, publisher of CountyNewsLIVE.com, published a report on the County Commission meeting in which he focused on the storyline of John Penning's ejection from the County Commission meeting and Matt Penning's supposed "controversial role" on the County Commission over the county's tire purchasng program RATHER than Jerry Lairmore's foul mouth and disrespectful treatment of his colleague, Matt Penning.  Why?  In this article, Noedel would have you believe that BLACK is WHITE and that WHITE is BLACK.  Why?  In this article, Noedel quickly glosses over Lairmore's foul mouth and disrespectful treatment of Penning.  Why?
• Like flies drawn to a rotting fish, CNL commenters quickly pile on with negative comments about John Penning and Matt Penning  Out of eleven comments received (as of today, 8/1), only one commenter, Myron Harris, has questioned why Noedel's account of the Commission Meeting is not more fair and balanced.  Some of the criticism of the Pennings comes from as far off as Shanghai.  Quite remarkably, this person, a half a world away, seems to hang on every word published by Noedel.  She is quite persuaded by Noedel that the Pennings are the villains in everything..  Other than a general criticism of  Noedel's "journalistic" bias, not one single soul has had the moral courage to come forward to condemn Jerry Lairmore, the foul-mouthed, county bully who created all the disturbance in the first place!  No one has yet to observe and comment on Noedel's CNL that Ron Jost should have reprimanded Jerry Lairmore for his unprofessional behavior during the 7/22 Road Department meeting.  Why are Jerry Lairmore and Ron Jost always being "protected" by Jeff Noedel?  What's their connection?

So, I ask you ..... Is the world upside down?  Are things topsy turvy?  An elected county official bullies and curses his colleague in an open meeting attended by county employees, and he is not stopped or confronted by the leader of the meeting.  The foul-mouthed bully is asked to apologize to his colleague, but having no common decency, refuses to do so.  There is no official reprimand of the foul-mouthed bully by the titular "leader" of the county.  The elderly father and an Alderman of the City of Hermann who seeks only to defend the honor of his son and of his wife is thrown out of a county meeting by an angry, intolerant elected public official.  The publisher of a so-called online "news" organization gleefully rushes out to publish a report in which he emphasizes the ejection of the elderly father from the meeting and the so-called "controversial personality" of the elected official who has been cursed at for months by his foul-mouthed, bully colleague rather than emphasizing the unprofessional behavior of the foul-mouthed bully.

Yes, I think the world is completely topsy turvy.

Performance Metrics:

Total # FREE Subscribers: 000,347

Total # Premium Subscribers: 000,029

Total # Ultra Premium Subscribers: 000,004

Total # Platinum Lifetime Subscribers: 000,003

Subscribers Currently Online: 000,104

New Visitors Currently Online: 000,037

Alexa U.S. Traffic Ranking: 126,746

Alexa World Traffic Ranking: 903,792

Total # Subscriber Telethons, Raffles & Bake Sales: 000,000

Total $'s Recv'd From Local Politicians For Promotional Consideration: 000,000

Reciprocal Websites:

www.bergerbaloneywithmayo.blogspot.com/ (Berger News)

www.dschaefer.vemma.com/ (Ultra Premium Nutritional Drinks)

www.heart2heartlyrics.blogspot.com/ (Song Lyrics)

www.hermannhookups.blogspot.com/ (Social Networking)

www.mid-mo-mule-rides.blogspot.com/ (Family Fun)

www.ngnn.com/ (Hermann, New Haven and Owensville NEWS)

www.rivertownrecipes.blogspot.com/ (Food & Drink Recipes)

www.vemmadrinker.blogspot.com/ (Premium Nutritional Drinks)

www.watkinsonline.com/richardhschaefer (Watkins Products)

Non-Reciprocal Websites:

www.dorasspinningwheel.com/ (Embroidered Caps, Shirts, Etc.)

www.hermannadvertisercourier.com/ (The Hermann A-C)

www.hermannchamberofcommerce.com/ (Hermann C of C)

www.timeforpie.com/ (Pie, Rolls, Scones, Coffee, Lattes & More)

Editorial Comment: Hermann Hearsay Traffic Rankings Improving Dramatically Since July 1st

Published by Jimmy Oldsun, NDRIRSRWRAFTC & Editor

During the past month, Hermann Hearsay has experienced a dramatic improvement in our traffic rankings as measured and reported daily by Alexa.com.

On July 1st, our traffic rankings were as follows:

• Alexa U.S. Traffic Ranking:  337,491
• Alexa World Traffic Ranking:  well over 1 million

As of today, 7/28, our traffic rankings are as follows:

• Alexa U.S. Traffic Ranking:  146,071 (improvement of 191,420)
• Alexa World Traffic Ranking:  970,583 (first time under 1 million)

Because our Alexa World Traffic Ranking has dropped under 1 million for the first time , we will begin tracking our World Traffic Ranking along with our U.S. Traffic Ranking on a daily frequency
and report it along with the other 'Performance Metrics' which follow each of our postings.

We are grateful to our many loyal readers and to the new readers we have picked up during the month of July!  Our pledge to you is that we work to continuously improve the quality and accuracy of our content. 

We have decided to keep our daily format the same for the time being.  We will continue to bring you our 'Quote Of The Day', our 'Laugh Of The Day', our 'Photo Of The Day' and one or two news analysis articles or political opinion commentaries.  In the future, we may add a 'Bible Verse Of The Day', a 'Song Of The Day' or a 'This Date In History' column.  We are also considering the addition of daily history education column ....... either 'Missouri History' or 'U.S. Founding Father History'. 

But before we tamper with our current format, we'd like to hear from you.  Afterall, YOU are the customer of our work.  What would you like to read about on Hermann Hearsay?

Performance Metrics:

Total # FREE Subscribers: 000,346

Total # Premium Subscribers: 000,029

Total # Ultra Premium Subscribers: 000,004

Total # Platinum Lifetime Subscribers: 000,003

Subscribers Currently Online: 000,100

New Visitors Currently Online: 000,034

Alexa U.S. Traffic Ranking: 146,071

Alexa World Traffic Ranking: 970,583

Total # Subscriber Telethons, Raffles & Bake Sales: 000,000

Total $'s Recv'd From Local Politicians For Promotional Consideration: 000,000

Reciprocal Websites:

www.bergerbaloneywithmayo.blogspot.com/ (Berger News)

www.dschaefer.vemma.com/ (Ultra Premium Nutritional Drinks)

www.heart2heartlyrics.blogspot.com/ (Song Lyrics)

www.hermannhookups.blogspot.com/ (Social Networking)

www.mid-mo-mule-rides.blogspot.com/ (Family Fun)

www.ngnn.com/ (Hermann, New Haven and Owensville NEWS)

www.rivertownrecipes.blogspot.com/ (Food & Drink Recipes)

www.vemmadrinker.blogspot.com/ (Premium Nutritional Drinks)

www.watkinsonline.com/richardhschaefer (Watkins Products)

Non-Reciprocal Websites:

www.dorasspinningwheel.com/ (Embroidered Caps, Shirts, Etc.)

www.hermannadvertisercourier.com/ (The Hermann A-C)

www.hermannchamberofcommerce.com/ (Hermann C of C)

www.timeforpie.com/ (Pie, Rolls, Scones, Coffee, Lattes & More)

Editorial Comment - On The Horns Of An Editorial Dilemna

Published by Jimmy Oldsun, NDRIRSRWRAFTC & Editor

I don't normally work on a Sunday.  But I'm feeling very conflicted today, and I thought it would do me some good to get a nagging concern off my chest by writing about it.  My dear readers, my dear friends, I could really use some of your best and wisest advice!  I value your opinion!

I've been sitting on a story about the inner workings of our Gasconade County government since this past Friday, 7/23.  I have a story to tell about an incident which occurred during the Road Department Meeting in Drake on Thursday morning, 7/22.  Members of the editorial board here at Hermann Hearsay have been discussing this story since Friday, and we remain split on whether to publish it.  I have discussed the story with Truman T. Tiger, our owner, and also with Clark Kant, our CEO and Senior Managing Editor.  They, too, are conflicted about publishing this potentially explosive story.  When we couldn't reach a consensus, I told them I'd like to take the issue to our readers and ask you what you think.

Here is our dilemna:

On one hand, we have a story which we believe needs to be reported because:

1. it is a true story and actually occurred,
2. it is sourced by a very credible eyewitness,
3. it is very important (in my judgment) for all citizens of the county to know about this story,
4. it involves the County Commissioners, the titular "leaders" of Gasconade County, and
5. it describes their failure to maintain order, decorum and decency during an official county meeting during which county employees were present.

On the other hand, the publication of this potentially explosive story is likely to:

1. cause great embarrassment to two of our County Commissioners,
2. create increased division between and personal animosity among our County Commissioners, and
3. further destroy any possibility that this County Commission as currently comprised will ever be able to work together for the good of the county.

This is the jist of our dilemna.  Journalism is tough work.  It often calls for tough judgments to be made.

In this case, the judgments which need to be made by Hermann Hearsay are these: 

1. In our democracy, does the public's right to know trump any politician's desire to withhold information from the public so as to avoid widespread personal embarrassment? 
2. In our democracy, should the press withhold a story about government from the public if that story is likely to cause even greater disfunction and disorder than already exists within the government?

I invite you into the inner sanctum of the Hermann Hearsay editorial boardroom.  Tell us what you think!  Run with the story OR spike the story?

Performance Metrics:

Total # FREE Subscribers: 000,345

Total # Premium Subscribers: 000,029

Total # Ultra Premium Subscribers: 000,004

Total # Platinum Lifetime Subscribers: 000,003

Subscribers Currently Online: 000,096

New Visitors Currently Online: 000,032

Alexa U.S. Traffic Ranking: 160,304

Total # Subscriber Telethons, Raffles & Bake Sales: 000,000

Reciprocal Websites:

www.bergerbaloneywithmayo.blogspot.com/ (Berger News)

www.dschaefer.vemma.com/ (Ultra Premium Nutritional Drinks)

www.heart2heartlyrics.blogspot.com/ (Song Lyrics)

www.hermannhookups.blogspot.com/ (Social Networking)

www.mid-missouri-mule-rides.blogspot.com/ (Family Fun)

www.ngnn.com/ (Hermann, New Haven and Owensville NEWS)

www.rivertownrecipes.blogspot.com/ (Food & Drink Recipes)

www.vemmadrinker.blogspot.com/ (Premium Nutritional Drinks)

www.watkinsonline.com/richardhschaefer (Watkins Products)

Non-Reciprocal Websites:

www.dorasspinningwheel.com/ (Embroidered Caps, Shirts, Etc.)

www.hermannadvertisercourier.com/ (The Hermann A-C)

www.hermannchamberofcommerce.com/ (Hermann C of C)

www.timeforpie.com/ (Pie, Rolls, Scones, Coffee, Lattes & More)

Editorial Comment: We're Climbing The Charts To The Top!

Published by Jimmy Oldsun, NDRIRSRWRAFTC & Editor

Slowly but surely we're climbing right on up the U.S. and World traffic ranking charts for websites!  According to Alexa.com, we're gaining on CNL which has always claimed to be the #1 local online news site!

The Alexa U.S. traffic rankings for Gasconade County's five most popular local online "news" sites as of Saturday, 7/24/2010, are as follows:

1. CountyNewsLIVE.com U.S. Traffic Ranking .....................  26,700
2. HermannHearsay.blogspot.com U.S. Traffic Ranking ... 160,300
3. Hermann NEWS/ngnn.com U.S. Traffic Ranking ........... 217,968
4. GasconadeCountyRepublican.com U.S. Traffic Rank ... 327,829
5. HermannAdvertiserCourier.com U.S. Traffic Rank ........ no data

The Alexa World traffic rankings for Gasconade County's five most popular local online "news" sites as of Saturday, 7/24/2010, are as follows:

1. CountyNewsLIVE.com World Traffic Rank ...................... 102,199
2. Hermann NEWS/ngnn.com World Traffic Rank ............. 388,138 
3. HermannHearsay.blogspot.com World Traffic Rank .. 1,034,302
4. GasconadeCountyRepublican.com World Rank ........ 1,599,796
5. HermannAdvertiserCourier.com World Traffic Rank .. 4,209,985

Thanks to all of our loyal FREE and Premium Subscribers for helping us close the gaps with competitors in our Alexa U.S. and World Traffic Rankings!  Once again, we are proving that FREE content and HIGH QUALITY content can compete with PAID subscriber sites.  We don't arbitrarily restrict access to our content.  Our content is available FREE to everyone!  But if you want to PAY for some of our fine Hermann Hearsay logo golf apparel, we will happily take your money for our merchandise and you can become one of our Premium Subscribers!

Hermann Hearsay - FREE, FAIR, FUNNY, FLIPPANT, FARCICAL and FANTASTIC!  We're on the move!

Performance Metrics:

Total # FREE Subscribers: 000,345

Total # Premium Subscribers: 000,029

Total # Ultra Premium Subscribers: 000,004

Total # Platinum Lifetime Subscribers: 000,003

Subscribers Currently Online: 000,096

New Visitors Currently Online: 000,032

Alexa U.S. Traffic Ranking: 160,300

Total # Subscriber Telethons, Raffles & Bake Sales: 000,000

Reciprocal Websites:

www.bergerbaloneywithmayo.blogspot.com/ (Berger News)

www.dschaefer.vemma.com/ (Ultra Premium Nutritional Drinks)

www.heart2heartlyrics.blogspot.com/ (Song Lyrics)

www.hermannhookups.blogspot.com/ (Social Networking)

www.mid-missouri-mule-rides.blogspot.com/ (Family Fun)

www.ngnn.com/ (Hermann, New Haven and Owensville NEWS)

www.rivertownrecipes.blogspot.com/ (Food & Drink Recipes)

www.vemmadrinker.blogspot.com/ (Premium Nutritional Drinks)

www.watkinsonline.com/richardhschaefer (Watkins Products)

Non-Reciprocal Websites:

www.dorasspinningwheel.com/ (Embroidered Caps, Shirts, Etc.)

www.hermannadvertisercourier.com/ (The Hermann A-C)

www.hermannchamberofcommerce.com/ (Hermann C of C)

www.timeforpie.com/ (Pie, Rolls, Scones, Coffee, Lattes & More)

Editorial Comment: Competitor Announces Further Restrictions To Reader Access. Hermann Hearsay Responds.

Published by Jimmy Oldsun, NDRIRSRWRAFTC & Editor

Further restrictions to reader access were announced by one of our competitors on Thursday, 7/22, to wit .....

"Starting Monday, about one-third of CNL content will be available to CNL subscribers only. This is a permanent change from the once-a-day to once-every three or four days we've been at since we began with our subscription in January."

In a very aggressive and highly unorthodox move aimed at keeping pace with our cross-town online daily news competitor, the editorial board and ownership of Hermann Hearsay announced, just after the close of the Wall Street financial markets this afternoon, that we too will begin restricting access to our vast worldwide readership.  We didn't want to do this, but CNL has forced our hand!  In our case, we shall forthwith adopt the policy that we will no longer translate our articles into foreign languages.  Our reporters and contributing writers write their articles in English.  If you can't read 'em that way,
tough!  We don't have that many German, French, Spanish and Japanese speaking subscribers anyway!  Do you have any idea what it has been costing us to translate our articles into all these foreign languages?!  And just so we can give them away FREE to a few cheapskate non-English speaking subscribers?!

We think it is quite likely that we are blazing a new trail with our new restrictive access policy!  We may be making journalism history right here in Hermann, MO.  It's a competitve battle within the online daily news industry to see who can be the MOST RESTRICTIVE with access to content without eventually pissing off all their readers!  Yep, we're probably gonna piss off a few Germans, French, Mexicans and Japanese.  But that's just tough!  They can just learn to read English if they wanna know what's going on here in Hermann!  By cutting our costs for translators, we will be able to continue offering 100% of our content FREE to English speaking subscribers!

We are pleased that one-third of the CNL articles will soon be unavailable to us since we are not paid subscribers to their website.  We are relieved that we will have much less work to do correcting and critiquing their articles.  We suspect that it will be a high priority for them to restrict access to the biased, one-sided articles they seem to publish with regard to the affairs of the Gasconade County Commission.  We won't have to spend our valuable time correcting the misinformation and selective reports they tend to spread about the County Commission.  Fortunately fewer people will read the articles they hide from the general public.  We think that's a good thing!

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Editorial Comment: Two Terms More Than Enough For Presiding Commissioner Ron Jost

Published by Jimmy Oldsun, NDRIRSRWRAFTC & Editor

It has become crystal clear to the editorial board of Hermann Hearsay that Gasconade County needs a change in leadership.  Ron Jost has had two terms as the Presiding Commissioner of Gasconade County. In our opinion, that's enough!

We have asked ourselves ... "What has Ron Jost actually accomplished during his two terms as Presiding Commissioner of Gasconade County?"

• Did he provide positive, adult leadership when 'Proposition A' calling for the indefensible change in county seat location was placed on the ballot in November, 2008?  Our assessment is NO he didn't.
• Has he reached out to bring economic development and good paying jobs to Gasconade County? Again, our assessment is NO he hasn't.  Voters need to ask "Why not?"
• Has he worked collaboratively with the GCCS (Gasconade County Courthouse Society) to define project scope for the preservation and restoration of the county courthouse as well as for additional county office space needs?  Our assessment is NO he hasn't.  When asked about the courthouse project, Jost typically responds "Where's the money?  Where's the plan?" as though he is completely oblivious to the fact that, as leader of the county, he should be leading the effort to develop the plan and find the project funding!  Duh!
• Has he proactively worked to identify public and private sources of capital for the courthouse restoration and office expansion project?  Our answer is NO he hasn't.  (See above.)
• Has he bothered to attend the GCCS board meetings since agreeing to serve as ex-officio board member and representative of the County Commission back on June 29, 2009.  Our research indicates that he has attended two (2) board meetings and that he has missed two (2) board meetings.  If Ron Jost were batting .500 with the Cardinals, we'd be very happy.  But he's the Gasconade County Presiding Commissioner and not the clean-up hitter for the Cards!  Has he been a half-hearted member of the GCCS?  We certainly think so!
• Has he done anything to move the courthouse poject ahead?  In our opinion, he hasn't.  Instead he has done everything he could possibly do to drag his feet and delay!  Oh sure, he pays lip service to the project ..... but then he does NOTHING!
• Has he sought out and applied for grants available for the preservation and restoration of historical buildings, specifically for the courthouse building in Hermann?  No he hasn't. 
• Has he proactively and effectively managed the operating budget of Gasconade County?  Our answer is NO he hasn't.  The county budget has been in crisis the past several years under his weak leadership.
• Has he ever proactively reached out to formally seek the input of Gasconade County citizens as to what they think the priorities of the county should be?  Our answer is NO we cannot remember any telephone or mail survey which he has initiated during his two terms of office.  Can you?
• Has he implemented any of the recommendations for improving the professionalism of county government which were made by state auditors in their 2002 and 2006 audits?  Our answer is NO he hasn't.  Instead he has referred to these recommendations as optional, recommendations which the county is not obligated to act upon.  Our assessment is that Ron Jost is anything but a professional!
• Has he aggressively sought out the best value and pricing for all materials, supplies, labor and equipment which the county purchases? Our answer is NO we don't think so. In fact, he most recently voted to do away with annual competitive bidding for tires and tire services, and in so doing, to effectively protect the interests of his brother's tire business in Owensville.
• Has he done ANYTHING, ANYTHING AT ALL which would distinguish his two terms (8 years) as Presiding Commissioner of Gasconade County?  Our answer is NO not a single thing!

It is for all of the above reasons that the editorial board of Hermann Hearsay endorsed Larry Miskel for Presiding Commissioner of Gasconade County several weeks ago.  It is for these reasons we urge our readers to get out and vote for Larry Miskel on Tuesday, August 3rd.  The county cannot move ahead in a positive way under Ron Jost's leadership.

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www.ngnn.com/ (Hermann, New Haven and Owensville NEWS)

www.rivertownrecipes.blogspot.com/ (Food & Drink Recipes)

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Stony Hill Picnic Attendee Not Mentioned In CNL Article

Published by Jimmy Oldsun, NDRIRSRWRAFTC & Editor

An article was published in CountyNewsLIVE.com about the Stony Hill Picnic this past Friday, 7/16.  You may click on the following link to read the article and view the color photos taken by Jeff Noedel, CNL Publisher:

http://www.countynewslive.com/content/2010/jul/17/stony-hill-picnic-five-flavors-ice-cream-and-least-many-flavors-politics.

This article was clearly intended to give media exposure to some of the attending local political candidates.  Conspicuously absent of any mention or photo in the Jeff Noedel article but not absent at the picnic was Sharon Meyer, Democratic candidate for County Clerk.  In the interest of reporting accuracy and fairness to Ms. Meyer, Hermann Hearsay feels compelled to report this "oversight" by CNL.  It should further be noted that Ms. Meyer has been making the rounds within the county talking to many, many voters and supporters, just as she did Friday evening at the Stony Hill Picnic.  Yes, in the interest of reporting accuracy and fairness, Hermann Hearsay feels compelled to report this observation regarding the Meyer campaign.

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Editorial Comment - What's most important in county government .... UNITY or HONESTY and EFFICIENCY?

Published by Jimmy Oldsun, NDRIRSRWRAFTC & Editor

I've been reading some passionate appeals in another local online news publication for UNITY in county government.  One such appeal was made by Jeff Noedel, a local online daily "news" site publisher.  Another similar appeal was made by Brian Chorley, a Hermann alderman and new contributing writer to Mr. Noedel's "news" site.

The great thing about the USA is that we are all free to express our divergent personal viewpoints.  I've given this UNITY thing some thought.  Now I'd like to express my viewpoints on the subject.

As for me, I too would like to see UNITY and HARMONY in our local governments, in both county and city governments.  Who wouldn't want to see cooperation, collaboration and UNITY of purpose?  That would of course make us all "feel" warm and fuzzy, and we might even be lulled into "feeling" that everything is well and good in the way our local governments are being managed. 

But what IF that cooperation, collaboration and UNITY of purpose came at the expense of HONESTY and EFFICIENCY in our local goverments?  Would that be a good thing?  No, I don't think so!  Yes, we might temporarily "feel" warm and fuzzy.  But if our tax money was not being spent as efficiently and effectively as possible or if our elected officials were taking care of their own self-interests or the self-interests of their friends and relatives rather than taking care of the broader interests of all taxpayers, then the UNITY that some are calling for would have been purchased at a very high price!

Yes, it does "feel" good to be FAT, DUMB and HAPPY!  But, do you want to be FAT, DUMB and HAPPY or would you rather rest assured knowing that the people representing you in your local governments are fighting for your best interests as a taxpayer rather than cooperating and perhaps even colluding together to protect the best interests of a select few?  Do you want your elected representatives to "roll over" and go right along with others just for the sake of UNITY?  Or do you want your elected representatives to fight for your best interests as a taxpayer ..... even if doing so means going against the flow and stepping on some toes at times?

I find it rather peculiar that we hear these self-rightous calls for UNITY right on the heels of the very heated and public debate over the bidding out of the county's tire and tire services purchases.  The new "no-bid" tire purchasing program which Presiding Commissioner Ron Jost and Southern District Associate Commissioner Jerry Lairmore have proposed and voted into effect is, in my considered opinion, wrong and misguided.  Northern District Assoicate Commissioner Matt Penning tried to point this out to his colleagues on the County Commission, but he was out-voted 2-1.  I suppose Noedel and Chorley, if they were truly objective, might say that Penning is more interested in HONESTY and EFFICIENCY of government than he is in UNITY amongst the three county commissioners.  But they don't even give Penning credit for this.  Instead they attempt to lead the reader into believing that Penning is carrying on some personal feud.  And that, my friends, is just DISHONEST reporting on their parts!

Commissioner Penning is making his stand for HONESTY and EFFICIENCY in county goverment.  Jost and Lairmore are apparently making their stand for the protection of Jost's family tire business in Owensville.  Jost and Lairmore have had their say in open sessions of the County Commission.  Penning has likewise had his say.  And soon, the voters in Gasconade County will have their say!

And ya know what?  In the final analysis, it's not going to matter one tiny hill of beans what Messrs. Noedel and Chorley have had to say about UNITY in county goverment!

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Editorial Comment: UNITED FOR CHANGE

Published by Jimmy Oldsun, NDRIRSRWRAFTC & Editor

The publisher of another online daily "news service" has called for UNITY in Gasconade County.  He has called for PEACE between North and South.  He has called for those who are challenging the way in which the affairs of Gasconade County are managed to just hush their mouths and BE SILENT.  He wants the tire bidding controversy and other justifiable questioning about the proper management of Gasconade County to JUST GO AWAY!  

Ha ha ha!  Not so fast, Mr. Noedel!  Not so fast!

First of all, there is no conflict between North and South.  That's a "straw dog argument" you would have your readers believe, apparently for your own self-promotional purposes.  People in the northern district and in the southern district of this beautiful little county want many of the very same things.  Afterall, we are all the same people.  Oh yeah, we have intense rivalry in high school baseball, basketball and football.  I still recall my Hermann High School days when we competed fiercely against the Dutchmen in baseball and basketball.  (We didn't have football back in those days.)  We loved to beat them, and they loved to beat us!  But that was just a high school rivalry!

We must remember that we here in the north are linked to our brethren in the south by our common heritage, and we are linked by our shared values.  We all want honest, efficient and effective county government and municipal governments.  We want our local governments and community leaders to have the necessary vision to proactively move ahead for the future benefit of this county and all communities which make up the county ..... and not solely for the benefit of a few monied interests in any one community.  We all want our elected county leaders to maintain, preserve and upgrade (as needed) the assets of the county, leaving these assets for our children and grandchildren in better shape than they found them.  We want our leaders to proactively plan ahead for the future needs of our county and each community within the county.

No, Mr. Noedel, we the people of Gasconade County are NOT divided ...... NOR will we EVER allow ourselves to be divided by one unprofessional, self-promoting, publicity seeking "news publisher", NOR by two unprofessional, self-serving county commissioners who are fighting harder to protect the interests of certain monied interests in Owensville who have a building and property to pawn off on the county and to protect the financial interests of their family-owned tire businesses in Owensville rather than protecting the broader general interests of ALL Gasconade County taxpayers.

No, Mr. Noedel, the people of Gasconade County are smarter than you evidently think we are.  You underestimate us.  We understand that many of our county and community problems stem from a lack of visionary leadership in local government as well as an unhealthy preoccupation with the protection of certain monied interests in Owensville who continue to work for a change in the county seat.  In our county government, we have seen that Presiding Commissioner Jost and Southern District Associate Commissioner Lairmore have done absolutely NOTHING to move Gasconade County forward into the 21st century.  For all of your attempts to point the finger of blame singularly at Northern District Associate Commissioner Matt Penning, first elected to office in 2008, you CANNOT explain to your readers why the Jost-Lairmore controlled County Commission has been unable to move Gasconade County forward during their multiple terms of office.

In your recent article, Mr. Noedel, you bemoan the relatively high unemployment rate in Gasconade County.  Tell me then, how do you blame the high unemployment rate on Matt Penning?  Ron Jost and Jerry Lairmore control the County Commission by a 2-1 vote, as they have for many years before Penning unseated Max Aubuchon.  What have Jost and Lairmore done to bring jobs to Gasconade County?  Where are all of those jobs that they will tell you they've brought to Gasconade County?  Where?!

Where is the improved infrastructure of Gasconade County?  Are the county roads and county bridges improved?  Has the county courthouse been maintained, preserved and restored?  Does the County Commission under Jost's leadership have a plan for the courthouse (other than to move it to Owensville)?  Has a sorely needed annex for expanded and modernized county offices been constructed?  Has the planning for it even begun under the Jost-Lairmore contolled County Commission.  And how have Jost and Lairmore managed the county's annual operating budget?  I think we all know the answer to that question!  They don't manage it.  They wait until the budget is in trouble and then react!

You see, Mr. Noedel, there really is UNITY in Gasconade County.  There is a growing UNITY OF OPINION that changes in county leadership are needed.  The citizens of Gasconade County are UNITED FOR CHANGE, Mr. Noedel.  You have just misread our mood.  That CHANGE will begin to come when we remove Ron Jost as Presiding Commissioner of Gasconade County on August 3rd and replace him with Larry Miskel.  That change will continue in November of 2012 when the voters of the Southern District of Gasconade County return Jerry Lairmore to the private sector and elect someone who better represents their interests.

Yes, Mr. Noedel, we the people of Gasconade County are finally UNITED FOR CHANGE!  We know where the problems in county government lay.  We know who IS to blame.  And we know who IS NOT to blame.  The citizens of Gasconade County will begin making the necessary CHANGES on August 3rd! 

VOTE FOR CHANGE! 

VOTE FOR LARRY MISKEL!

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www.hermannhookups.blogspot.com/ (Social Networking)
www.mid-missouri-mule-rides.blogspot.com/ (Family Fun)
www.ngnn.com/ (Hermann, New Haven and Owensville NEWS)
www.rivertownrecipes.blogspot.com/ (Food & Drink Recipes)
www.vemmadrinker.blogspot.com/ (Premium Nutritional Drinks)
www.watkinsonline.com/richardhschaefer (Watkins Products)

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