Thursday, December 31, 2009

Jericho's Wife Reaches out to Supportive Fans on Facebook

While the dust settles after the departure of Vincent David Jericho, his loyal listeners, friends, and fans are restless.

On Wednesday I received an invitation to join a new Facebook group called, "Defense of Vince." The group, so far, boasts 57 members. There are no upcoming events listed and there have been no discussions started.

Vince's wife Denise Jericho did, however, post a statement on the group's "wall" concerning why Vince was "fired and is silent." This is what she wrote:

"For all out there wanting to understand what has happened an(d) why Vince was fired and is silent. I can tell you that it was for not failings on his part. Understand that right now we are trying to sort out things out. This has been a very difficult month. The goings on did not start on the 28th of December, so there is... much to sort thru. We appreciate all your prayers and words of encouragement. You have no idea what it does for Vince and I to see everyone reaching out like this and I for one am truly grateful."


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Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Police and Fire Associations Finally Consider Compromise

It was good to see police and fire willing to consider compromise in the makeup of the pension board, as indicated in today's "Springfield News-Leader" article:

"The police and fire associations initially objected to the reduction in employee representation on the board but struck a tentative compromise during meetings with city leaders with the inclusion of the non-voting alternates."


Something that bothered me during the Police and Fire Pension Task Force's discussions was the unwillingness of the police and fire associations to even consider any compromise or concession to their pension plan's benefits.

I think everyone was well aware that the City and its residents should honor promises made in the past regarding benefits but, that wouldn't have stopped the associations from voluntarily offering compromise for the good of the City. The only thing they offered was the threat of a lawsuit every time the subject of change to benefits was even broached, and to be clear, that was their right.

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Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Vincent David Jericho: No Longer Hosting KSGF's Morning Show

My first tip that Vincent David Jericho is no longer going to be hosting the morning show for KSGF came when a friend of mine told me all references to Vince had been wiped clean from KSGF's Web site.

This morning I received an email from another friend telling me Jericho's producer Kortni Williams said that as of yesterday afternoon Vince no longer worked for KSGF.

A few moments ago, Williams confirmed it via email:


Jackie,

Vince is no longer with Journal Broadcast Group and KSGF. It’s a personnel matter and our policy prohibits me from discussing this any further.

Kortni

I inquired as to whether Vince would be contractually prohibited from communicating with me about the circumstances surrounding his departure. Williams was not aware of any contract and stated that she, herself, is not under contract.


I have offered Jericho an opportunity to contact me and discuss what happened to cause his departure from the station. I hope he will take me up on that offer as I know many people would like to know why their favorite local radio talk show host has left.


I believe Jericho paved the way for real dialog about local issues in Springfield. In particular, he opened the door for discussion about our local government and local politics.

Prior to Jericho, many (if not all) residents of Springfield were afraid to publicly question or criticize local government leaders. Whether this was justified or not is not the issue, I believe it is a fact that residents of Springfield feared repercussion if they questioned or exposed policy and behind the scenes action accepted and performed by the Springfield City Council and City staff.


Jericho voraciously and fearlessly questioned and on occasion attacked the actions of City government powers that be and was still standing at the end of the day...that is, until yesterday afternoon...

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Thursday, December 24, 2009

Just a Simple...

...MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!


I don't have any you tube videos to post this year, no poems or pictures of Christmas lights however, I do have the miracle of life, something so fragile....

Be thankful to God for his great love.

If you are reading this you are blessed, you have a life. You are a miracle.

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Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Monday, December 21, 2009

City of Springfield Weekly Calendar: December 21-December 25, 2009

Monday, 12/21/2009

No Meetings Scheduled

Tuesday, 12/22/2009

3:00 PM Administrative Review Busch Municipal Building, Room 285, 840 Boonville Contact: Daniel Neal, (417) 864-1036

Wednesday, 12/23/2009

Update: 12:00 PM Closed Meeting: City Council, Busch Municipal Building, 4th floor conference room

Thursday, 12/24/2009

No Meetings Scheduled

Friday, 12/25/2009

City offices closed.

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Saturday, December 19, 2009

Update on "Nuisance, Nuisance Everywhere"

In a previous entry, I mentioned, City Clerk Brenda Cirtin wrote in an email to "JackeHammer" that Director of Building Development Services (BDS) Nick Heatherly, indicated BDS has "posted" Veterans Coming Home for a code violation (See Springfield Municipal Code Sections 74-391 and 74-392), and was awaiting his reply about when it was posted and the nature of the violation.

I'd also noted City Attorney Dan Wichmer had stated in an email, "In Feb of this year, BDS sent him a letter advising of purported improper uses. This letter was in addition to a letter from HHS (Health & Human Services) stating that their inspection to be sure that he was complying with his stated uses for the building per his application to acquire the building revealed that he was not in complete compliance with his stated uses."

When I did hear back from Cirtin regarding the violation BDS had posted, she wrote, "According to Nick, the property was posted on May 5, 2008, with a “Do Not Occupy” as they did not have a C of O (Certificate of Occupancy) to occupy the structure." Later, when asked if they had acquired a C of O after being posted, the City Clerk referred my questions to Nick Heatherly to answer. Heatherly responded, "August 11, 2008 a C of O was issued for a “Business Office” use." When asked if Veterans Coming Home was attempting to "occupy" the facility before the issuance of the Certificate of Occupancy, Heatherly wrote, "They were in the process of setting up their office prior to the issuance of the C of O." So, my thought on all of that is this: It's up to the reader to decide whether "setting up" an office prior to use qualifies as "occupancy" or not and warrants an official posting of violation.

Regarding Wichmer's mention of a February letter, I was never provided a copy of a February letter and I did not ask for a copy of it...follow up for another day. Wichmer did not note what the "purported improper uses" were but, the fact they were "purported" rather than proven is a clue that the February letter was not an official "posting" by the City of ordinance violations.

Regarding Wichmer's other remark about Health and Human Services "stating that their inspection to be sure that he was complying with his stated uses for the building per his application to acquire the building revealed that he was not in complete compliance with his stated uses(?)" Well, Rice acquired the building from the Federal government, not the City, and I think it's fairly plain that had it been up to the City, Rice would never have been awarded the building in the first place. Further, I'm not sure of the process for complaint a City government is required to follow if an organization is not complying with stated uses when acquiring surplus property through the Federal government but, I'd assume a local City government would have to go through Federal channels to file a complaint. Action taken in that regard, it seems to me, would more likely have to come from the Federal government. Now, that is not to say the City cannot mandate Veterans Coming Home abide by City ordinance pertaining to the facility's zoning but, the City needs to prove there are violations of City ordinance before making a statement that, it appears, many perceived as a veiled threat that the City was preparing to shut the facility down for a year for non-compliance.

The whole thing seems to have been another "scratching-your- head- in-bewilderment-moment," compliments of the Springfield City Attorney's office, and then sensationalized by the Reverend Larry Rice through the pages of our local news paper. However, that said, I still feel it was important that the "Springfield News-Leader" reported on the issue for the very reason I stated in my original entry on the subject:

"...it all seems much ado about nothing for the moment (unless one considers how unhappy some City staff and some members of the City Council were at the time Rice was awarded the building...and unless one has a suspicious mind that the City is setting the stage for going after Rice on a trumped up code violation while it appears to ignore code violations of others it finds less unsavory....)"

Regarding the call I placed to Rice. If he has tried to return the call, I missed it. I've had to be out of the house for appointments the last two days after placing the call and my answering machine is not currently functional.

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Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Nuisance, Nuisance, Everywhere

"Though Police Chief Lynn Rowe said City Council had come up with the (nuisance) ordinance in order to deal with specific nuisance properties, Council was also reluctant to deprive people of their property without due process." - Community Free Press, DEC. 17, 2008 - JAN. 13, 2009 issue

In light of today's "Springfield News-Leader" article regarding City Attorney Dan Wichmer's letter and Reverend Rice's response concerning neighbors' allegations of misuse of the property at 806 N. Jefferson, or Veterans Coming Home, I felt the article I wrote for the "Community Free Press" regarding similar allegations might shed a bit of light on what the City is able to do or not do in the case of allegations of nuisance properties. Readers will find that CFP article below this entry. (And I have to wonder if neighbors of Veterans Coming Home are being made aware of how little the City can actually do to enforce the nuisance ordinance)

In the letter City Attorney Dan Wichmer wrote to Reverend Larry Rice, Wichmer referenced Springfield City Code sections 74-391 and 74-392. Wichmer noted, "Under these code sections, any property harboring a nuisance could be subject to closure for up to 1 year."

Wichmer then "strongly encourage(d)" Reverend Rice to stop activities not permitted and take action to eliminate activities which were a nuisance to businesses in the area. Wichmer wrote, "Failure to take corrective action will force the City to take action to abate the nuisance."

In the article attached readers will note, "According to City Attorney Dan Wichmer, as long as a landlord is working with the police department and there are no convictions, there is little the city can do under the ordinance."

The nuisance ordinance is very specific in describing the process by which the City of Springfield may close a property. One of the City's other options (under City Code) is to shut off utilities to that property for up to 1 year. The City really can't just go around closing properties based on neighbors' complaints, there is much more to it than that. For instance, before closing a property can even be considered notice has to be given and it must be given in very specific manner.

"JackeHammer" asked City Attorney Wichmer if there had been any notice of:

"...the illegal use, manufacture, keeping or selling of controlled substances" on the premises, and whether there have been any convictions related to "...the illegal use, manufacture, keeping or selling of controlled substances," (City code 74-391) where the initial arrest of a convict originated from the address 806 N. Jefferson Avenue, Springfield, Missouri


OR for:

"...the commission of crimes, ordinance violations, or acts done, permitted, allowed or continued to the damage or injury of any inhabitants of the city," and whether there have been any convictions related to "...the commission of crimes, ordinance violations, or acts done, permitted, allowed or continued to the damage or injury of any inhabitants of the city" involving an initial arrest of the convict from 806 N. Jefferson Avenue, Springfield, Missouri (City code 74-392)

BY: "The chief of police or his designee," (City code 74-391) OR "The chief of police or director of health or other head of a department charged with ordinance or code enforcement or their respective designees?" (City code 74-392)


"No." City Attorney Dan Wichmer wrote in an email response. "My letter merely referenced the fact that if we found and proved violations that originated from 806 N. Jefferson, we would treat (it) as any other nuisance property and use all tools available. We are not, to my knowledge, anywhere near sending any sort of nuisance notice."

Later in the day, when questioned about why he sent the letter at this time, Wichmer wrote, "In Feb of this year, BDS (Building Development Services) sent him a letter advising of purported improper uses. This letter was in addition to a letter from HHS (Health & Human Services) stating that their inspection to be sure that he was complying with his stated uses for the building per his application to acquire the building revealed that he was not in complete compliance with his stated uses."

City Clerk Brenda Cirtin wrote in an email to JackeHammer that Director of Building Development Services Nick Heatherly, indicated BDS has "posted" Veterans Coming Home for a code violation. She is awaiting his reply about when it was posted and the nature of the violation, "I asked him when and what the violation was, but haven’t heard back yet," she wrote.

Wichmer said the reason he sent the letter is because Rice's local representatives had stated Rice wanted to know if there were any issues, "When he opened the center, Rev. Rice, through his local reps, stated he wanted to be a good neighbor (especially in light of the incidents he had at the Free Store, his facility near Jeff City and the stabbing in St. Louis) so if we had issues, please let him know," Wichmer wrote.

According to Wichmer, the letter was sent out 2 weeks ago. Indeed, it is dated November 23, 2009. Wichmer indicated Ron Moore, New Life Evangelical Center's on site manager and Dan Boyle, Rice's attorney, were very cordial in their responses, with Boyle stating, "he would make sure there was follow up on their (Veterans Coming Home) end." Wichmer indicated that because he had received such a cordial response from them, he thought the issue was behind him and being handled.

"He (Boyle) told me in the future to just call him or NLEC’s business manager if we received further complaints. I thought that ended the matter. That is why I stated that Rice was merely grandstanding yesterday," Wichmer wrote.

At any rate, it all seems much ado about nothing for the moment (unless one considers how unhappy some City staff and some members of the City Council were at the time Rice was awarded the building...and unless one has a suspicious mind that the City is setting the stage for going after Rice on a trumped up code violation while it appears to ignore code violations of others it finds less unsavory....)

JackeHammer has placed a call to the Reverend Larry Rice for comment and is awaiting his response.

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From the DEC. 17, 2008 - JAN. 13, 2009 issue of the "Community Free Press:"

"West Central WOES
Area developers’ cries for help reach a high level of frustration."

By Jackie Melton
CFP Contributor

At a recent meeting at the Busch Municipal Building,tempers and accusations sometimes flared over vandalism, theft, drug use, and whether the city’s nuisance ordinance can be used to remedy recurring problems in Springfield’s West Central neighborhood. One thing was made clear by the attending city officials: there are not going to be any quick fixes to neighborhood crime in West Central or any other neighborhood in Springfield.

Carol Nachbar, a real estate investor and redeveloper who owns property in the area was frustrated over what she perceived as non-enforcement of the city’s nuisance ordinance.

Though Police Chief Lynn Rowe said City Council had come up with the ordinance in order to deal with specific nuisance properties, Council was also reluctant to deprive people of their property without due process.


“We can’t take a whole complex with just one violating apartment unit,” Rowe said. “If they’re [owners/managers] dealing with the issue, then that precludes using the nuisance ordinance to take that property.”

Due process is what has Nachbar and other West Central investors and homeowners asking questions. Nachbar balked when told that, without convictions of crime, the nuisance ordinance could not be enforced.


“These people are out there causing all this havoc and this chaos,” Nachbar said. “The police put them in their cars and they handcuff them and then, 15 minutes later, they let them back out of the police car. That’s the problem, they are not arrested in the first place.”

The Windermere Apartments, 1055 W. Walnut St., is at the center of the debate among West Central residents and property owners. Nachbar claims problems originating at the property are interfering with her ability to lease a neighboring property she owns.

According to the city Web site, the business license for 1055 W.Walnut is issued to Shorty’s Holding, LLC. The address for the owner is also the same address issued to Cars 4 U, a car lot on Compton Street owned by Kendall Hancock. Hancock could not be reached for comment, but a woman at Cars 4 U, who identified herself as only Angela, said she was the manager of Shorty’s Holding, LLC.

“I’m the manager and we don’t have a comment,” she said.


According to City Attorney Dan Wichmer, as long as a landlord is working with the police department and there are no convictions, there is little the city can do under the ordinance.

“I can assure you that I take you seriously, but you sitting there, indicating that I’m not doing anything, isn’t going to make me a whole lot happier dealing with you,” Wichmer said to Nachbar at the meeting. “I’ve pulled your properties, you’ve had disturbances, and you’ve had complaints. Do I shut your properties down?”

Rowe explained his department is following procedure and doing what they can under the law.
“Sometimes there’s enough [evidence] to pursue it and if there is, they go to jail every time, even though it is a revolving door and they go right back out,” Rowe said.

Another local developer and investor, David Rhodes, said, in the past, when there was more police presence crime had disappeared.

“If this issue serves one purpose, I hope it is that it will get more police on the street,” Rhodes said.

Jack Pugh, Rhodes partner in “B’s” Renaissance Renovations, LLC, identified himself and Nachbar as two of the top investors in the West Central area. Pugh lives in a home on Walnut Street that he and his wife remodeled with the intention of retiring there. His wife has since moved out, and they have purchased a new retirement home in Greenfield.

“After the two attempted murders at the rental operations next door, and our neighbor who was stabbed and left to die on our front steps by two thugs who felt they had a right to own his bicycle, she just gave up,” Pugh said. “It was just too close. She didn’t work all her life to have to live in fear.”


Pugh talked about several contractors and residents who have been victims of theft. Later, as he steered his car down Pershing Street, where he has redeveloped and assisted others in redevelopment of several properties, he pointed to his “crown jewel.”

“A young family bought that a year ago and now they’re moving out. They’ve been broken into four times,” Pugh said. “They’ve just given up.”

Suggestions offered by city officials for dealing with the nuisance properties didn’t offer any overnight solutions. Beyond continuing to file police reports, working with their Police Area Representative officer, or taking the personal initiative to sue a nuisance property owner in civil court, one of the few other suggestions was that residents become more involved in their neighborhood associations. It was suggested they start a “Neighborhood Team”program.

“Neighborhood Teams can set priorities and then we all work together,” Rowe said.

Jack Pugh had little faith that forming a Neighborhood Team was the answer.

“It’s attacking the problem at the wrong end.” Pugh said. “If we had a Neighborhood Team in place reporting on the Windermere Apartments, would anything have been done differently at this point? Would it have helped to have had 120 calls this year instead of 100? The answer is no. It’s the policies that the Neighborhood Team has to work under that are the problem.”

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What is a Public Nuisance?


“Any place that is used for the commission of crimes, ordinance violations,or acts done, permitted, allowed or continued to the damage or injury of any of the inhabitants of the city after notice is given and the place continues to be used for the commission of crimes, ordinance violations, or acts done, permitted, allowed or continued to the damage or injury of any inhabitants of the city is a public nuisance.”

Source: Section 74-392.A, General Ordinance Number 5465 (Springfield’s nuisance ordinance)

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Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Local Food Support/Industrial Hemp Among Springfield City Council Legislative Priorities

Springfield, MO - At the December 14, Springfield City Council meeting, a bill to adopt the bullet-point and sub-point legislative priorities of the City was approved. According to the City's summary of the Council meeting,

"Councilman Stephens made a motion to adopt Exhibit A, which summarizes the top priorities, while remanding the rest of the package back to Plans & Policies to review some of the language of the full policy."


Exhibit A included these topics: Maintain local control and avoid unfunded mandates; Red-light cameras and efficient traffic enforcement; Protect the natural environment and; Economic development and fighting poverty.

"Well-Fed Neighbor" readers will be interested to know, included in the language remanded back to the Plans and Policies Committee as the last entry in the category, "Economic Development and Fighting Poverty" are the words, "Support development of a stronger local food supply."

The language, which, again, will be reviewed by the Plans & Policies Committee, regarding support for the development of a stronger local food supply reads:


"Support local food

Local agriculture is key to providing a safe, secure, and reliable food supply for the citizens of Missouri.

We support farmers in our city limits and farmers nearby and we encourage legislation that will provide a stronger local food supply and remove barriers to the development of local food supplies or eliminate legislation that provides barriers."


Also of interest to "Well-Fed Neighbors" should be the information found in Tuesday's "Springfield News-Leader." Reporter Kary Booher recapped the Council meeting, reporting the City Council, "kicked back the body of the text -- including a suggestion for the state to remove restrictions on hemp in order to create new industries."

The language regarding the removal of restrictions on growing hemp, also remanded to be reviewed by the Plans & Policies Committee, read:


"Enhance The Economy By Removing Restrictions On Hemp to Create New Industries:

With the stroke of the pen, Missouri could create several new industries overnight. Agriculture, textiles, construction, alternative fuels, and many other areas would see an immediate boon in their markets. The cost of this type of government "investment" would be zero dollars. In fact, the savings that this could generate would be able to fund critical needs in other areas."


Support for a local food supply was proposed by Councilman Dan Chiles.

The proposal regarding removal of restrictions on growing hemp was brought by Councilman Doug Burlison.

For more information about what the Springfield City Council will be lobbying state and federal legislators about in 2010, and to read the bill, click here. If you would like to watch a video of the City Council meeting, it is available at "CityView."

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Sunday, December 13, 2009

City of Springfield Weekly Calendar: December 14-18

Monday, 12/14/2009

3:30 PM Springfield/Greene County Park Board Golf Committee Park Board Offices , 1923 North Weller Contact: Jodie Adams, (417) 864-1049

6:30 PM City Council Meeting Old City Hall, Council Chambers, 830 Boonville Contact: Brenda Cirtin, (417) 864-1650 (Agenda)

Tuesday, 12/15/2009

10:30 AM Solid Waste Management District Region O Executive Board Cook's Kettle Restaurant , 1715 N. Boonville Contact: Ronda Gulley, (417) 868-4197

12:00 PM Council Lunch Busch Municipal Building, 4th Floor Conf. Rm., 840 Boonville Contact: Anita Climer, (417) 864-1654 (tentative agenda attached)

1:30 PM Board of Adjustment Old City Hall, Council Chambers, 830 Boonville Contact: Matt Schaefer, (417) 864-1100

Cancelled 3:00 PM Administrative Review Busch Municipal Building, Room 285, 840 Boonville Contact: Daniel Neal, (417) 864-1036

3:00 PM Airport Board Public Relations Committee Springfield/Branson National Airport , 2300 North Airport Boulevard Suite 100 Contact: Terri Winchester, (417) 868-0500

3:30 PM Library Board Finance/Personnel Committee Library Center , 4653 South Campbell Contact: Debbie Eckert, (417) 883-5366

4:00 PM Library Board Library Center , 4653 South Campbell Contact: Debbie Eckert, (417) 883-5366

6:00 PM Mayor's Commission on Human Rights Busch Municipal Building, 1st Floor Conf. Rm, 840 Boonville Contact: Bob Hosmer, (417) 864-1834

Wednesday, 12/16/2009

12:00 PM City Council Community Involvement Committee Busch Municipal Building, 4th Floor Conf. Rm., 840 Boonville Contact: Lisa Harley, (417) 864-1443

Cancelled 3:00 PM E-911 Advisory Board Greene County, Commission's Conference Room, 940 North Boonville Contact: Debbie Moore, (417) 864-1719

5:30 PM Landmarks Board Old City Hall, Council Chambers, 830 Boonville Contact: Daniel Neal, (417) 864-1036

Thursday, 12/17/2009

8:00 AM Airport Board Springfield/Branson National Airport , 2300 North Airport Boulevard Suite 100 Contact: Terri Winchester, (417) 868-0500

8:00 AM Enhanced Enterprise Zone Board of Directors Busch Municipal Building, 2nd Floor West Conf. Rm., 840 Boonville Contact: Matthew Schaeffer, (417) 864-1198

8:00 AM Springfield Convention & Visitor's Bureau Board of Directors Ozark Empire Fairgrounds , 3001 N. Grant Avenue Contact: Tracy Kimberlin, (417) 881-5300

8:30 AM Library Board - Public Building Corporation Board of Trustees Library Center , 4653 South Campbell Contact: Debbie Eckert, (417) 883-5366

8:30 AM Springfield Police Officers' & Fire Fighters' Retirement System Board of Trustees Busch Municipal Building, 4th Floor Conf. Rm., 840 Boonville Contact: Nikki White, (417) 864-1515

11:30 AM City Council Plans & Policies Committee Busch Municipal Building, 2nd Floor West Conf. Rm., 840 Boonville Contact: Lisa Harley, (417) 864-1443

12:00 PM Ozarks Transportation Organization Board of Directors Busch Municipal Building, 4th Floor Conf. Rm., 840 Boonville Contact: Tim Conklin, (417) 836-5482

3:30 PM Tree City USA Citizen Advisory Committee Busch Municipal Building, 2nd Floor East Conf. Rm., 840 Boonville Contact: Benjamin Kellner, (417) 864-1178

Friday, 12/18/2009

9:30 AM Public Housing Authority Madison Towers, Northeast Meeting Room, 421 West Madison Contact: Tom Barnett, (417) 866-4329

12:00 PM City Council Finance and Administration Committee Busch Municipal Building, 4th Floor Conf. Rm., 840 Boonville Contact: Lisa Harley, (417) 864-1443

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City Council Lunch Agenda (tentative) for Dec. 15, 2009

1. Follow up to City Council meeting held on December 14, 2009

2. Annual KPMG Audit Report - Michele Stromp & Cassie Meschke from KPMG

3. Any and all matters to come before City Council

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Saturday, December 05, 2009

I'M HOME!!!!

I nearly died but as Momma Twoop wrote below, God decided to perform a miracle in my life and I'm back!

I have a list of article and report ideas I prepared at the hospital and I WILL be chipping away at it as time goes on but, for the time being I am still a bit weak.

I think I spent the last two weeks at Select Services Specialty Hospital but, all in all I have been in hospital over a month fighting an antibiotic resistant strain of pneumonia. There are wonderful employees at Select. Too many to thank individually but, I will just say that I walked away from there feeling I had new friends. Wonderful bunch of f0lks.

I also have many friends and family [including church family] members to thank for all their prayers, visits and attention, which I know will even be ongoing as I work to rebuild my strength after being bedridden for so long. I cannot tell you what a new appreciation I have for the people who God saw fit to connect me with in this life. I don't believe we ever meet anyone by accident, there is always a reason why someone, even a sales clerk, steps into our lives.

I have a renewed love for my husband who had to struggle on the emotional roller coaster of not knowing whether his wife would live or die, was advised to call in family so that they could make their final goodbyes at one point but, managed somehow to be the best support to me I could have ever asked for and could have ever imagined he was capable of.

A special thanks to Vince Jericho of KSGF for repeatedly praying and calling for prayer from his listeners on my behalf.

A special thanks to Fred and Janice Ellison for their unwavering and time consuming support, to Tom Martz for his friendship and support, to Galen Chadwick of the Well Fed Neighbor Alliance, who regularly visited me and, I understand, has a lot of work for me to do, Dan and Alice [I have your radio] to Momma Twoop for her phone calls and the beautiful snowflakes and notes she and her children sent me, and a special thanks to Dwain and Sharon Ege...they know why. Loads of love and appreciation to my brother, sis in law and nephew and my dad, step mom, stepsister and brother in law. Thanks to Dale Johnson for stealing Wes' papers for me and bringing me a News-Leader every day toward the end of my stay. There are too many people for me to list them all individually, I hope I haven't missed anyone and that everyone will understand this is mainly meant to be an all encompassing, great big thank you to all those who have supported me, sometimes I don't even know when or how.

I will more than likely revisit this topic at a later date, I know there is more to say but, hopefully I hit the majority of people who have been so much help and such a support to me.

[Looks like someone hijacked my twitter acct.]

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Let us give thanks....

Do you believe in miracles? I do, and I think I, and a few others, have witnessed one recently.

My last post, my only post in ages, was a prayer for my friend Jackie. She was at death's door, literally. I posted that prayer, repeated it too many times to count through the day, layed my soul bare for our Lord as I cried and pleaded for His Mercy on my friend. I know there were many, many others who were doing the same thing, too.

Later that evening, unexpectedly, Jackie took a turn for the better. She went from being a lady the doctor didn't expect to survive through the night to one who woke up, began interracting with those around her, registering voluntary movements along with voiced complaints like "Ouch!" when she didn't like whatever poking or prodding was being done her, to the full-of-life lady who is today, at this very moment, sitting up, smiling, communicating and reading her get well cards.

God is good, full of grace and mercy. Do not doubt it.

A friend recently said there is no better way to begin Thansgiving week than with the news of this unexpected turn-around. I couldn't agree more! This Thanksgiving is extremely special and I, along with everyone else who Jackie has touched, am extremely thankful.

Welcome back, Sis, may you keep progressing in your recovery and come home to all of us who love you soon.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

For Jackie

Dear Lord,

You know Jackie so much better than I do. You know her sickness and the burden she carries. You also know her heart.

Lord, I ask you to be with her now, working in her life. Let your will be done in her life. Lord, I pray for Jackie because your Word says I should pray for her healing. I am desperate for her to be healed and returned to me, to be a part of my life. I need her, Lord, please forgive my selfishness for wanting to keep her here if that is not your will.

I believe you hear this earnest prayer from my heart and that it is powerful because of your promise. I have faith in you to heal my friend, but I also trust in the plan you have for her life.

Lord, I don't always understand your ways and why Jackie has to suffer, but I trust you. Please, Lord, look with mercy and grace toward her. Nourish her spirit and soul in this time of suffering and comfort her with your presence. Comfort those close to her now, Lord, and ease their hurt.

Let them know you are there with them through this difficulty. And may you be glorified in Jackie's life and also in mine.

Amen

Monday, October 19, 2009

City of Springfield Weekly Calendar: October 19-October 23

Monday, 10/19/2009

12:00 PM Library Board Finance/Personnel Committee Library Center , 4653 South Campbell Contact: Debbie Eckert, (417) 883-5366

6:30 PM Town Hall Meeting [on Community Improvement Districts] Hosted by Councilmen Nicholas Ibarra, Doug Burlison and State Representative Eric Burlison Brentwood Library , 2214 Brentwood Boulevard Contact: Brenda Cirtin, (417) 864-1650

Tuesday, 10/20/2009

12:00 PM *Council Lunch Busch Municipal Building, 4th Floor Conf. Rm., 840 Boonville Contact: Anita Climer, (417) 864-1654 [Jackie's note: The Public Information Office announced last week, the City's cable T.V. station, CityView, will be airing City Council lunch meetings. You will find a link for CityView's Web site in the sidebar of "JackeHammer," under Springfield's TV23].

3:00 PM Airport Board Administrative Committee Springfield/Branson National Airport , 2300 North Airport Boulevard Suite 100 Contact: Terri Winchester, (417) 868-0500

4:00 PM Library Board Ash Grove Branch Library , 101 E. Main Street, Ash Grove Contact: Debbie Eckert, (417) 883-5366

6:00 PM Police Fire Pension Fund Citizens Task Force Sub-Committee Busch Municipal Building, 2nd Floor East Conf. Rm., 840 Boonville Contact: Brenda Cirtin, (417) 864-1650

Wednesday, 10/21/2009

3:00 PM E-911 Advisory Board Greene County, Commission's Conference Room, 940 North Boonville Contact: Debbie Moore, (417) 864-1719

5:30 PM Mayor's Commission on Human Rights Missouri Career Center , 1514 South Glenstone Contact: Bob Hosmer, (417) 864-1834

6:30 PM Commercial Street Task Force Busch Municipal Building, Fire Station No.1, 720 East Grand Contact: Anita Climer, (417) 864-1654

Thursday, 10/22/2009

8:00 AM Airport Board Springfield/Branson National Airport , 2300 North Airport Boulevard Suite 100 Contact: Terri Winchester, (417) 868-0500

7:00 PM Planning and Zoning Commission Old City Hall, Council Chambers, 830 Boonville Contact: Mike MacPherson, (417) 864-1831

Friday, 10/23/2009

9:00 AM Commercial Street Community Improvement District Busch Municipal Building, 4th Floor Conf. Rm., 840 Boonville Contact: Donnie Rodgers, (417) 880-3435

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October 20, City Council Lunch - TENTATIVE AGENDA

1. Continued discussion of Council Bill 2009-253 (Police Fire Pension Board)

2. Any and all matters to come before City Council

Source: City of Springfield Public Information Office (Reformatted)

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Saturday, October 17, 2009

Associated Press should have Identified the Source of Information used to Insinuate Treasurer Clint Zweifel is Hypocritical or Broke State Law

State Treasurer Zweifel, a Democrat, also serves as the chair of Missouri's Housing Commission (MHC)

An "Associated Press" article in Saturday's "Springfield News-Leader," declares:

Treasurer accepts cash from developer
Zweifel backed new ethics rules requiring conflict disclosure


What the AP article tells you is that Zweifel supported state law mandating individual MHC members should disclose potential conflicts of interest, and then recuse themselves from the decision making which could be affected by such conflicts.

Then, as if disconnected from Zweifel's backing of the requirement that conflicts should be disclosed by members, the AP reported that Zwiefel accepted campaign contributions from people who had applied for tax credits which would be awarded by the commission on which he serves.

The kicker comes in the last paragraph of the article, when the AP states that Zweifel told "the newspaper" that lawmakers need to make a decision regarding whether elected officials, who under our current system depend on contributions to run their campaigns, should be prohibited from accepting campaign contributions if they serve on commissions awarding tax credits. Zweifel believes, according to the AP report, that policy should be consistent across the board for those who serve on commissions with a potential to judge who should receive tax credit awards.

What troubles me is that the report does not state how the AP or "newspaper" received the information and/or whether Zweifel was the one to disclose it. Also unnoted is whether Zweifel continued to be involved in any decision making regarding tax credits involving the named campaign contributors after the contributions were received. If Zweifel reported the conflict and recused himself from making a decision regarding the award of tax credits by the commission, he has followed the law he backed, which apparently, at this time, does not prohibit commissioners who deal in awarding tax credits from accepting campaign contributions from people who have applied to receive those tax credits.

The AP might have sensationalized it in their headline, in my view, casting aspersion on Zweifel rather than the system and process, or the lawmakers who define it. Zweifel is right in calling on lawmakers to make a decision about whether those who serve on tax credit awarding commissions should be allowed to accept campaign contributions. If they are not prohibited from doing so, which appears to be the case, then why did the AP set it up to insinuate Zweifel is doing some kind of shady, under the table sort of transaction with someone who might benefit from the current system? Where's the problem if Zweifel disclosed the conflict and recused himself from decision making?

On the other hand, if Zweifel did not disclose the conflict and did not recuse himself from decision making regarding the award of tax credits after he had received campaign contributions from applicants, it certainly would be a problem for Zweifel but, the AP simply doesn't give us enough information to support the insinuation they appear to be making.

Poor reporting all around, if you ask me. It raises far more questions than it answers.

Some people believe the issue of Missouri Housing Commission tax credits is even more complicated.

In an October 14 article, AP reporter David Lieb revealed two residents of St. Louis have filed suit, questioning the state constitutionality of the tax credits currently being awarded to private developers for large redevelopment projects. The suit also questions the constitutionality of recent expansions of topics under the law, reaching, the suit charges, past the original intent of such tax credit awards.

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Thursday, October 15, 2009

BREAKING: Ruell Chappell Plans to Challenge Sara Lampe for the 138th District

Chappell announced his intentions at a Well-Fed Neighbor/Well-Fed Neighbor Farmers' Cooperative meeting on October 14

Springfield, MO - Ruell Chappell wants to unseat incumbent Sara Lampe in a run for the 138th district. Chappell said he will run on much the same platform that is resonating among farmers, growers, and sustainability advocates across 27 southwest Missouri counties. That message is the simple message of food and jobs delivered by the "Well-Fed Neighbor Alliance" (WFNA). Chappell is a co-regional coordinator of the WFNA, but you might remember him better as a member of the "Ozark Mountain Daredevils."

"I'm in it to win. It's a natural next step for our cause," Chappell told "JackeHammer" after the meeting. "There's not a person in this town who wouldn't agree we need a better economy."

Chappell believes the way to grow the economy in Missouri, is to produce, buy, and compete in the local market with local grown food, creating more local jobs. As a result, he says, that local money stays in our local economy.

"Everyone else is status quo," Chappell said. He wants to be pro-active in stimulating the economy, rather than waiting for the economy to turn around, which is what he thinks is the current stance of "status quo" politicians.

"If we want an economy, we have to make it," he said. "Local food will secure a local economy."

Chappell said he plans to run as an independent.

Sara Lampe, a Democrat, has been the 138th district representative since 2004.

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Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Missouri State Rep. Burlison and Springfield City Councilmen Ibarra and Burlison to Hold Town-Hall Meeting Discussing Community Improvement Districts

A City news-release was generated to announce Councilmen Nick Ibarra and Doug Burlison, along with State Rep. Eric Burlison, "will co-host a Town Hall meeting focusing on the topic of Community Improvement Districts [CIDs] on Monday, Oct. 19."

The meeting, which will be held at the Brentwood Library, is open to the public. Doors open at 6 PM with the meeting scheduled to start at 6:30.

From the news-release:


Rep. Burlison, R-136, will open the forum with background on the state's role in CIDs, followed by Councilmen Ibarra and Burlison discussing the City of Springfield's involvement in CIDs....

The Councilmen will discuss proposals for signage notifying patrons at locations where CIDs are in effect in Springfield and Rep. Burlison will talk about ideas he is considering for CIDs at the state level.

There will also be a question and answer session at the end of the meeting.

The news-release advises, if you have questions about the meeting, you should contact Zone 1 Councilman Nick Ibarra at 773-9441.

The City also provided a link where you can find more information about the CIDs in Springfield.

The Brentwood Library is located at 2214 Brentwood Blvd.

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Monday, October 12, 2009

Springfield Should have Limited Focus to Passing Pension Sales Tax in November

Attempt to stage November's ballot language to enable the city to influence a future sales tax repeal vote may threaten passage of pension sales tax next month

Springfield, MO - There has been repeated reference made by City attorney Dan Wichmer that state statute restricts and limits what the city may, or may not, include in the ballot language of a sales-tax initiative to fund the police and fire pension plan. What is interesting are the deviations from the ballot form RsMo 94.579 has indicated the city must "for the most part" follow. Why oh, why, do they chose the deviations they choose? (Well, keep reading.)

RsMO 94.579 states:



The ballot of submission for the tax authorized in this section shall be in substantially the following form:

Shall ...... (insert the name of the city) impose a sales tax at a rate of ...... (up to one) percent, solely for the purpose of providing revenues for the operation of public safety departments of the city?

Other than a yes box, a no box, and some voter instruction, that's it...the end.

Had the City of Springfield, and its City Council, which approved the City of Springfield's official ballot language on August 24, stopped with the first part of the paragraph, which reads:


“Shall the City of Springfield impose a sales tax at a rate of three-quarter of one percent (3/4-cent) solely for the purpose of providing revenues for the Springfield Police Officers’ and Firefighters’ Pension System,"


...my yes vote would have been secure but, they didn't stop there, instead, they added:


"with said tax to sunset upon the Pension System fund reaching a fully-funded (100%) status as determined by an independent actuarial study conducted for the Pension System Board of Trustees?”

With that, and a heavy heart, my no vote was secured, instead. A heavy heart because I do recognize the importance of the tax being passed, it is the reason I voted in support of the failed February pension sales tax of 1 percent.

The ballot language has been troublesome for many citizens, and personally, I think if public confusion rises to the level the City Manager feels it is necessary and appropriate to initiate passage of a City Council resolution clarifying the language, then there is an obvious and very real problem with it (see: Council Bill 2009-254, purpose and explanation).

The reason the second half of the ballot is troublesome to me rests in its potential to make me a liar in 2014, should I wish to make the decision to repeal the tax.

By voting yes on "question 1," I would not only be approving the 3/4-cent sales tax to fund the pension plan but, in my view, I would, in essence, be endorsing funding the pension plan to a 100 percent funded ratio before I would vote to repeal the tax.

Since I do not believe that full funding is either necessary to reach the city's goal, and question whether it is the best funded ratio by which the city could reach their goals, I am uncomfortable with endorsing a 100 percent funding of the plan.

A couple of things stop me from committing to endorsing paying the sales tax until the pension plan is funded at 100 percent.

1. The city is under no threat of the state withholding sales tax revenue to fund the pension plan, so long as the pension plan is funded at a 60 percent or higher ratio.

2. Milliman actuaries recommended the funded ratio which would best reach the city's long term goals as 90 percent, when they performed a study prior to the failed February vote.


"Under both 6 percent and 7.5 percent [investment return] scenarios, funding to the 100 percent target appears to overshoot the desired results long term," the Milliman actuaries advised. "The 90 percent target scenarios seem to better match the desired long term outcomes." - Nov. 19, 2008 issue, "Community Free Press," page 2)

I also resent what I perceive as an effort, on the city's part, to set up language today which will more than likely be used to coerce or guilt the public into approving it again, five years from now.

If I can be even clearer: I planned to vote in support of a 3/4-cent sales tax to fund the police/fire pension plan but, because, instead of placing a straight-forward and focused question before me, the city wrote language with an eye toward influencing my vote in five years, I will be unable to vote in support of the over-all question. I hope they have not ensured this sales tax initiative's failure.

They lost my affirmative vote by over-reaching what should have been the clear-cut objective of simply passing THIS sales tax initiative on THIS day (November 3).

It truly was a yes vote that was the City's to lose.

Disclaimer: I have not written this post to try to influence the vote of any other Springfield resident. I simply cannot, in good conscience, support the ballot language of "question 1," as it was crafted.

Related: "Law sought to give Springfield voters voice in funding choice" - Source: "News-Leader.com"

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Sunday, October 11, 2009

City of Springfield Weekly Calendar: Oct. 12-Oct. 16

Monday, 10/12/2009

12:00 PM Partnership Industrial Center West Administrative Council Chamber of Commerce , 202 John Q. Hammons Parkway Contact: Greg Williams, (417) 862-5567

6:30 PM City Council Meeting Old City Hall, Council Chambers, 830 Boonville Contact: Brenda Cirtin, (417) 864-1650

Tuesday, 10/13/2009

8:30 AM Library Board Buildings & Grounds Committee Kirkpatrick, Phillips, & Miller CPAs , 2003 E. Sunshine Contact: Debbie Eckert, (417) 883-5366

9:00 AM Board of Equalization Greene County, Room 113, 940 North Boonville Contact: Richard Struckhoff, (417) 868-4055

12:00 PM Council Lunch* Busch Municipal Building, 4th Floor Conf. Rm., 840 Boonville Contact: Anita Climer, (417) 864-1654

2:00 PM Administrative Review Busch Municipal Building, Room 285, 840 Boonville Contact: Daniel Neal, (417) 864-1036

5:00 PM Watershed Work Session Watershed Offices , 320 North Main Contact: Loring Bullard, (417) 866-1127

5:30 PM Sherman Avenue Project Area Committee Busch Municipal Building, 2nd Floor West Conf. Rm., 840 Boonville Contact: Marti Fewell, (417) 864-1039

Cancelled due to lack of a quorum - 6:00 PM Police Fire Pension Fund Citizens Task Force Subcommittee Busch Municipal Building, 2nd Floor East Conf. Rm., 840 Boonville Contact: Brenda Cirtin, (417) 864-1650

Wednesday, 10/14/2009

8:00 AM Downtown Springfield Community Improvement District Board of Directors Busch Municipal Building, 4th Floor Conf. Rm., 840 Boonville Contact: Barb Baker, (417) 831-6200

Cancelled 8:00 AM Workforce Investment Board Marketing Committee Missouri Career Center , 1514 South Glenstone Contact: Karen Dowdy, (417) 887-4343

(Added 10/13) 5:00 PM Special City Council meeting (closed for real estate and litigation) Busch Building 4th floor conference room.

5:30 PM Landmarks Board Old City Hall, Council Chambers, 830 Boonville Contact: Daniel Neal, (417) 864-1036

6:00 PM Commercial Street Task Force Fire Station Number 1, Community Room, 720 East Grand Contact: Anita Climer, (417) 864-1654

Thursday, 10/15/2009

8:00 AM Springfield Convention & Visitor's Bureau Board of Directors Jordan Valley Park , 411 North Sherman Parkway Contact: Tracy Kimberlin, (417) 881-5300

12:00 PM Ozarks Transportation Organization Board of Directors Busch Municipal Building, 4th Floor Conf. Rm., 840 Boonville Contact: Tim Conklin, (417) 836-5482

3:30 PM Tree City USA Citizen Advisory Committee Busch Municipal Building, 2nd Floor West Conf. Rm., 840 Boonville Contact: Benjamin Kellner, (417) 864-1178

Friday, 10/16/2009

9:30 AM Public Housing Authority Madison Towers, Northeast Meeting Room, 421 West Madison Contact: Tom Barnett, (417) 866-4329

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*October 13, City Council Lunch Tentative Agenda

1. Follow up to City Council meeting held on October 12, 2009

2. Update on status of Wonders of Wildlife

3. Any and all matters to come before City Council

Source: City of Springfield Public Information Office (Reformatted)

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Friday, October 09, 2009

P & Z to Refer Urban Garden Text Amendment to City Council

and what's "JackeHammer's" opinion regarding the amendment?

Thursday night, as readers of "JackeHammer" know, the Planning and Zoning Commission (P & Z) held a public hearing regarding the proposed text amendment that was unanimously recommended to them by the urban garden task force.

The P & Z Commission, in turn, unanimously voted to recommend that text amendment for consideration by the Springfield City Council at Thursday night's meeting. P & Z anticipates the proposed text amendment will be presented to the Council for first reading and public hearing on October 26.

Having stayed up to date on the issue and having reported on it extensively as the process has unfolded, I figured some of my readers would like to know my opinion on the proposed text amendment. I am allowed to have an opinion, you know? ;)

When I got home last night and looked at some of my favorite news links, I noticed that the "Show-Me Institute's" official blog, "Show-Me Daily," had weighed in on Springfield's urban garden issue. Since I had an exchange with Show-Me blogger Sarah Brodsky, in which my opinion on the amendment was outlined, I would refer you to that Brodsky entry and the comment section where my opinion was expressed. I also would refer you there because I thought the exchange between Brodsky and myself was interesting and she brings yet another opinion to the issue.

If you have any comments, please address them here, I might not, immediately, see them if posted at "Show-Me Daily," though I will try to check in periodically.

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Thursday, October 08, 2009

P & Z to Hear from Public on Urban Garden Task Force Recommendations Tonight

As written about in this previous "JackeHammer" (JH) entry, the Planning and Zoning Commission (P & Z) will take public comment tonight as they review and discuss the Urban Garden Task Force's recommendation.

Here's a recap of some of the details from the earlier JH posting. You might find the information useful if you want to address the Commission tonight:

The Urban Garden Task Force voted unanimously to recommend a City staff prepared, proposed text amendment to the Planning and Zoning Commission (P & Z) for consideration when the task force met on September 22. The task force's approval came with one section change, reflected at Section 5-3002 (E) of the recommended amendment.

Rather than restricting hours of operation from sunrise to sunset as the draft had specified, the proposed section was changed to allow operation from 1/2 hour before sunrise until 1/2 hour after sunset. One other change to the same section allows gasoline powered equipment to operate on the same schedule. The draft text amendment originally allowed mechanical, gas and electric equipment use only from the hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Under the proposed amendment, "Personal Gardens" and "Community Gardens" will be allowed in any and all zoning districts in Springfield. Neither will be allowed to sell produce to the public on-site.

Other than the prohibition of on-site sales, personal gardens can be cited under the nuisance ordinance of City Code for the same things for which all City residents may be cited, such as odor, noise, high weeds, grass, etc. There were no additional restrictions applied to personal gardens.

Community gardens face a few more restrictions. The owner or proprietor of the property will be required to file an application with the Director of Building Development Services but, not without reason, considering they have more potential to be a source of complaint to the neighborhoods where they will be tended than personal gardens tended by a single property owner or family. There will also be a no to minimal-cost permit required.

The proposed restrictions on Community gardens apply to: Accessory structures (not to exceed 40 percent of the lot area); placement of accessory structures; hours of operation; signage; storm water, sediment and erosion; odor emissions; high weeds and grass; compost and material storage areas; lighting; noise; vision obstruction; and parking (if cultivated area exceeds 1 acre in size).Commercial gardens and Farmers' Markets were also defined and regulated under the proposed amendment....

The P & Zoning public hearing will be held on Thursday, October 8, at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers.

If the P & Z Commission approves the Urban Garden Task Force's report and attached amendment, the Commission anticipates the City Council will hear first reading of a bill seeking their approval of the text amendment, and take public comment at their October 26 meeting. That would mean the Council would likely vote on the ordinance on November 9, after second reading of the bill.


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Wednesday, October 07, 2009

Police and Fire Pension Fund Year-End Report Released

The year end actuarial valuation report for the Police and Fire Pension Fund has been released.

A City of Springfield News Release states, in part:

As of June 30, 2009, the plan's market-value funded ratio is 35.5 percent.

"The Plan's funded status is steadily and significantly eroding," the report states, suggesting that the funded status would be improved by increased contributions, improved investment returns, reduction in future benefit liabilities or a combination.


Read the entire report here.

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Approval of $50 Million Springfield Public School Initiative does not Guarantee Federal Stimulus Funds

Last night, I read with interest Brian Brown's article, "Pay longer, build now," regarding the $50 million bond initiative the Springfield Public School Board seeks the tax-payer to approve in the upcoming November election. The article can be found in the October 7, issue of the "Community Free Press (CFP)."

In the column, Brown wrote, "The $50 million bond issue will utilize $5 million to $7 million in federal stimulus money to fund a number of construction and air-conditioning projects in the district."

You see, what was unclear in Brown's article in CFP, was whether the federal stimulus money had been applied for and is guaranteed if the voters approve an extension of the previously, voter-approved tax levy.

Brown pointed out in the article that voter approval of the November bond initiative will extend the 2006 debt-service levy by four years, or until 2030. The debt-service levy, otherwise, is anticipated to be paid off in 2026.

Superintendent of Springfield R-12, Norm Ridder told Brown for the article in CFP, "The community has to pass the bond initiative for us to get the stimulus money." Ridder also indicated the board hadn't really planned to seek a bond initiative in 2009, "The board was not going to go for any kind of initiative this year, but then there was a stimulus package that came forward from the federal government."

Having just written an opinion piece at "JackeHammer," in response to Springfield School Board president Gerry Lee's recent "Voice of the Day" column in the "Springfield News-Leader," and having been the recipient of a response to that opinion piece, in the comment section of that entry, by Springfield Public Schools Community Relations Manager Teresa Bledsoe, I decided to call her with some questions.

I inquired as to whether the SPS Board, or its representative(s), had applied for federal stimulus money related to the bond initiative which will be on the ballot in November.

"We have to approve a bond issue before we can apply," Bledsoe said.

According to Bledsoe, there were $149 million in federal stimulus funds available in the Qualified School Construction Bond Program in 2009 and another $141 million will be available in 2010.

SPS does not qualify for application for those federal funds unless a bond initiative is passed within a certain time frame. Existing bond initiatives do not qualify Springfield to apply for the stimulus funds held in the Qualified School Construction Bond Program.

When asked if there was any guarantee that SPS would be awarded the $5 - $7 million Brown's article claims the bond issue will utilize, Bledsoe referred me to the confidence of the SPS Board's financial advisor George K. Baum.

"He feels fairly confident that we would receive at least $5 million," Bledsoe said.

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Tuesday, October 06, 2009

Trunk or Treating???

If you will be participating in a "Trunk or Treat" this year, like I will be, here's a great site with pictures and links to other sites to help you get your creative juices flowing.

Trunk or Treat Decorating

Enjoy!

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Monday, October 05, 2009

Tit for Tat on School District Numbers

Opinion

Since I posted a link to Tom Gargus' "Voice of the Day" column, "Numbers don't back district's claims," as a recommended reading the day it came out in the "Springfield News-Leader," I feel I should also post President of the Springfield School Board Gerry Lee's response, "Numbers don't add up in criticism of district," of the same source. But, I have to tell you, since we all know numbers can be manipulated to make certain points, and since Tom Gargus spent over $100 in Sunshine Law requests and, more than likely, considerable time researching and analyzing the results of those requests, along with information available at the School District's Web site [according to the News-Leader], I think it might have been appropriate for Mr. Lee to explain why Gargus' numbers were wrong, instead of an equally appropriate exploration and interpretation.

Lee could have made his point in a more humble and respectful manner than he did, and Gargus, after spending considerable money and time in researching and analyzing the issue, was deserving of a more respectful attitude.

For instance, why would enrollment data present a more accurate picture than actual attendance data? Mr. Lee accuses Mr. Gargus of being deceitful for applying attendance data, but offers no explanation about why the use of attendance data offers an "inaccurate" and "deceitful picture," whereas Lee's choice of enrollment data would offer an accurate one.

I felt the president seemed to accuse, or imply that Mr. Gargus was intentionally providing misinformation, being purposely deceptive and simplistic.

I seem to remember, when the bond was passed for air-conditioning the schools, there was talk about all the schools being air-conditioned. My memory is certainly not perfect, but that is the way I remember it. I don't remember it as being a promise to air-condition a certain number of schools, rather I remember it as being a promise to air-condition all the schools. Now, if that isn't the case, I'll be happy to correct myself. I'm not posting such a comment as intentional misinformation, or a deception of the facts.

I'm not sure that Mr. Lee could have been more condescending and accusatory than he was in his rebuttal of Gargus' column. I can understand that Lee might have taken Gargus' accusations personally, however, they were not a personal attack on a person, they were, after monetary expense and sacrifice of time, an editorial commentary of Mr. Gargus' understanding of the issue. An issue, I might add, that involved considerable expenditure of tax-payer dollars.

I'm simply saying Mr. Lee's response could have been much more tactful and presented a better educational opportunity for all readers of the paper in the process, instead of seeming so adversarial and defensive.

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City of Springfield Weekly Calendar: Oct.5-9

Monday, 10/5/2009

8:30 AM Library Board Programs/Services/Technology Committee Library Center , 4653 South Campbell Contact: Debbie Eckert, (417) 883-5366

Tuesday, 10/6/2009

8:00 AM Mayor's Commission for Children Community Foundation , 425 E. Trafficway Contact: Denise Bredfeldt, (417) 864-1656

12:00 PM [Please Note Location Change] *Council Lunch Missouri Hotel, Lobby, 420 E. Commercial Street Contact: Anita Climer, (417) 864-1654

1:00 PM Police Civilian Review Board Busch Municipal Building, 2nd Floor West Conf. Rm., 840 Boonville Contact: Francene Marchant, (417) 864-1791

1:30 PM Board of Adjustment Old City Hall, Council Chambers, 830 Boonville Contact: Matt Schaefer, (417) 864-1100

2:30 PM Administrative Review Busch Municipal Building, Room 285, 840 Boonville Contact: Daniel Neal, (417) 864-1036

5:15 PM Environmental Advisory Board Springfield/Greene County Health Department, Basement Conference Room, 227 E. Chestnut Exp. Contact: Karen McKinnis, (417) 864-1623

6:00 PM Police Fire Pension Fund Citizens Task Force Subcommittee Busch Municipal Building, 2nd Floor East Conf. Rm., 840 Boonville Contact: Brenda Cirtin, (417) 864-1650

Wednesday, 10/7/2009

5:30 PM Commercial Street Task Force Midtown Carnegie Branch Library, Basement Conference Room, 397 East Central Contact: Anita Climer, (417) 864-1654

Thursday, 10/8/2009

8:30 AM Police and Fire Pension Review Committee Busch Municipal Building, 4th Floor Conf. Rm., 840 Boonville Contact: Evelyn Honea, (417) 864-1002

5:30 PM Building Trades Certification and Examination Board Busch Municipal Building, 1st Floor Conf. Rm, 840 Boonville Contact: Nick Heatherly, (417) 864-1059

6:00 PM Art Museum Board of Directors Art Museum , 1111 East Brookside Contact: Jerry Berger, (417) 837-5700

6:30 PM Planning and Zoning Commission Old City Hall, Council Chambers, 830 Boonville Contact: Mike MacPherson, (417) 864-1831

Friday, 10/9/2009

8:30 AM Springfield/Greene County Park Board Dickerson Park Zoo , 1401 W. Norton Road Contact: Jodie Adams, (417) 864-1049

12:00 PM City Council Finance and Administration Committee Busch Municipal Building, 4th Floor Conf. Rm., 840 Boonville Contact: Lisa Harley, (417) 864-1443

---------------------------------------------

*TENTATIVE COUNCIL LUNCH AGENDA [Please note the Council lunch will be held in the Missouri Hotel Lobby located at 420 E. Commercial Street on Tuesday, rather than at the Busch building]

1. "Tuesdays with The Kitchen" Presentation of Programs & Campus Tour - Lisa Hamaker

2. Any and all matters to come before City Council

Source: City of Springfield Public Information Office [with format editing]

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Friday, October 02, 2009

More Garden News: Rutledge-Wilson Farm Park Leases Almost a Third of Available Garden Plots

According to an article in the Friday edition of the "Springfield News-Leader," the Springfield-Greene County Parks Department has leased 19 of the 60 garden plots it is making available to the public since kicking off the pilot program last month.

The 8 x 16 and 16 x 16 plots may be leased for $25 and $40 on an annual basis, respectively. Those signing up will have an option to renew their lease annually.

News-Leader reporter Wes Johnson laid out the particulars:

The Park Board provides soil, fencing, water access and a sign for each plot.

All food grown is the property of the plot's renter. Each participant is responsible for maintaining weed control, providing all seeds and other equipment required to grow a garden and removing debris at the end of the growing season.

"The goal of the new Urban Gardens program is to offer a space for people to grow fruits, vegetables or flowers, who otherwise don't immediately have the space available in their own backyard," said Parks Director Jodie Adams.

"They will also offer an opportunity for youth field trips to see and participate in a working garden, along with generally providing fellowship with others and recreational, exercise and therapeutic benefits to our community."

An urban garden program guide and application is available directly on the Park Board's Web site at www.parkboard.org.


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P & Z Commission to Hold Public Hearing on Proposed Urban Garden Text Amendment

Task force members prompt Springfield City Council to adopt a resolution to support a policy of food, urban agricultural and energy sustainability

The Urban Garden Task Force voted unanimously to recommend a City staff prepared, proposed text amendment to the Planning and Zoning Commission (P & Z) for consideration when the task force met on September 22. The task force's approval came with one section change, reflected at Section 5-3002 (E) of the recommended amendment.

Rather than restricting hours of operation from sunrise to sunset as the draft had specified, the proposed section was changed to allow operation from 1/2 hour before sunrise until 1/2 hour after sunset. One other change to the same section allows gasoline powered equipment to operate on the same schedule. The draft text amendment originally allowed mechanical, gas and electric equipment use only from the hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Under the proposed amendment, "Personal Gardens" and "Community Gardens" will be allowed in any and all zoning districts in Springfield. Neither will be allowed to sell produce to the public on-site.

Other than the prohibition of on-site sales, personal gardens can be cited under the nuisance ordinance of City Code for the same things for which all City residents may be cited, such as odor, noise, high weeds, grass, etc. There were no additional restrictions applied to personal gardens.

Community gardens face a few more restrictions. The owner or proprietor of the property will be required to file an application with the Director of Building Development Services but, not without reason, considering they have more potential to be a source of complaint to the neighborhoods where they will be tended than personal gardens tended by a single property owner or family. There will also be a no to minimal-cost permit required.

The proposed restrictions on Community gardens apply to: Accessory structures (not to exceed 40 percent of the lot area); placement of accessory structures; hours of operation; signage; storm water, sediment and erosion; odor emissions; high weeds and grass; compost and material storage areas; lighting; noise; vision obstruction; and parking (if cultivated area exceeds 1 acre in size).

Commercial gardens and Farmers' Markets were also defined and regulated under the proposed amendment.

Task force member Galen Chadwick took the advise of Jack Wheeler, the chair of the task force, and prepared a letter to attach to the proposed amendment for the City Council to consider.

In his letter to the City Council, Chadwick made a plea for local food sustainability.

"The food consumed by the citizens of the Springfield Economic Area, an amount in excess of 1,100 tons of food per day, is shipped and trucked to us along a fragile and globalized supply line," Chadwick wrote. "Should this delivery system be disrupted for any reason, supermarket shelves will empty within hours. The average household has roughly three days worth of food on hand. Given that less than 5% of our food is grown within the state, or within a thousand miles beyond our borders, the result of a significant disruption will be catastrophic."

Chadwick, a regional co-coordinator of the "Well-Fed Neighbor Alliance" (WFNA), proposed the City Council should consider supporting or initiating a "Food Policy Council," to create, develop and implement citywide food policy regulation.

The WFNA is a member of the Healthy Youth Partnership, a non-profit organization in St. Louis working to develop a "just and sustainable local food system" under the direction of Maggie Menefree and University of Missouri Community Food Systems director Dr. Mary Hendrickson.

Chadwick and fellow WFNA regional coordinator Ruell Chappell have been working to form the Well-Fed Neighbor Farmers' Co-op, in conjunction with area supermarkets.

Chadwick indicated the WFNA could assist the Council, if they are interested in forming a Food Policy Council.

"Should the City Council be interested in this proposal, the WFNA will arrange an informal exploratory session along with Dr. Hendrickson, regional foods experts, and other key academic and WFNA executive leaders," Chadwick wrote, before supplying Council members with contact information.

He listed potential partners in the food council as: Faith based groups, concerned individuals, farmers, community gardens, food producers, cooks, local and state governments, schools and colleges, health and nutrition experts, food advocates, food distributors, farmers' markets, and food banks/food pantries.

A second Urban Garden Task Force letter, signed by four members of the task force, supported "the concept of establishing the "Food Policy Council" as a part of the non-profit community."

"We are asking City Council to adopt a resolution to support a policy of food, urban agricultural and energy sustainability."

The four members who signed the letter endorsing the Food Policy Council and the establishment of the WFNA as a step toward their shared goal were: Earl Slavens, Urban Garden Task Force member; Chairman of the Friends of the Victory Gardens at Grand Oak Mission Gary Schafer; Melissa Millsap, Urban Roots Farm; and Curt Millsap, Millsap Farm CSA.

If this issue is of interest to you, the Planning and Zoning Commission will take public comment on Thursday, October 8, at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers.

If the P & Z Commission approves the Urban Garden Task Force's report and attached amendment, the Commission anticipates the City Council will hear first reading of a bill seeking their approval of the text amendment, and take public comment at their October 26 meeting. That would mean the Council would likely vote on the ordinance on November 9, after second reading of the bill.

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Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Recommended Reading 22: Springfield Public Schools

Numbers don't back district's claims News-Leader.com Springfield News-Leader ~ by Tom Gargus

The "Springfield News-Leader" also provided the following editor's note:

"Editor's note: Tom Gargus says he spent $122 through the Sunshine Law obtaining district documents and used many others on the district Web site to draw his conclusions. We plan to allow the school district to respond to some of his contentions in a news story soon."

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Monday, September 28, 2009

City of Springfield Weekly Calendar: Sept. 28-Oct. 2

Update, addition to Wednesday's meeting schedule and (new change as of Wednesday morning) the Springfield Police Officers' and Fire Fighters' Retirement System Board of Trustees will meet in the Community Room of Fire Station #1 at 720 E. Grand instead of at the Busch building as originally planned.

Monday, 9/28/2009

No Meetings Scheduled

Tuesday, 9/29/2009

12:00 PM Council Lunch* Busch Municipal Building, 4th Floor Conf. Rm., 840 Boonville Contact: Anita Climer, (417) 864-1654 (or immediately following Council Lunch)

12:30 PM (or immediately following Council Lunch) Special Council Meeting Busch Municipal Building, 4th Floor Conf. Rm., 840 Boonville Contact: Anita Climer, (417) 864-1654

2:30 PM Administrative Review Busch Municipal Building, Room 285, 840 Boonville Contact: Daniel Neal, (417) 864-1036

6:00 PM Mayor's Commission on Human Rights Busch Municipal Building, Room L45, 840 Boonville Contact: Bob Hosmer, (417) 864-1834

6:00 PM Police Fire Pension Fund Citizens Task Force Subcommittee Busch Municipal Building, 4th Floor Conf. Rm., 840 Boonville Contact: Brenda Cirtin, (417) 864-1650

Wednesday, 9/30/2009 (revised)

12:00 PM City Council Plans & Policies Committee Busch Municipal Building, 4th Floor Conf. Rm., 840 Boonville Contact: Lisa Harley, (417) 864-1443

5:30 PM Landmarks Board Old City Hall, Council Chambers, 830 Boonville Contact: Daniel Neal, (417) 864-1036

Cancelled 6:30 PM Commercial Street Task Force Busch Municipal Building, Room L45, 840 Boonville Contact: Anita Climer, (417) 864-1654

Addition: 6:30 PM Springfield Police Officers' and Firefighters Retirement System Board of Trustees Community Room of Fire Station #1 at 720 E. Grand

Thursday, 10/1/2009

5:00 PM Building Trades Certification and Examination Board Busch Municipal Building, 1st Floor Conf. Rm, 840 Boonville Contact: Nick Heatherly, (417) 864-1059

Friday, 10/2/2009

7:30 AM Watershed Committee Midtown Carnegie Branch Library , 397 East Central Contact: Loring Bullard, (417) 866-1127

9:00 AM Commercial Street Community Improvement District Busch Municipal Building, 4th Floor Conf. Rm., 840 Boonville Contact: Donnie Rodgers, (417) 880-3435

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*TENTATIVE CITY COUNCIL LUNCH AGENDA

1. General Council Discussion

2. Any and all matters to come before City Council

3. Adjourn to Special Closed Session Council Meeting

Source: City of Springfield Public Information Office

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Saturday, September 26, 2009

Sunday Reading: On Judging Others

I like the hair salon I go to. The girls are very good at their work [no matter which one "works you in"] and they can usually get me in, even without an appointment. I called on Friday, though because, since it was a Friday, I thought I might be pushing my luck to just walk in and expect them to have an opening. Us girls know the closer you get to the weekend, the less likely you can just walk in and get scheduled within 15-30 minutes. Another thing us girls know is that stories get told in hair salons, just like stories get told [so I hear] at barbershops.

I liked what "Betsy" [fictitious name] had to say because I think she really struck at the heart of an issue that seems to face many Christians. The "sin stigma" that is assigned to homosexuals. I'd have to admit, I generally handle this issue with kid gloves, myself, because it can be a very touchy subject among Christians. [Oops, I guess I'm taking off the gloves.]

Betsy was complaining about a relative who had recently become a Christian.

Apparently, before the relative became a Christian she was close friends with a gay couple, and the gay couple had done a lot for Betsy's relative. Helping her with school tuition, among other things [and it sounded like a lengthy list]. You see, gay people can be nice people and do nice things, Christians simply do not have the market on nicety.

Anyway, back to the story. Betsy's relative felt because the couple is gay and living a sinful lifestyle she should just cut them out of her life and refuse to see them anymore.

Betsy was concerned that this is just the sort of action, on the part of a Christian, that gives all Christians a bad name. I agreed with her but, interjected that Betsy's relative would mature as a Christian, at some point, and come to realize the error of her thinking. And, that's when Betsy made a very important point. The pain and hurt to the gay couple that was caused by the attitude of the fledgling Christian, by her complete rejection of them as people, as no longer deserving of her love and gratitude after all they had done for her, was not going to just go away while the new Christian "matured."

Christians like the, some might call, platitude: "Hate the sin but love the sinner," whether you think it is a platitude or not, there is huge wisdom in the statement.

I've got a little tract. It's titled, "For the thinking mind INTELLIGENCE TEST." There are 8 questions, or riddles, on the test. Number 7 reads:


"A man once broke all of the Ten Commandments. He lied, stole (the value of the article is irrelevant), lusted -- which the Bible says is "to commit adultery in his heart," failed to love God above all else, failed to honor his parents as well as to keep the Sabbath holy. He hated (which God sees as murder), failed to honor God's name, and he also "coveted," which means to want other people's things. How could God, who is perfect and holy (and therefore by His very nature must punish transgression of His Law), forgive him freely, and yet justice still be done? How can the man avoid Hell and go to Heaven?"


And here's the answer, in part, from the back of the tract:


"...He (the man) needs God's mercy. When Jesus died on the cross, He took the punishment for our sins, satisfying eternal justice and at the same time demonstrating God's incredible love for sinful humanity. The moment the man repents and puts his faith in the Savior, God will forgive his sins and give him the gift of everlasting life. He then should read the Bible daily and obey what he reads, showing himself to be genuine in his faith...."

I think some Christians confuse the Bible's statement found in Matthew 7, verse 16, “You will know them by their fruits," as an excuse to judge other people but, what that scripture is saying, in context, is to beware of false prophets, and giving instruction on how to identify them, not giving Christians the go ahead to judge people who do not bear "good fruit" as unworthy of God's forgiveness. In fact, in the very same chapter of Matthew, we read in verses 1-5:


“Do not judge so that you will not be judged. 2 “For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. 3 “Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 “Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? 5 “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye."


Keeping it all in context, we must also look at verse 6, which says:

“Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces."


Again, however, we need to consider carefully and prayerfully before we decide [judge?] who should be labeled as a dog, or who should be labeled as swine....

Still reading in Matthew chapter 7, we find "the golden rule," always one of my favorites. It's found in verse 12:

“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets. "

Meditate on these things:

Romans 3:9-10 says:


"9 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; 10 as it is written, “THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE...."


Ephesians 2:8-10 and 12-14 says:


"8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

12 remember that you were at that time separate from Christ..., and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace...."

I think I'm right, I think this young Christian will grow in her walk with Christ, she will mature but, there may be people hurt in the process. That is why older, more mature Christians must offer direction to new, immature Christians. [And I and other, now more "mature" Christians, may have hurt people in the process of maturing in Christ, as well.]

I also think Betsy is exactly right. All Christians, whether each individual Christian is judgmental themselves or not, will be judged by non-Christians based on the actions of the most immature Christians they come into contact with, and based, sometimes, on the actions of those who claim to be Christians but, who may not, in reality, be true Christians [and whether those claiming to be Christians are true Christians or not is for God to judge, not me].

We, as Christians, have no business playing like we have the authority to judge others and the hearts of others. That authority belongs to God alone. How dare we, any of us, represent God as an unforgiving God, an unloving God! If Christians are, and I believe we are because that is what the Bible tells me, "...His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them," and if God loved the world so much that he sent his one and only Son to pay our sin debt for us, then we should be demonstrating the love of God as His representatives.

We truly can observe Christ-likeness and hate sin while demonstrating the love of Christ to people, for we are all sinners and yet, there are people we love, regardless of the sin in their lives, right? That is what Jesus came to do. That is what being "Christlike," at its core, should be. Jesus loved, forgave, and gave eternal life to prostitutes, eunuchs, tax collectors [who were hated in Bible times as thieves] and sinners. He hated the sin of depraved sexual activity of all kinds, including fornication, adultery and homosexuality but, He demonstrated His love for a world full of sinners when He died on the cross and rose again to prepare a place for believers in heaven.

By the way, just as an aside, I do believe there is one person the scripture calls each Christian to judge. Our own selves.

2 Corinthians 13:5:

"Keep examining yourselves to see whether you are continuing in the faith. Test yourselves! You know, don’t you, that Jesus the Messiah lives in you? Could it be that you are failing the test?"


Disclaimer: I am not an expert on Bible theology or interpretation of scripture. I am just a saved sinner like all the rest of the Christians in the world. If you are a Christian and you disagree with my interpretation of scripture regarding this issue, feel free to hash it out in the comment section. I promise to try not to judge you, and we might even learn something from each other along the way. ;)

Scripture source: "Biblos.com"

Tract source: www.raycomfort.com
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