The original blog covering Barry County and West Michigan's political scene.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
That's Debatable- Prosecutor Edition
Barry County prosecutor Tom Evans will square off against primary challenger Kerri Selleck tonight (June 26) at 7 p.m. at the Barry County Commission on Aging. The debate will be moderated by attorney David Makled.
I'm the first person home again...just for everyone's information, no one can call foul about the public questions being culled by the moderating panel because they didn't even entertain them. Debate was canned and over by 8:30.
Darn it Molli I missed meeting you again..I was in the front row with tom evans shirt on...
I thought it went very well, and am surprized that Kerri didn't get as dirty as I thought she would. Tom was well prepared and did a fantastic job. He had some of her record on cases with him and did not even have to bring it up.
What is with her complaining that the pros staff is not trained well enough with one breath and the next saying they are great??
I also feel that a woman about to have her first child should not be elected into a position where she will be leaving that child for over 10 hours a day.
With all her talk about child abuse and neglect cases she's worked on, don't you think she would WANT to stay home with her own??
So Kerri's view of the Second Amendment is "it is what it is". What exactly does that mean? We are to believe that Tom has a 90% failure rate, yet crime isn't running wild. On one hand the Staff in the Prosecutors office is excellent, on the other it's a failure and in need of training. And don't forget about the Children, won't someone please think about the children! Oh, and we need to train the staff, because there are great people on staff. If you want to see a high failure rate look at Kerri's stats, there not very good.
Some people have supportive spouses to help them with children...and sometimes the job is important enough to a woman that she is willing to sacrifice time with said child to make sure it gets done. We NEVER ask this question when a man is expecting an incoming child and is running for office. It doesn't take a vagina to make a bottle and change a diaper and a prosecutor's salary would definately cover added help.
Maybe grandma lives in house and has a advanced degree in childhood development and has retired just so she can spend time with new grandkid. We don't know the circumstances and I think anyone with a Juris Doctorate can figure out how to prioritize her life.
(Bag it for that drain commissioner candidate too, she would be leaving that baby for a 8+ hour a day job.)
Hey TS...how does one get those statistics? Evans quoted Sellek's stats which she said where wrong, she quotes his conviction percentage which he says is wrong. Where are the numbers?
NOW-- "...and sometimes the job is important enough to a woman that she is willing to sacrifice time with said child to make sure it gets done."
LATER-- "I'm sorry Chelsea, I didnt hear your first word, watch your first steps, or comfort your teething pain, but at the time it was critically more important that I maintained the Jordan Lake level."
A Human Life should not be treated like a pet or a novelty. A diaper is not simply a litterbox. A woman is not simply the lucky (or unlucky, as some would suggest)gender that was blessed with the physiology to produce offspring. She is a MOTHER. It is a LIFETIME commitment, yes, even more important than being the Drain Commissioner or Prosecutor. Mothers and Fathers both have EQUALLY important roles in raising a child. I am not naive, I do not think all women should be June Cleaver. But aside from pressing financial needs, I struggle to understand why todays parents make the biggest committment of their and their childs life and then outsource much of the responsibility during the critical (and enjoyable) first couple years.
It is not necessary to respond to this post, not trying to stir anything up, I'm just a grumpy old timer venting.
Speaking from my own view and circumstances, I could not and did not have handled a full time job and a new baby... knowing what I do now helps me form an opinion...IF this was her second or later child I would have nothing to say on this subject.
Molli, I asked you personally if you could handle the job and a new baby...if you feel you can GREAT!! But Prosecutor and drain commissioner are NOT the same things AT ALL!!!
I know it does not take female reproductive organs to change a diaper or make a bottle but it sure helps to have one and breastfeed!!! Carl had 15 nieces and nephews before we had kids and I did not know how to change a diaper before the day Amanda was born.
Kerri claims to be for the best intrest of the children...then I feel she should stay home and take care of the one she's pregnant with.
OverWhelmed said... Camden Did you mean the DOG should stay home and make babies or the female officer? If that is you attitude against women then your a chovansitic pig.
When I run for Prosecutor as a Democrat in 2010, I will not have a baby to diaper, but I will save the County hundreds of thousands of dollars by not showing up for work at all, and not appearing on TV (or even watching it).
I am out raged by this sexism. NO one ever asks a man how many hours a day he is "abandoning" his children for.
The reality of it is women can do it all and HAVE to. Julie Nakfoor Pratt was and is an excellent attorney and prosecutor and still puts her children first. It is a delicate balance but somehow women do it and have done it for thousands of years.
I cannot imagine being dumb enough to admit that I wouldn't vote for someone because they are with child or have children.
What year is it here in BumblyBurg?
I thought the debate lacked umpf. Someone needs to come up with a better forum for these events. Maybe if it were open for public question and answer sessions (like a town hall meeting) more people would attend.
Did anyone else find Tom's "God Bless You All" to be inappropriate?
I didn't see you Mr.Front Row....I must have been right behind you.
I apoligise for my opinion and that is has offened you. It was only my opinion and I thought that is what this blog was about...
I mean I have to wade thru Truthseekers rants about "barney and big boy", El Grillos's rants about his mock election to a job that he does not want and will not even show up to, and rants about other crap that is not worth the time it takes to type.
I can only say I feel that have been condemed as a Misogynist and if that is what you want to believe fine. I prefer to think that I have traditional if not old-fashioned values when it comes to women working outside the home.
I guess just because I could not handle it no woman can, well more power to her if she can handle being supermom and prosecutor at the same time.
Molli Public servants like the prosecutor and their assistants do not make a lot of money. The job is a very unthankful job.
I do agree with you that Selleck being pregnant should not be a issue. Many homes nowadays are single parent homes. Whether that is best for children or not should not lay on womens shoulders alone.
For most people today whether or not to leave their children for 10 to 12 hours a day is not a CHOICE! It does not make them a "super" parent but a tired one with bills to pay, trying to do the best they can. Society should be ashamed to still harbor these feelings toward a working woman. Did it even cross your mind that maybe her husband would stay home? Or maybe the Grandparents are able to help.
Besides Shane Mc**** worked two jobs, he had kids, did you ever ask him about their well being?
Norman...you implication that motherhood is a lifetime role is correct, but you also miss the corellary. FATHERHOOD is a lifetime role; one that too many times we let males skip out on. It is not being applied EQUALLY like you imply. Then we blame the mother for the result.
Don't get me wrong, I bag on women all the time who make stupid choices in who they "breed" with.
I'd miss my child saying "daddy" to my husband the first time if that was when I was putting away a child rapist for life. Are we calling home the troups from Iraq because there are so many of our soldiers missing their children's first steps, first bath, first word, formative years...No, and not because they are mostly men.
This whole working women being new is a MYTH. Look at the employment statistic from the turn of the century. Women where working outside of the home or in intensive home occupations, in extended family situations for centuries before we hit the "golden" age of the nuclear family. My own greatgrandmother ran a hotel and left the childrearing to her sister nextdoor. What we are missing here is the support for the real "traditional" family which includes grandparents, unmarried siblings, and other relatives.
We also have this funny notion that parenthood is a job that all people are qualified for at 100% proficiency. Look around folks, you've seen them in our own community and I don't need to elaborate.
I do NOT believe that the most appropriate primary caregiver of a child is the mother by default. The most appropriate primary caregiver is the person with the ability and the desire regardless of age or gender or blood relationship.
And Chelsea...what an awful name (what where they thinking).
All - the sorriest part of the debate was that the people did not hear the whole story. Evans, also known as the republican spin doctor, prosecution and court record is dismal at best. Why wasn't Evans asked how many cases or investigations are back logged because HIS office has failed to do their job. Offices have submitted many comprehensive and exhaustive investigations for prosecution and Evans allows them to pile up, while criminals remain on the street to prey on more victms.
What is worse, the cases Evans has tried to prosecute get reduced to far lesser charges by HIM, not by the courts or juries and again the suspects walk. The victims are then made to look unreliable or credible. His 0-13 court record speaks for itself.
It is clear that Evans comment of "God Bless You All" is a facade because he should knows that God doesn't do manual labor. Evans has to first show up to work on time; work hard when he's there; set positive examples and standards; and not quit until the job is done right. Evans continued impersonation of "Monty Hall" on Lets Make a Deal" is a detriment to our community and all the criminals and defense attornys know it. We deserve a honorable prosecutor who WORKS with the entire law enforcement community in the caring and protection for all victims; particully minors and our seniors.
Can I just add...As of right now the general voting public does not have enough information to make a good choice before election time. J-ad has its hands tied due to legal action and they are the only news source in the county for indepth issues. They are failing to provide FACTS to the public that could make or break this election.
If anyone wanted to hit Tom where it hurts they would go to the clerks office and get all of the data and PUBLISH it.
The same could be said for Dar. There are MANY unanswered questions about how the 911 case was handled (or mishandled). Get the facts and publish them.
It is disappointing that this has been allowed to continue for so long. If we were in a larger city with more reporting options someone would have ran an expose by now and outed them all.
Also, I totally agree with you Molli. So often women are the victims of their choices. Damned if you do and damned if you don't. It applies to so many issues. In today's society the roles of men and women have shifted and both are responsible for cooking, cleaning, and child rearing. Gone is the day where Dad mows the lawn and tips back with his scotch and cigar for the night. If mom goes off to work she still has household duties to attend to as well as her day job.
With the rising costs of everything it is almost impossible to have a one income family. Unless the government starts giving moms a cash incentive to stay at home (as most European countries do) moms will have to work.
el Grillo; You are assuming that the individual wasn't elected by fraud or appointed by a Supreme Court and that all votes were counted. We do not deserve the archaic Electoral College system which sometimes short circuits the will of the majority. We did NOT deserve George W. Bush.
Must be the trio of trouble went out after Mark - I won't pay my property taxes - spent time this afternoon with his good friend, Vivian. I found it interesting that just enough of Mark's property taxes were paid to keep his name out of the local newspaper!
So what does one call it when one takes taxpayer money and pays selective employees unearned overtime? I looked up the definition of embezelment and one does not have to gain personaly to commit embezelment. I heard Charlie say on the News, "that's the way we've always done it", so it's clear that it happened. I don't believe the Central Dispatch Board was without sin, I believe they knew and condoned the practice. The bottom line is, the taxpayers are out money, Charlie is out of a job, and noone is happy.
last boy & lucklady - you are correct, many are happy nasty is gone. His no nonsense and do what is right everytime for the public attitude may have set the bar too high for the trio plus. The one disgruntled employee, DARling barney, evans, engleth, callton, (the trio plus) couldn't stand being exposed, questioned or held to high standards that focused on service to the public.
The enormous pile of public court records and the 4 comprehensive and very expensive and "outside" investigations speak for themselves. The witch-hunts began over four years ago when the disgruntled employee wrote her first anonymous letter; Darling barney was elected; the local newspaper was exposed for making threats and then began to publish demeaning and uncorroborated garbage and evans was appointed prosecutor.
Since nasty was rode out on a rail, look what has occurred.
DARling barney, engleth, ferris and callton authorized purchasing a $300,000.00 records management system for our department that isn't compatible with any other public safety agency. This happened after OSSI, the vendor, told DARling barney, engleth and ferris up front it won't work with other agencies unless the other agencies purchased a OSSI computer software too. what sense does that make?
With DARling barney's encouragement, engleth, ferris and callton authorized a fruitless jail study that has cost the taxpayers over $39,000.00 for a senseless jail-junket for DARlling barney and engleth to travel to Florida during prime vacation time. Not once since DARling barney been in office has the Michigan Department of Correctons found our jail in violation, the records speak for themselves. DARling barney is quoted publicly "the problem with keeping the current jail facility is that there are liability issues" what a profound blackbelt and swattish observation. Every jail in the world have liability issues. Listening to DARling barney elementary responses is exactly why we need a real sheriff that has administrative skills, education that is more than a black belt in karate, and a person who has a proven track record in leadership and integrity.
countless attorney fee's have been expended to fend off countless civil suits because of the trio's plus enept leadership or administrative skills;
2 senseless animal shelter fiasco's that caused death to so many cats and dogs and our DARling barney says publicly "The problem is we take in strays" and "If you don't take aggressive action on stuff like that, people lose faith". Every animal shelter in our state take in strays. It wasn't a problem that it happened the first time, it became a disaster when it occured the second time within two weeks. Blaming it on the shelter workers, the local veterinarian and strays isn't management courage, it is blatant poor leadership and a total lack of responsibility.
It might befitting if the taxpayers "spayed and neutered" the likes of the trio plus this election year. It could save the taxpayers a lot of money in the long run.
Truth, Your case against Tom and Dar must be weak. It's the loser who resorts to calling names. Bulwark As far as the Animal Shelter is concerned, Dar is in denial. The Shelter is more of an animal jail than a shelter. There are agencies who will come in at no cost, anaylize the shelter and make recomendations. Right now we have a reactive staff and the animals are paying the price. I believe the Animal Shelter should be under the authority of the Health Department, just like it is in most other Counties. "Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely", the Central Dispatch Board has absolute power. The Board of Commissioners need to desolve the Central Dispatch Board and start over. There needs to be Citizen oversight.
I looked up Marks taxes they are 7 one year old, 1 is current. They do not publish taxes for being behind one year. Also if are going to persecute then add Sarver to the list of I paid my taxes late list. At leaast thqat is what it appears to be on the county web site, which is same site Marks are on. Difference is Marks are businesses and Jerrys are property taxes.
You people want a perfect "person" in office you better ask Jesus to run, he is the only perfect being.
Not anything new...you have to get to the terminal in the treasurer's office to get the full payment history and I'm not that type of snoop. I just pulled Sarver's off the web and it said paid...and 2007 was the only year listed. If you pull a record it lists all the years where they have gone delinquent and for how much. Sarver only had the one year.
If someone else has an issue or non-issue with payment of taxes then pull the full record and see if someone has a "HABIT". It wasn't my issue in the first place, it just keeps cropping up over and over again...kinda like 911. Like El Grillo has explained, the non payment of property taxes on developmental properties is sometimes a way to save money if there is a sale in the near future. The seller defers the taxes and interest to the buyer at close.
My questions is why in the heck would someone settle for a 53K per year job when they are so much more profitable as an independant contractor. I really hope the economy hasn't got that bad. But then I think the Kevin Allerding is in the same boat, McKelvey makes more as independant contracter for his three assessing units, and Jan Kelly's business folded recently. Egad, it probably is that bad and health insurance is a killer expense too.
Colibri, Add to that the recent observation of GWBII that "Mugabe won the election in Zimbabwe by fraud and intimidation". I'm wondering when the McCain clone will visit Zimbabwe for some tips on how to get the opposition parties to withdraw from elections. He could save us some money by just visiting Barry County, where the "opposition party" has withdrawn from the elections before even starting.
The funniest comment I've heard from a local Democrat is that "A Democrat can't win in Barry County". That is automatically true if you can't get anybody to run for any office. Mugabe got it right! Any democracy can be turned into a dictatorship by convincing the "opposition" that they can't win.
After the August "election" any defeated or retiring Republicans still in office can collect their checks until January without showing up for work, and you can thank your progressively lazy Democrats for that. If a lazy Democrat was on the ballot, at least the incumbent Republican would need to work for a paycheck until November. December is holiday pay, either way.
A group of prisoners sat around the exercise yard and one would mention a number. Everybody would roar with laughter.
A new guy watched for a while and decided to try it out. He said "9-1-1", and nobody laughed.
Later, he asked his cellmate what went wrong, and the cellmate explained that they had told the same old jokes so many times that they reduced boredom by just numbering them.
"But '9-1-1' always gets the biggest laugh!" replied the newbie.
"Yeah, but it wasn't the joke, it was the way you told it" said the cellmate.
I'm sure that we all have heard the punch line often enough to answer your question.
The board did not do anything illegal, or as you put it, anything "wrong".
Charlie did not do anything illegal, or as you repeat endlessly, "wrong".
Both demonstrated total incompetence for the job they were expected to perform.
Charlie lacked people skills and the board lacked the will to replace him until he became an embarrassment.
The same situation seems to exist at the City level. Hopefully, that issue will be resolved by a change of jobs before it becomes as much of an embarrassment to the City as the 911 debacle has become for the County.
Being able to balance the books, having good penmanship, and wearing clean underwear are not the only things required of a person collecting a salary for being a titled executive.
People skills would include not boring everybody to tears.
If you think this rant will influence many voters in August you know something about this blog that escapes me. I consider it a joke, even if the humor escapes you.
why el grill-0., hasn't the Barry County dispatch / 911 department had ONE (1) civil or libiability suit filed against them in the last 18 years? The national average for criminal or civi liability suits against all 911 centers nation-wide is 1.5. per year.
Why has there been a total of only nine (9) grievances filed by union employees at the Barry Co. 911 Center?
The reasons are simple - there was and IS accountitibilty, positive leadership and management control by the 911 Administrative Board, the Technical Advisory Committee and most importanly the dedicated team of trained supervisors - Rose, Glasgow, McCord, Fuller, Chase & Camburn.
There record speaks for themselves, even though DARling barney,engleth, evans and the local news-paper have tried their darnest to degrade and tear them down.
The Administrative Board, the Committee, the 911 Supervisors and dispatchers KNOW their roles and it has always been about Service, Service, Service to the ALL the citizens and the public safety team of police, EMS and fire agencies they service.
We may not have always agreed with the standards and procedures that nasty and the Board held us too, BUT we respected they where always focused on what was best for all the citizens, our taxpayers, with positive focus on the safety for our ems, fire and police personal who respond to the calls for service.
CHECK THE RECORD, CHECK THE BUDGET, CHECK OUT THE TOTAL RESULTS, you are making a total ass of yourself El Grillo, by not expounding on the TRUTH. Remember, the TRUTH will set you free.
Several of us (majority), may have despised nasty for setting the bar high or his authoritive demeanor and forth right delivery, but we respected how he demanded positive service for ALL the our citizens and the safety of our ems, fire and police, central dispatch served.
It would really be nice if the Trio plus of DARling barney, engleth, callton, ferris, and evans did the same.
The trio plus just continues to "lead us down DARling barneys prime rose path" to nowhere.
Back to work tomorrow. I encourage the taxpayers of our county to ..... Replace the trio plus bums, get them before they get MORE of you.
Question for Bulwark: Regarding the impressive stats you cited; are you comparing B.C.'s perfect record with averages which include mega population centers like New York and Los Angeles or were your 'averages' determined by comparing BC with other small rural counties of similar size and population? Thanks, just curious.
I am also curious who did the study? Usually when giving such numbers one would quote the organization that did it. So as to say "according to X The national average for criminal or civil liability suits against all 911 centers nation-wide is 1.5. per year." I do not necessarily doubt the numbers you quoted, but they would not hold as much weight if X=High Times Magazine would they?
Why has there been a total of only nine (9) grievances filed by union employees at the Barry Co. 911 Center? 9 seems like a lot! How many employees has the department got? Is that 9 ever, or 9 in a year?
TS, Thanks for the lead to HughesNet. My head hurts from all the technogarble, but it looks like Costa Rica is not covered by many satellites. That seems strange considering that most satellites are near the Equator.
Since you visited el-grillo.blogspot, you may understand my hesitation to add a ten-foot satellite dish to my landscaping.
At 3600 ft. above sea-level, the wind is another reason for a low profile.
btw "As far as your comment that no one cares, I disagree, I think you will hear in the near future of the concerns many have., I realize that you who only lives here for part of the year really have no interest in any of this other than to share your thoughts."
Actually, the six-month gap in my residency had no effect on my ability to remain informed about this fiasco. Nearly nothing has changed in spite of daily repetition. You misrepresent my comments (normal behavior) as I clearly stated that very few people read this blog anymore due to the incessant repetition of the same old stuff. Barry County has a great many other issues to discuss, but the readers of this repetition have drifted away to more interesting sites. None of this venting is likely to change even one vote, but the hope you have of defeating the incumbent sheriff, prosecutor, and drain commissioner by name-calling in front of an audience of a dozen bored readers is humorous. Even the blog administrator won't be back to add a new post for two or three weeks, and then will probably not bother to read any of this stuff. The folks who might need your information live in the corners of the county and probably don't even know who barney and big boy are, other than a dinosaur and a burger, so even if they accidentally peeked into this blog they wouldn't get your message. They would get the impression that it is a private conversation between deranged and angry people and wouldn't bother to return. I have peeked into the Enquirer blog from time to time, but the atmosphere down there is also filled with blatherous nonsense.
Bebe' has a great site that will be interesting for a while until you guys hijack it.
You may want to visit: http://charltonpark.blogspot.com
Tried to check out www.charltonpark.blogspot.com! I was disappointed that you must be invited. Also, you underestimate the number of people that read this and David's blog. They just don't participate. You are right that the far corners of the county do not identify with Barry County.
As I recall, the millage plus welfare from phones was so large that the 911 Board ran out of ways to spend it all. More money would just add to that problem.
I wonder if 911 needs to fund an internet connection in Costa Rica? I know a great location.
In the endless repetition of the same old stuff you guys have somehow forgotten that the 911 Board is part of the problem. Maybe you could come up with a name to call them, like Indigo Chorus, or Weight N.C., or C. No Evil.
I still think you need to put together a really convincing short comment that includes all of your complaints. Then you could cut-n-paste it on every post of every blog. That way you wouldn't forget any of it.
Having your own blog won't work because, like mine, nobody will read it.
maude, When I wrote that a dozen people read this blog, I included the half dozen of you who lurk without comments. Since 15 people have commented on this post (assuming they are not the same people with different accounts)(a new record!)I have underestimated the real impact, so I'll change from a dozen to thrice that amount.(That's 36)
The statement contains five core ideas. These ideas are:
"It is scientifically incorrect to say that we have inherited a tendency to make war from our animal ancestors." "It is scientifically incorrect to say that war or any other violent behaviour is genetically programmed into our human nature." "It is scientifically incorrect to say that in the course of human evolution there has been a selection for aggressive behaviour more than for other kinds of behaviour." "It is scientifically incorrect to say that humans have a 'violent brain'." "It is scientifically incorrect to say that war is caused by 'instinct' or any single motivation." The statement concludes: "Just as 'wars begin in the minds of men', peace also begins in our minds. The same species who invented war is capable of inventing peace. The responsibility lies with each of us."
I'm new to this "BLOGGIN'" thang. I agree that I would like to see more audience participation much like a town hall meeting. I was at the Republican meeting when the idea of forums were proposed. I support the notion as a good idea but fell short to adhere to any matter of substance. I believe that there should be more of a notice to the public to enter questions than there was. I blieve too many of the questions for the Sheriff's forum were too specific to be qualified questions of the candidates qualifications.
"....What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?..." Patrick Henry, March 23, 1775
There will always be Evil men, and unless brave Men are there willing to stand up to defeat Evil men there can be no peace.
And for those in the PC crowd, when I use the term men it refers to mankind, which includes women.
TLBS,said: "There will always be Evil men, and unless brave Men are there willing to stand up to defeat Evil men there can be no peace."
That is total nonsense and its only value is to market the $750 billion of arms sold every year. If you want to promote violence, that is your right, and perhaps was taught by your paramilitary scoutmaster, but when I was growing up being a Boy Scout was about teamwork, cooperation, God and country (not to mention a great deal of fun and camping out with the mosquitos).
While visiting my grandchildren at a nearby lake, yesterday, a neighbor came outside and fired off a dozen shells from his revolving "self-defense" weapon. It is true that there will always be some people who see violence as an acceptable way to be noticed. They are called "bullies".
You are not the "last" Boy Scout, you are only the last of your kind (I hope!)
I'm "prepared" for your violent reply.
Another option would be for you to take three long breaths, as taught to children in non-violent countries.
Consider what would have happened if our leadership had taken three long breaths after the attack by the Saudis on NYC on 9/11. Suppose they had spent the $650 billion on relieving the pain felt by oppressed people, instead of adding to their fears. Of course, that would not have provided five oil companies with no-bid contracts but that idea is supported by the marketing of fear by the administration you probably support while waving our tattered flag.
My answer to P. Henry would have been,"No! There are many more options than liberty and death. The price of freedom, peace, life, and the pursuit of happiness is not violence and bloodshed. The price of these is education, patience and persuasion. All war has ever bought is more war and continued violence." The knee-jerk response is "Yeah, but how about Hitler?"
May I remind you that Hitler, as with GWBII, was only the mouthpiece of many other greedy men who stood to gain from the violence. Have you ever heard of the Krupp Iron Works? How are they doing?
May I also point out that Canada was able to survive the ignorance of King George without resorting to violence.
Maude's right in pointing out that Grillo has absolutely no knowledge of the traffic of this blog other than guessing from the number of posts and comments. Yes, it may be true that the repetitive nature of some posters may have driven people away from commenting and trying to engage in discussion. Sadly, some of the people pointing at the lack of comments are part of the repetition problem.
Anyone who wants to contact me can do so at MichPolWatcher (at) Yahoo (dot) com
Does any blogger (or lurker) have any statistic on the number of crimes that have been prevented by a homeowner due to having a handgun (permitted or otherwise)?
Maybe more to the liking of gun-toters, does anybody have any statistics on the number of crimes in Barry County that would have been prevented if the homeowner had owned, carried, loaded and/or waved a handgun?
I suspect that the number is somewhere near the number of bombs placed on buses by Muslim women in Grand Rapids (discussed back a long time ago).
pw: Yes, "Grillo has absolutely no knowledge of the traffic of this blog other than guessing...."
My estimate of 36 is probably way over-estimated, otherwise I would be more careful about my comments.
Well, I was hoping Pol Watcher would break the story - not me.
But since you asked, there happens to be a particular area township supervisor/zoning administrator who's very married and who's been spending a tremendous amount of personal time at the home of a young female candidate for township clerk.
Now maybe he's just doing chores in her house. Or maybe not. But many neighbors of the clerk candidate have taken notice of this married with children elected official's almost daily visits to her home. He doesn't seem particularly concerned with hiding his visits.
There's talk that perhaps the word "home-wrecker" should be added to clerk candidate's yard signs.
I'm not naming names yet. Maybe you can connect the dots.
Why don't you take a trip to South Central LA and give your theory a try. And make sure it's after 4 PM before 4 PM it's kind of quiet. You go ahead and spread peace, love and understanding there and if it works I'll sign on to your program for the World.
TS: Must be you didn't read the local newspaper after the sheriff debate. It reported that DARling Barney said it wasn't his and the sheriff department's job to protect the citizens, it was our own. If its not their job to protect us, why do we need them?
maude - we read that in the paper too and thought it was just another misprint. if that isn't his job why did he say he was the head police officer for the county. Dad said when DARling barney doesn't even comprehend his own job description or what his responsibilities are, we, the public are in real trouble. Our local cops said they understand what their job is and they said it is to preserve, protect and defend the public. to bad their boss barney doesn't comprehend that.
why doesn't barney just stop spending so much taxpayers money on jail junkets, fruitless studies, swat patrol cars and equipment. Why doesn't Darling barney quit driving his family around in the county car all the time on our gas money, it's costing the taxpayers dearly.
One of the local cops said the $300,000.00 computer that comissioners callton, ferris, engleth and DARling barney secretly purchased still isn't working right and it goes no where. They said it just waste a lot of paper and it is costing the taxpayers more money in the long run.
Maybe we could get real protection if DARling barney got a new job peddling papers and driving his own car and paying for his own gas. He could still wear those awful looking high heeled swat boots he had on in the parade, dads barn boots look better.
too tired from lack of blood (from feeding the mosquitos for the last week) to comment...gotta get up and get a transfusion...hope someone donated A+ Republican blood today...arghhhhhh
If (as claimed) this blog has any significance, it would be refreshing to read some first-hand responses from actual candidates for (on this thread) Prosecutor.
He said, she said, games are fun and cute, but maybe before August we can actually get some "whole truth".
If Prosecutor Evans is forced to defend his positions in detail (which blogging allows you to do without just shooting from the hip which dominates the old-fashioned Commission on the Aged Town Hall confined chats), perhaps we could sift through the chaff by ourselves, ask for clarification, and perhaps the best person might emerge victorious. On the other hand (as I have stated before) it is more likely that very few candidates (or voters) actually read our ranting.
Truth, I am an Eagle Scout, the "Green Barret" of Boy Scouts. But if it builds your self esteem to call me names, go ahead, I can take it. I don't need Dar or Tom for protection, I've got a .45 that does just fine. And as far as tasers go, I wouldn't carry one, I want a weapon that's lethal.
tlbs or boy scout - what an insult - "Green Barret" you must be affiliated with or a part of the trio plus team. Dad was a bonda- fide member of the US Special Forces, a honorable GREEN BERET, never a "Green Barret". You sound just like DARling barney and his supporting tag alongs who spout off to often, not knowing what you are even talking about. We may be middle-class citizens, but we are sick and tired of your continued non-sense and half truths about everything you talk about.
Dad said people like you don't know right from wrong or truth from fiction. why do you keep spining fairy tails and making misinterpretation of actual facts. you may have been a private at best, but never a honorable member of the GREEN BRET, that honor came from dedication and hard work. the public needs protection from the likes of you and your green barret. Someone like you who brags about owning a 45 cal gun could be very dangerous or a menace to society . Whatever DARling barney has to say you take it as being the gospel and you all blindly follow. After all DARling barney said "it wasn't his or the sheriffs department job to protect the citizens"
if you want to soar with the eagles, YOU must first act like an eagle. being a "green barret" or a black belt swattish storm trooper seems to fit your mentallity lots better.
1. a green barrette is worn in one's hair to keep it from obscuring your vision. TLBS doesn't wear one.
2. Personal questions that far off the subject, meant to merely embarrass the candidates would be enough reason to avoid exposing their personal lives to ridicule on this blog.
3. Anybody that underestimates the political clout of the green barrettes in Barry County is naive. Dar, Tom and Mark are shoo-ins in August.
ts, I think we established last year that the cost will be high, and many of us are lounging along the sidelines waiting patiently for the wheels to grind down to where the rims hit the road. Eventually it will boil down to whether this County Board or the next one has to collect back for the legal fees from the private citizens they got stuck with the bill for. Your problem is that we in the choir have that song memorized. "Row, row, row your boat, etc.", even sung as a round, gets on your nerves if it is sung repetitively to the same audience.
I never said I was a "Green Barret", I said that Eagle Scouts were the equivilent of "Green Barrets" in the Scouting Movement. They are the best of the best of the best. I've camped in weather from -28 F to 104 F, 3 Ft of snow to 6 inches of water to axle deep mud, gale force winds, thunderstorms, gale force winds and tornados. I can tie knots that most people have never seen or heard of and some of them in under 2 seconds. I've built twenty ft tall observation towers, Ive built machines to manufacture rope from binder twine. I can start a fire without matches. They don't just pass out Eagle Scout Badges, they're earned.
The Clerk doesn't approve Tom's budget, the Commission does. In the Clerk case, this was employee malfeasance, and according to statute, the Prosecutor is obligated to prosecute. In Callton's case, there was the potential appearance of special treatment. By referring it to a special prosecutor, Tom avoided those charges.
Remember, you were quick to charge Tom of giving Callton a special deal. By handing over the case to a special prosecutor, that accusation loses all steam.
If this disturbs you so much, file a grievance against Tom--just like you did against Doherty. I am sure the AGC will laugh this one out to their grand circular file.
TLBS: Those that live by the sword die by the sword. Truth is mightier than the sword. Don't they award merit badges for spelling and history in the Boy Scouts these days?
Jay: Can you cite the statute that says Tom had to prosecute the ladies in the clerk's office. To me and others that smelled of conflict of interest. Tom and his office work with them. Barney's office doing the investigation smelled too for the same reason.
maybe the clerk was not clear on whose jurisdiction this would be. I can understand how she might unknowingly call the Sheriff. The Sheriff on the other hand should have at least called Chief Sarver I would think. Or maybe the Sheriff offers extra free service to Hastings City residents yet Middleville village residents must pay a little extra for the negotiated contract
el colibri, I hope that I didn't give the impression that earning merit badges and striving to become an Eagle Scout was not admirable.
(This space for a long diatribe on the merits of Scouting, and local achievements, etc. You've been spared.)
As a former Scout, I was offended at the linkage between Scouting and six-gun violence.
Those of us who got our Statistical Reading Merit Badge are very aware that handguns are directly connected to most homicides and that most homicides are not committed by strangers (except on TV and video games). The probability of a shooting accident or a weapon being wrongfully discharged escalates dramatically when a handgun is allowed in a home. The argument that we all need to own guns to protect ourselves is not even worthy of discussion.
The jurisdictional question about the County Clerk's situation is interesting to me, but I suppose we won't be able to discuss it rationally without more blather about 911, etc. and name-calling diversions. Maybe I'll ask on a more intelligent blog-space.
Jurisdiction is an interesting question. Conflict of Interest is very apparent to many of us. The prosecutor and sheriff were wrong to be involved. People with integrity would have erred on the side of ethics.
The Scout Moto is "Be Prepared" and that may mean owning a .357 magnum and knowing how to use it. In the past we have been forced to leave our handguns at home, so if one stumbled into a break-in there was a chance the criminal would shoot one with one's own handgun. Now with concealed carry one would be carrying the handgun and chances are extremely high the criminal would be the one to be shot. How is it that one would conlude taking guns out of the hands of law abiding Citizens would make one safer? They have a name for unarmed Citizens, it's victim. The West was not tamed with gun control laws. And who is to offer protection during the 3 to 5 minutes that it takes for the Police to arrive? BTW there is no "Statistical Reading" merit badge and there never was. One thing I do know is there are lies, damn lies and statistics. One never hears of the millions of people who fend of criminals with firearms. And how about DC the strictest anti gun laws in the Country and the highest murder rate?
Boy Scout: I sincerely hope Boy Scouts give a merit badge for 'survival skills in the jungle'. You will certainly need all the expertise you can acquire. Good luck!
The prosecuting attorneys shall, in their respective counties, appear for the state or county, and prosecute or defend in all the courts of the county, all prosecutions, suits, applications and motions whether civil or criminal, in which the state or county may be a party or interested.
Since these employees embezzled from the county, Tom was obligated to prosecute.
As for putting blame on the county clerk, I put more blame on Judge Fisher and the court administrator--they signed the vouchers.
Jay: Doesn't a special prosecutor fulfill Tom's duties on his behalf??? And TS is right about the 911 mess - if your theory is correct,Tom should have handled it or shut up (including his little buddy Barney)
TLBC; You can't trust any statistics, because they are all lies. The only truth you can trust is the truth that each individual has a right to kill other people if they suspect foul play.
You can't believe that nearly all people killed with handguns are people who are well known or related to the killer. That is just a big lie being spread by the government to get you to give up your weapons. Then they (the evil conspiracy) will barge into your house and rape your family and steal all your ammo.
el grillo - we have been told that those who want to keep leaf, evans and engeruth in office, that is exactly what we are going to get. by the court records it looks like all the criminals get out of going to jail because they don't get prosecuted or arrested even. now that is scary. we don't need new laws, we need a sheriff who can comprehend what his responsibility is about protection or at least understand his job description. We need a prosecutor who can win some court cases and someone who really cares about victims and their families, not just criminals.
we have been told that your son is a cop. it must be hard for him to do his job with a sheriff and prosecutor like we have. hope he is safe. We care
Actually MDOT will remove said sign if it occurs in their right of way or clearvision. And from what I understand...signage issues can be refered to the Michigan Sec of State office too. Something like a 30 day waiting period for them to act though.... ha ha...
Tutu; For the record, your information is not the "whole truth". My son is not a local cop. He is a federal law enforcement officer. I taught him how to use his first gun and how to skin his first rabbit. His job involves apprehending nutcases who poach animals while carrying high-powered weapons. No firearms are allowed in his area, so the people he must confront know that he is a serious problem for them. If all he had to worry about was incompetent elected officials, I would sleep better at night. (He and I were both Boy Scouts, and veterans.) His Marine outfit was in the Phillipines on the way to the War on Terror when Mt. Pinatubo erupted. He is well-known to certain law enforcement people in Michigan. He teaches self-defense tactics to Forest Rangers, etc. He is the only member of the family who owns a handgun.
TLBS; I have been harsh in my responses to you and I apologize. I have been doing a lot of reading about violence and non-violence lately, and am beginning to understand why you may be so filled with fear and feel so threatened. I wish you well. There are many of us who were raised in a loving environment who find it hard to understand your perspective.
Can we pretend that this blog is an online version of Survivor and begin the voting process now?
The issues with Big Boy, Barney, and ______ (I forgot what we are calling Mark) will not go away until someone intervenes.
Because we have ONE newspaper that lacks the teeth of a pit bull there will be no investigation by a media outlet. Maybe Henry Erb can come on down and spend a few weeks in Hicktown and file a lengthy report.
Also, In reference to improper signage: Call the township, city, or village Department of Public Works. If they do not prepond properly call start calling the township board or city council reps. I have found that the reponse depends largely on the candidates connection to the person you are complaining to :)
Lucky, There doesn't need to be any additional fondling of the 911 issue. Nothing new has been discovered for over a year. All possible information has been out in the public for a long time. The only thing that has happened in a year is more repetitive name-calling and rewording of the same boring rants.
I don't care if people put Dar's signs in the middle of the road. I drive well enough to avoid them. The point is that law enforcement people are supposed to enforce the laws no matter how silly they may be, and also abide by them no matter how inconvenient.
My prediction is that the heavily advertised "trio" will win by virtue of voters who have been trained to respond to commercials. Immediately after the election, TS and BS, etc. will shift from the current rant to accusations of an unfair election controlled by some other conspiracy, probably the County Clerks office. The next County Board will get stuck with the bills for the unnecessary lengthy investigations, the legal fees of all the defendents, and punitive damages, but TS and BS, etc. will rant about it not being enough and how everybody got cheated by everybody else but them. Lots of energy will be wasted on these nonissues and that will protect us from discussing anything of any importance, thereby ensuring that nothing will happen in Barry County that hasn't always been done this way.
I hope that brought you down to speed. Can I add you to the list of people who read this blog? You may be number 37.
Not at all defeatist. Very few people pay any attention to political races, and even fewer pay any attention to performance during the term of office. Spending money on advertising pays off. In a split second, those few of us who bother to vote decide which box to check, and a familiar name is what gets our attention. Who is running for Precinct Delegate in your district? Since you probably don't know, you will probably vote for Bud Wiser, a name that sounds familiar. Every time you use the name Dar, you make the name more familiar.
Grillo, I know who is running for precinct delegate... I am the ONLY Precinct delegate running in Thornapple Twp. Does anyone else know who in their respective districts?
BTW most people whom I have talked to at the fair the last few days do not know who their commissioner is or what district they live in...pretty sad :(
Heather, I do not find it that unusual that the majority of people dont know what district they live in or who their respective commisioner is. As Grillo pointed out, the more familiar the name in small town politics in likely to be the winner. I would guess that those who make it out to vote may have one or two races that they are somewhat familiar with....every other race is likely to get a blackened circle in the coolest most familiar sounding name. Based solely upon the number of signs and name familiarity thus far regarding the Sheriff, Prosecutor, and Drain Commissioner...the trio will win hands down.
He's a realist. He also knows that jury funds were controlled by the Court, not the Clerk. The Court signed the vouchers, not the Clerk. Alas, TS's "coffee" buddies like Judge Fisher, and he cannot do anything wrong. They are also shared employees of the Court and the Clerk, but the truth means little to TS.
I also think folks are blowing the "case" against Evans out of proportion. What specific laws has Tom violated? I would contend that it pales in comparison to the shady dealings GS McNeil was doing while in office. If it disturbs you so much, file a grievance with the AGC against Tom. Sign violations??--ha. Complain to MDOT or the Road Commission (not the Bureau of Elections--they are overworked as it is). I see many Drain Commission candidates, as well as Selleck signs in the clear vision zone.
TS, the Montmorrency stuff you are floating is pure poppycock. I called the Clerk (Cheryl Neilsen 989-785-8022), Sheriff (who was a Lt. Then, Doug Baum 989-785-4238) and Register of Deeds (Teresa Walker 989-785-8079) and they all confirm Tom's version that his wife could not get a job in the area, Barry offered him a better offer. They were sad to see him go.
Alas TS, I think you just want to name call and throw mud. I think you are frustrated that Selleck is not campaigning and will lose.
el grillo - you are possibily right. Your observation and wisdom is appreciated. because our local news media have selectively chosen to not report callton, ferris, engleth, leafs, debbie smith and evans murky track record, the taxpayers and county employees pay through the nose.
Their record speak volumes. The six of them are specialists in blame, excuses, denial, diversion, distortion of facts, failing to take management responsibility for their departments actions, and degrading of opponents or anyone else who dare to question them.
We suspect that is why you dubbed them the "trio plus" long ago. It is obvious why they have taken charge of the republican party for our county. Their energy and self-serving motives are all bout control and power and has nothing to do with service and support for our taxpayers or dedicated county employees.
several citizens and county employees have asked legitimate questions. look what has happened; the person got verbally chastized and degraded and the questions were buried or ignorned by your trio plus.
you are right, the people must live with whomever receives the majority of the republican vote here in our county. garbage in, garbage out. for our taxpayers and our county employee's sake, we hope it's garbage OUT this year.
I am tired and going to bed. No more questions or comments this election year from me. been buried, trashed and ignored to many enough. Go Blue
I received a very humorous flyer in the mail, today. It said, "VOTE REPUBLICAN!" in August for the Prosecutor.
I have to assume that there must be another choice that I'm not yet aware of. Is somebody filing to run as a write-in contender? Green Party? Independent? Save the Whales?
Let me know! I can hardly wait to see that I have options other than business as usual.
OW...sorry I lasted all of 5 minutes in the comm debate before my spouse call with an "emergency" with the kids. *sigh* I tried. I hope to last longer next week because I am dying to figure this Frank Burns for Reg of Deeds out....if he shows.
Molli, No prob, it happens heck I have two rug rats myself and have been called out of stuff to keep them from killing each other.
I received an e-mail from Frank Burns and here it is and the attachment, it's a long post read it all if you can stand to stay awake
e-mail Dear Fellow Republicans;
Please read the attached document about myself and my run for the position of Barry County Register of Deeds.
I would like you to consider voting for me in the upcoming August 5, 2008 election.
Thank You
Respectfully
Frank Burns
attachment QUESTIONNAIRE FOR THE AUG. 5, 2008 PRIMARY ELECTION Name: Frank Burns Office you are seeking: Barry County Register of Deeds Your top 3 priorities 1. Expeditiously Record and Process the Land Records accurately within 48 hours, giving the customer prompt friendly and efficient service. 2. Request that the Barry County Abstractor position be brought under the supervision of the Register of Deeds office as suggested by State Law. 3. I feel extremely honored and privileged to be able to Serve You as Your Register Of Deeds and I understand how important it is to You and the Citizens of Barry County to Know your land Records are Recorded and Safeguarded. I Pledge to continue to uphold the Statutory Responsibilities of this office when elected. Biographical information: Date of Birth: January 27th, 1943 Address: 5117 Head Rd, Hastings MI 49058-8397 Email address: FrankBurns@US-Address.net Web site: US-Address.net Home phone: 269-623-4118 Current employer: Retired from US Postal Service Spouse’s name: Vera S. Burns Children: one son Matthew and one daughter Jennifer. To what civic and religious organizations do you belong: Grace Lutheran Church Hastings MI No companies. No corporate boards Never laid off of work Never fired from a job Never been arrested or convicted No restraining orders No Law suits Never been penalized, fined or cited by the IRS, or failed to pay local or state taxes on time. Education/Training:
04/77 - 04/77 | U.S. Jaycees | Personal Dynamic | Cert. | 04/77 10/69 - 03/71 | Metro Adult Education | Leadership & Sup | Cert. | 03/71 06/67 - 06/69 | Foothill College | Business Major | 46.5 units | 06/65 - 03/67 | Mtn. View High School | Supervisory Tech. | Cert. | 03/67 06/62 - 06/62 | High School | USAFI Madison WI | Diploma 08/92 - 08/92 | U.S. Postal Service | Sort Plan Systems – RBCS programming 11/91 - 11/91 | U.S. Postal Service | DP 90 Plus – Computer Security Disaster Planning 10/91 - 10/91 | U.S. Postal Service | NDSS – DEC VMS Operating System Management 08/91 - 08/91 | U.S. Postal Service | Sort Plan System (SPS) 08/91 - 08/91 | U.S. Postal Service | MAS – Directory Analysis Specialist 03/90 - 03/90 | U.S. Postal Service | AMS Organization File Update 04/88 - 04/88 | U.S. Postal Service | MAS – Directory Analysis Specialist 11/85 - 11/85 | U.S. Postal Service | MI – Quality of Work Life 02/85 - 02/85 | U.S. Postal Service | MAS – Address Information Systems Analyst 03/82 - 03/82 | U.S. Postal Service | Basic Labor Relations 02/82 - 02/82 | U.S. Postal Service | Injury Compensation 08/81 - 09/81 | U.S. Postal Service | MAS – Delivery Services Supervisor 05/81 - 05/81 | U.S. Postal Service | Assertive Management 02/79 - 02/79 | U.S. Postal Service | MAS – Associate Office Operations 04/78 - 04/78 | U.S. Postal Service | MPLSM Supervisor Operations 04/78 - 04/78 | U.S. Postal Service | Grievance Handling for Supervisors 04/78 - 04/78 | U.S. Postal Service | MPLSM Edit Operational Procedures 02/78 - 02/78 | U.S. Postal Service | Revenue Protection 06/77 - 06/77 | U.S. Postal Service | O.D.I.S. Operational Procedures 04/77 - 04/77 | U.S. Postal Service | Delivery of Accountable Mail 04/77 - 04/77 | U.S. Postal Service | Delivery Services 04/77 - 04/77 | U.S. Postal Service | Mail Classification 12/75 - 12/75 | I.C.S. | Introduction to Accounting 11/75 - 11/75 | U.S. Postal Service | NCD Postmaster – Third Class 10/75 - 10/75 | U.S. Postal Service | Introduction to Postal Supervision 08/75 - 08/75 | U.S. Postal Service | Customer Service Representative 03/75 - 03/75 | U.S. Postal Service | Retailing Postal Products 06/68 - 06/74 | U.S. Postal Service | Supervisor Examinations
Postal Positions:
06/93 - 01/02 | Address Mgt Systems Specialist | U.S. Postal Service – Grand Rapids MI | EAS-15 06/91 - 06/93 | Directory Analysis Specialist | U.S. Postal Service – Seattle WA | EAS – 15 09/84 - 06/91 | Address Information Sys Analyst | U.S. Postal Service – Seattle WA | EAS – 15 04/81 - 09/84 | Supervisor Sta/Br Operations | U.S. Postal Service – Seattle WA | EAS – 13 08/80 - 04/81 | Clerk – Distribution | U.S. Postal Service – CAO Seattle WA | 5-12 07/78 - 08/80 | Superintendent Postal Opns (B) | U.S. Postal Service – Hastings MI | EAS – 16 AKA: Assistant Postmaster 06/78 - 07/78 | Supervisor Mails & Delivery | U.S. Postal Service – Hastings MI | PMS – 15 04/74 - 06/78 | Regular City Carrier | U.S. Postal Service – Hastings MI | 5 – 12 01/72 - 04/74 | PTF Carrier (CAO) | U.S. Postal Service – Hastings MI | 5 – 8 08/69 - 01/72 | Regular City Carrier | U.S. Post Office – Los Gatos CA | 5 – 5 02/69 - 08/69 | City Carrier Tech | U.S. Post Office – Los Gatos CA | 6 – 5 07/68 - 02/69 | City Carrier – Career Sub | U.S. Post Office – Los Gatos CA | 5 – 4 03/68 - 07/68 | Clerk – Career Sub | U.S. Post Office – Los Gatos CA | 5 – 4 10/67 - 03/68 | Distribution Clerk | U.S. Post Office – Battle Creek MI | 4 – 3 08/65 - 07/67 | Regular City Carrier | U.S. Post Office – Mtn View CA | 4 – 1 10/64 - 08/65 | Sub Carrier - Career | U.S. Post Office – Mtn View CA | 4 – 1
Details and Assignments:
01/96 - 01/2002 | GIS Delivery Routing System | U.S. Postal Service – Grand Rapids MI 11/85 - 12/85 | Manager Terminal Station | U.S. Postal Service – Seattle WA 02/85 - 07/85 | Manager Bainbridge Island Station | U.S. Postal Service – Seattle WA 11/84 - 02/85 | Supv Stamp Destruction Committee | U.S. Postal Service – Seattle WA 10/84 - 02/85 | Project – Carrier Case Label Program | USPS Western Region Project Assignment 06/84 - 08/84 | Manager Bainbridge Island Station | U.S. Postal Service – Seattle WA 12/83 - 06/84 | Program Mgr CS Management Data Systems | U.S. Postal Service – Seattle WA 08/80 - 04/81 | Supervisor Distribution Operations (204-B) | U.S. Postal Service – Seattle WA 11/77 - 03/78 | Officer-In-Charge | U.S. Post Office – Ceresco MI
Other Non Postal Positions:
09/2004 - 02/2005 | Custodial Aide | Caledonia Community Schools
03/2002 - 10/2002 | GIS Technician | GIS Street Centerline update for Kent County MI Grand Valley Metro Council – REGIS, Grand Rapids MI 02/2005 - 08/2007 | Court House Mortgage Research | National Agents Alliance
Oh my gosh....I know of that Frank Burns...he used to be one of the Regional USPS zip+4 admins up in GR. My contact was Gary, but Frank was a CC on that list...small world.
d'oh
Thaks OW...looks like the Kalamazoo Gazette questionaire is out.
This should be an interesting show to watch come thursday.
No doubt leading the parade will be the trio of clowns.
If the city police have to arrest someone for a violation of the law, who will be there to witness it first hand..... "big boy" who will then have to have a special Pros. to handle it, why because he will alongwith "barney" be a witness to the crime......
yes, only in Barry Co. can we have our so called sheriff and his legal advisor right there in the thick fo the march...
I, for one will have my popcorn at the fountain to watch this one.
I wonder a loud if there will be signs supporting their gun toting sheriff????????
maybe the left should march with doves on their shoulders, then we could have a real show, dove shooting supporter, "barney" and his boys could have some target practice, only in barry county...... the dumbing we will go......
"CITIZENS WHO SUPPORT THE SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS WILL WALK DOWN STATE STREET IN HASTINGS THURSDAY OPENLY CARRYING A WEAPON TO PEACEFULLY DEMONSTRATE WHAT THEY SAY IS THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO OPEN CARRY. DAVID STEVENS, REPRESENTING BARRY COUNTY CITIZENS FOR SECOND AMENDMENT AND FIREARM RIGHTS, SAID LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS INTERESTED IN FURTHERING SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS CAN JOIN THEM AT RITCHIE'S COFFEE SHOP IN DOWNTOWN HASTINGS ON JULY 24 AT 4 P.M."
Posts
131 comments:
I'm the first person home again...just for everyone's information, no one can call foul about the public questions being culled by the moderating panel because they didn't even entertain them. Debate was canned and over by 8:30.
Darn it Molli I missed meeting you again..I was in the front row with tom evans shirt on...
I thought it went very well, and am surprized that Kerri didn't get as dirty as I thought she would. Tom was well prepared and did a fantastic job. He had some of her record on cases with him and did not even have to bring it up.
What is with her complaining that the pros staff is not trained well enough with one breath and the next saying they are great??
I also feel that a woman about to have her first child should not be elected into a position where she will be leaving that child for over 10 hours a day.
With all her talk about child abuse and neglect cases she's worked on, don't you think she would WANT to stay home with her own??
So Kerri's view of the Second Amendment is "it is what it is". What exactly does that mean?
We are to believe that Tom has a 90% failure rate, yet crime isn't running wild.
On one hand the Staff in the Prosecutors office is excellent, on the other it's a failure and in need of training.
And don't forget about the Children, won't someone please think about the children! Oh, and we need to train the staff, because there are great people on staff.
If you want to see a high failure rate look at Kerri's stats, there not very good.
Some people have supportive spouses to help them with children...and sometimes the job is important enough to a woman that she is willing to sacrifice time with said child to make sure it gets done. We NEVER ask this question when a man is expecting an incoming child and is running for office. It doesn't take a vagina to make a bottle and change a diaper and a prosecutor's salary would definately cover added help.
Maybe grandma lives in house and has a advanced degree in childhood development and has retired just so she can spend time with new grandkid. We don't know the circumstances and I think anyone with a Juris Doctorate can figure out how to prioritize her life.
(Bag it for that drain commissioner candidate too, she would be leaving that baby for a 8+ hour a day job.)
Hey TS...how does one get those statistics? Evans quoted Sellek's stats which she said where wrong, she quotes his conviction percentage which he says is wrong. Where are the numbers?
It doesn't take a vagina to make a bottle and change a diaper
Standing ovation, Molli!
NOW--
"...and sometimes the job is important enough to a woman that she is willing to sacrifice time with said child to make sure it gets done."
LATER--
"I'm sorry Chelsea, I didnt hear your first word, watch your first steps, or comfort your teething pain, but at the time it was critically more important that I maintained the Jordan Lake level."
A Human Life should not be treated like a pet or a novelty. A diaper is not simply a litterbox. A woman is not simply the lucky (or unlucky, as some would suggest)gender that was blessed with the physiology to produce offspring. She is a MOTHER. It is a LIFETIME commitment, yes, even more important than being the Drain Commissioner or Prosecutor. Mothers and Fathers both have EQUALLY important roles in raising a child. I am not naive, I do not think all women should be June Cleaver. But aside from pressing financial needs, I struggle to understand why todays parents make the biggest committment of their and their childs life and then outsource much of the responsibility during the critical (and enjoyable) first couple years.
It is not necessary to respond to this post, not trying to stir anything up, I'm just a grumpy old timer venting.
AMEN NORMAN standing ovation thanks!!
Speaking from my own view and circumstances, I could not and did not have handled a full time job and a new baby... knowing what I do now helps me form an opinion...IF this was her second or later child I would have nothing to say on this subject.
Molli, I asked you personally if you could handle the job and a new baby...if you feel you can GREAT!! But Prosecutor and drain commissioner are NOT the same things AT ALL!!!
I know it does not take female reproductive organs to change a diaper or make a bottle but it sure helps to have one and breastfeed!!! Carl had 15 nieces and nephews before we had kids and I did not know how to change a diaper before the day Amanda was born.
Kerri claims to be for the best intrest of the children...then I feel she should stay home and take care of the one she's pregnant with.
In a thread on this blog OW said....
OverWhelmed said...
Camden
Did you mean the DOG should stay home and make babies or the female officer?
If that is you attitude against women then your a chovansitic pig.
Deleted comment for name calling.
When I run for Prosecutor as a Democrat in 2010, I will not have a baby to diaper, but I will save the County hundreds of thousands of dollars by not showing up for work at all, and not appearing on TV (or even watching it).
Thanks in advance for your vote.
I am out raged by this sexism. NO one ever asks a man how many hours a day he is "abandoning" his children for.
The reality of it is women can do it all and HAVE to. Julie Nakfoor Pratt was and is an excellent attorney and prosecutor and still puts her children first. It is a delicate balance but somehow women do it and have done it for thousands of years.
I cannot imagine being dumb enough to admit that I wouldn't vote for someone because they are with child or have children.
What year is it here in BumblyBurg?
I thought the debate lacked umpf. Someone needs to come up with a better forum for these events. Maybe if it were open for public question and answer sessions (like a town hall meeting) more people would attend.
Did anyone else find Tom's "God Bless You All" to be inappropriate?
I didn't see you Mr.Front Row....I must have been right behind you.
HEY PW
my comment you deleted was an exact duplicate of the one she wrote to me in the sheriff's edition blog which still exists.
I apoligise for my opinion and that is has offened you. It was only my opinion and I thought that is what this blog was about...
I mean I have to wade thru Truthseekers rants about "barney and big boy", El Grillos's rants about his mock election to a job that he does not want and will not even show up to, and rants about other crap that is not worth the time it takes to type.
I can only say I feel that have been condemed as a Misogynist and if that is what you want to believe fine. I prefer to think that I have traditional if not old-fashioned values when it comes to women working outside the home.
I guess just because I could not handle it no woman can, well more power to her if she can handle being supermom and prosecutor at the same time.
Molli
Public servants like the prosecutor and their assistants do not make a lot of money. The job is a very unthankful job.
I do agree with you that Selleck being pregnant should not be a issue. Many homes nowadays are single parent homes. Whether that is best for children or not should not lay on womens shoulders alone.
OW
For most people today whether or not to leave their children for 10 to 12 hours a day is not a CHOICE! It does not make them a "super" parent but a tired one with bills to pay, trying to do the best they can. Society should be ashamed to still harbor these feelings toward a working woman. Did it even cross your mind that maybe her husband would stay home? Or maybe the Grandparents are able to help.
Besides Shane Mc**** worked two jobs, he had kids, did you ever ask him about their well being?
Norman...you implication that motherhood is a lifetime role is correct, but you also miss the corellary. FATHERHOOD is a lifetime role; one that too many times we let males skip out on. It is not being applied EQUALLY like you imply. Then we blame the mother for the result.
Don't get me wrong, I bag on women all the time who make stupid choices in who they "breed" with.
I'd miss my child saying "daddy" to my husband the first time if that was when I was putting away a child rapist for life. Are we calling home the troups from Iraq because there are so many of our soldiers missing their children's first steps, first bath, first word, formative years...No, and not because they are mostly men.
This whole working women being new is a MYTH. Look at the employment statistic from the turn of the century. Women where working outside of the home or in intensive home occupations, in extended family situations for centuries before we hit the "golden" age of the nuclear family. My own greatgrandmother ran a hotel and left the childrearing to her sister nextdoor. What we are missing here is the support for the real "traditional" family which includes grandparents, unmarried siblings, and other relatives.
We also have this funny notion that parenthood is a job that all people are qualified for at 100% proficiency. Look around folks, you've seen them in our own community and I don't need to elaborate.
I do NOT believe that the most appropriate primary caregiver of a child is the mother by default. The most appropriate primary caregiver is the person with the ability and the desire regardless of age or gender or blood relationship.
And Chelsea...what an awful name (what where they thinking).
All - the sorriest part of the debate was that the people did not hear the whole story. Evans, also known as the republican spin doctor, prosecution and court record is dismal at best. Why wasn't Evans asked how many cases or investigations are back logged because HIS office has failed to do their job. Offices have submitted many comprehensive and exhaustive investigations for prosecution and Evans allows them to pile up, while criminals remain on the street to prey on more victms.
What is worse, the cases Evans has tried to prosecute get reduced to far lesser charges by HIM, not by the courts or juries and again the suspects walk. The victims are then made to look unreliable or credible. His 0-13 court record speaks for itself.
It is clear that Evans comment of "God Bless You All" is a facade because he should knows that God doesn't do manual labor. Evans has to first show up to work on time; work hard when he's there; set positive examples and standards; and not quit until the job is done right. Evans continued impersonation of "Monty Hall" on Lets Make a Deal" is a detriment to our community and all the criminals and defense attornys know it. We deserve a honorable prosecutor who WORKS with the entire law enforcement community in the caring and protection for all victims; particully minors and our seniors.
Can I just add...As of right now the general voting public does not have enough information to make a good choice before election time. J-ad has its hands tied due to legal action and they are the only news source in the county for indepth issues. They are failing to provide FACTS to the public that could make or break this election.
If anyone wanted to hit Tom where it hurts they would go to the clerks office and get all of the data and PUBLISH it.
The same could be said for Dar. There are MANY unanswered questions about how the 911 case was handled (or mishandled). Get the facts and publish them.
It is disappointing that this has been allowed to continue for so long. If we were in a larger city with more reporting options someone would have ran an expose by now and outed them all.
Also, I totally agree with you Molli. So often women are the victims of their choices. Damned if you do and damned if you don't. It applies to so many issues. In today's society the roles of men and women have shifted and both are responsible for cooking, cleaning, and child rearing. Gone is the day where Dad mows the lawn and tips back with his scotch and cigar for the night. If mom goes off to work she still has household duties to attend to as well as her day job.
With the rising costs of everything it is almost impossible to have a one income family. Unless the government starts giving moms a cash incentive to stay at home (as most European countries do) moms will have to work.
bw,
"We deserve a honorable prosecutor who......, etc."
Actually, in a "democracy", we deserve exactly who runs for office and gets elected.
el Grillo; You are assuming that the individual wasn't elected by fraud or appointed by a Supreme Court and that all votes were counted. We do not deserve the archaic Electoral College system which sometimes short circuits the will of the majority. We did NOT deserve George W. Bush.
TS:
Must be the trio of trouble went out after Mark - I won't pay my property taxes - spent time this afternoon with his good friend, Vivian. I found it interesting that just enough of Mark's property taxes were paid to keep his name out of the local newspaper!
Pol...
What is your position on the 911 situation? Do you think it was a mishandled ousting?
What do you think about Evans vs. Selleck?
Dar vs. Jerry?
In the past you have openly shared your views and lately you seem a bit quiet.
I personally think that many people were happy that Charlie was removed from his post but not happy with the way it was handled.
So what does one call it when one takes taxpayer money and pays selective employees unearned overtime?
I looked up the definition of embezelment and one does not have to gain personaly to commit embezelment.
I heard Charlie say on the News, "that's the way we've always done it", so it's clear that it happened.
I don't believe the Central Dispatch Board was without sin, I believe they knew and condoned the practice.
The bottom line is, the taxpayers are out money, Charlie is out of a job, and noone is happy.
seems as though a special prosecutor did not agree with you boy scout. He must have been part of the same wall I suppose.
last boy & lucklady - you are correct, many are happy nasty is gone. His no nonsense and do what is right everytime for the public attitude may have set the bar too high for the trio plus. The one disgruntled employee, DARling barney, evans, engleth, callton, (the trio plus) couldn't stand being exposed, questioned or held to high standards that focused on service to the public.
The enormous pile of public court records and the 4 comprehensive and very expensive and "outside" investigations speak for themselves. The witch-hunts began over four years ago when the disgruntled employee wrote her first anonymous letter; Darling barney was elected; the local newspaper was exposed for making threats and then began to publish demeaning and uncorroborated garbage and evans was appointed prosecutor.
Since nasty was rode out on a rail, look what has occurred.
DARling barney, engleth, ferris and callton authorized purchasing a $300,000.00 records management system for our department that isn't compatible with any other public safety agency. This happened after OSSI, the vendor, told DARling barney, engleth and ferris up front it won't work with other agencies unless the other agencies purchased a OSSI computer software too. what sense does that make?
With DARling barney's encouragement, engleth, ferris and callton authorized a fruitless jail study that has cost the taxpayers over $39,000.00 for a senseless jail-junket for DARlling barney and engleth to travel to Florida during prime vacation time. Not once since DARling barney been in office has the Michigan Department of Correctons found our jail in violation, the records speak for themselves. DARling barney is quoted publicly "the problem with keeping the current jail facility is that there are liability issues" what a profound blackbelt and swattish observation. Every jail in the world have liability issues. Listening to DARling barney elementary responses is exactly why we need a real sheriff that has administrative skills, education that is more than a black belt in karate, and a person who has a proven track record in leadership and integrity.
countless attorney fee's have been expended to fend off countless civil suits because of the trio's plus enept leadership or administrative skills;
2 senseless animal shelter fiasco's that caused death to so many cats and dogs and our DARling barney says publicly "The problem is we take in strays" and "If you don't take aggressive action on stuff like that, people lose faith". Every animal shelter in our state take in strays. It wasn't a problem that it happened the first time, it became a disaster when it occured the second time within two weeks. Blaming it on the shelter workers, the local veterinarian and strays isn't management courage, it is blatant poor leadership and a total lack of responsibility.
It might befitting if the taxpayers "spayed and neutered" the likes of the trio plus this election year. It could save the taxpayers a lot of money in the long run.
Truth,
Your case against Tom and Dar must be weak. It's the loser who resorts to calling names.
Bulwark
As far as the Animal Shelter is concerned, Dar is in denial. The Shelter is more of an animal jail than a shelter. There are agencies who will come in at no cost, anaylize the shelter and make recomendations. Right now we have a reactive staff and the animals are paying the price. I believe the Animal Shelter should be under the authority of the Health Department, just like it is in most other Counties.
"Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely", the Central Dispatch Board has absolute power. The Board of Commissioners need to desolve the Central Dispatch Board and start over. There needs to be Citizen oversight.
funny you say that boy scout considering evans englerth and barney are all on that board
Mollie
I looked up Marks taxes they are 7 one year old, 1 is current. They do not publish taxes for being behind one year. Also if are going to persecute then add Sarver to the list of I paid my taxes late list. At leaast thqat is what it appears to be on the county web site, which is same site Marks are on. Difference is Marks are businesses and Jerrys are property taxes.
You people want a perfect "person" in office you better ask Jesus to run, he is the only perfect being.
Not anything new...you have to get to the terminal in the treasurer's office to get the full payment history and I'm not that type of snoop. I just pulled Sarver's off the web and it said paid...and 2007 was the only year listed. If you pull a record it lists all the years where they have gone delinquent and for how much. Sarver only had the one year.
If someone else has an issue or non-issue with payment of taxes then pull the full record and see if someone has a "HABIT". It wasn't my issue in the first place, it just keeps cropping up over and over again...kinda like 911. Like El Grillo has explained, the non payment of property taxes on developmental properties is sometimes a way to save money if there is a sale in the near future. The seller defers the taxes and interest to the buyer at close.
My questions is why in the heck would someone settle for a 53K per year job when they are so much more profitable as an independant contractor. I really hope the economy hasn't got that bad. But then I think the Kevin Allerding is in the same boat, McKelvey makes more as independant contracter for his three assessing units, and Jan Kelly's business folded recently. Egad, it probably is that bad and health insurance is a killer expense too.
Colibri,
Add to that the recent observation of GWBII that "Mugabe won the election in Zimbabwe by fraud and intimidation".
I'm wondering when the McCain clone will visit Zimbabwe for some tips on how to get the opposition parties to withdraw from elections. He could save us some money by just visiting Barry County, where the "opposition party" has withdrawn from the elections before even starting.
The funniest comment I've heard from a local Democrat is that "A Democrat can't win in Barry County". That is automatically true if you can't get anybody to run for any office. Mugabe got it right! Any democracy can be turned into a dictatorship by convincing the "opposition" that they can't win.
After the August "election" any defeated or retiring Republicans still in office can collect their checks until January without showing up for work, and you can thank your progressively lazy Democrats for that. If a lazy Democrat was on the ballot, at least the incumbent Republican would need to work for a paycheck until November. December is holiday pay, either way.
A group of prisoners sat around the exercise yard and one would mention a number. Everybody would roar with laughter.
A new guy watched for a while and decided to try it out. He said "9-1-1", and nobody laughed.
Later, he asked his cellmate what went wrong, and the cellmate explained that they had told the same old jokes so many times that they reduced boredom by just numbering them.
"But '9-1-1' always gets the biggest laugh!" replied the newbie.
"Yeah, but it wasn't the joke, it was the way you told it" said the cellmate.
911
I'm sure that we all have heard the punch line often enough to answer your question.
The board did not do anything illegal, or as you put it, anything "wrong".
Charlie did not do anything illegal, or as you repeat endlessly, "wrong".
Both demonstrated total incompetence for the job they were expected to perform.
Charlie lacked people skills and the board lacked the will to replace him until he became an embarrassment.
The same situation seems to exist at the City level. Hopefully, that issue will be resolved by a change of jobs before it becomes as much of an embarrassment to the City as the 911 debacle has become for the County.
Being able to balance the books, having good penmanship, and wearing clean underwear are not the only things required of a person collecting a salary for being a titled executive.
People skills would include not boring everybody to tears.
If you think this rant will influence many voters in August you know something about this blog that escapes me. I consider it a joke, even if the humor escapes you.
911
Hey guyz, this is more fun than Saturday Night Live!!
why el grill-0., hasn't the Barry County dispatch / 911 department had ONE (1) civil or libiability suit filed against them in the last 18 years? The national average for criminal or civi liability suits against all 911 centers nation-wide is 1.5. per year.
Why has there been a total of only nine (9) grievances filed by union employees at the Barry Co. 911 Center?
The reasons are simple - there was and IS accountitibilty, positive leadership and management control by the 911 Administrative Board, the Technical Advisory Committee and most importanly the dedicated team of trained supervisors - Rose, Glasgow, McCord, Fuller, Chase & Camburn.
There record speaks for themselves, even though DARling barney,engleth, evans and the local news-paper have tried their darnest to degrade and tear them down.
The Administrative Board, the Committee, the 911 Supervisors and dispatchers KNOW their roles and it has always been about Service, Service, Service to the ALL the citizens and the public safety team of police, EMS and fire agencies they service.
We may not have always agreed with the standards and procedures that nasty and the Board held us too, BUT we respected they where always focused on what was best for all the citizens, our taxpayers, with positive focus on the safety for our ems, fire and police personal who respond to the calls for service.
CHECK THE RECORD, CHECK THE BUDGET, CHECK OUT THE TOTAL RESULTS, you are making a total ass of yourself El Grillo, by not expounding on the TRUTH. Remember, the TRUTH will set you free.
Several of us (majority), may have despised nasty for setting the bar high or his authoritive demeanor and forth right delivery, but we respected how he demanded positive service for ALL the our citizens and the safety of our ems, fire and police, central dispatch served.
It would really be nice if the Trio plus of DARling barney, engleth, callton, ferris, and evans did the same.
The trio plus just continues to "lead us down DARling barneys prime rose path" to nowhere.
Back to work tomorrow. I encourage the taxpayers of our county to ..... Replace the trio plus bums, get them before they get MORE of you.
Question for Bulwark: Regarding the impressive stats you cited; are you comparing B.C.'s perfect record with averages which include mega population centers like New York and Los Angeles or were your 'averages' determined by comparing BC with other small rural counties of similar size and population? Thanks, just curious.
I am also curious who did the study?
Usually when giving such numbers one would quote the organization that did it. So as to say "according to X The national average for criminal or civil liability suits against all 911 centers nation-wide is 1.5. per year." I do not necessarily doubt the numbers you quoted, but they would not hold as much weight if X=High Times Magazine would they?
Why has there been a total of only nine (9) grievances filed by union employees at the Barry Co. 911 Center?
9 seems like a lot! How many employees has the department got?
Is that 9 ever, or 9 in a year?
The average of 9+1+1 =
3.6666666667
911
TS,
Thanks for the lead to HughesNet. My head hurts from all the technogarble, but it looks like Costa Rica is not covered by many satellites. That seems strange considering that most satellites are near the Equator.
Since you visited el-grillo.blogspot, you may understand my hesitation to add a ten-foot satellite dish to my landscaping.
At 3600 ft. above sea-level, the wind is another reason for a low profile.
btw
"As far as your comment that no one cares, I disagree, I think you will hear in the near future of the concerns many have., I realize that you who only lives here for part of the year really have no interest in any of this other than to share your thoughts."
Actually, the six-month gap in my residency had no effect on my ability to remain informed about this fiasco. Nearly nothing has changed in spite of daily repetition.
You misrepresent my comments (normal behavior) as I clearly stated that very few people read this blog anymore due to the incessant repetition of the same old stuff.
Barry County has a great many other issues to discuss, but the readers of this repetition have drifted away to more interesting sites.
None of this venting is likely to change even one vote, but the hope you have of defeating the incumbent sheriff, prosecutor, and drain commissioner by name-calling in front of an audience of a dozen bored readers is humorous.
Even the blog administrator won't be back to add a new post for two or three weeks, and then will probably not bother to read any of this stuff.
The folks who might need your information live in the corners of the county and probably don't even know who barney and big boy are, other than a dinosaur and a burger, so even if they accidentally peeked into this blog they wouldn't get your message. They would get the impression that it is a private conversation between deranged and angry people and wouldn't bother to return.
I have peeked into the Enquirer blog from time to time, but the atmosphere down there is also filled with blatherous nonsense.
Bebe' has a great site that will be interesting for a while until you guys hijack it.
You may want to visit:
http://charltonpark.blogspot.com
For those thousands of you who are reading this,
and for the hundreds who are vitally interested in every detail regarding 911:
Watch your phone bill for an increase in the monthly 911 subsidy!
Remember, you read it here first!
el grillo:
Tried to check out www.charltonpark.blogspot.com! I was disappointed that you must be invited. Also, you underestimate the number of people that read this and David's blog. They just don't participate. You are right that the far corners of the county do not identify with Barry County.
TS
A dish that size would be fine.
As I recall, the millage plus welfare from phones was so large that the 911 Board ran out of ways to spend it all. More money would just add to that problem.
I wonder if 911 needs to fund an internet connection in Costa Rica? I know a great location.
In the endless repetition of the same old stuff you guys have somehow forgotten that the 911 Board is part of the problem. Maybe you could come up with a name to call them, like Indigo Chorus, or Weight N.C., or C. No Evil.
I still think you need to put together a really convincing short comment that includes all of your complaints. Then you could cut-n-paste it on every post of every blog. That way you wouldn't forget any of it.
Having your own blog won't work because, like mine, nobody will read it.
maude,
When I wrote that a dozen people read this blog, I included the half dozen of you who lurk without comments. Since 15 people have commented on this post (assuming they are not the same people with different accounts)(a new record!)I have underestimated the real impact, so I'll change from a dozen to thrice that amount.(That's 36)
The Seville Statement on Violence
The statement contains five core ideas. These ideas are:
"It is scientifically incorrect to say that we have inherited a tendency to make war from our animal ancestors."
"It is scientifically incorrect to say that war or any other violent behaviour is genetically programmed into our human nature."
"It is scientifically incorrect to say that in the course of human evolution there has been a selection for aggressive behaviour more than for other kinds of behaviour."
"It is scientifically incorrect to say that humans have a 'violent brain'."
"It is scientifically incorrect to say that war is caused by 'instinct' or any single motivation."
The statement concludes: "Just as 'wars begin in the minds of men', peace also begins in our minds. The same species who invented war is capable of inventing peace. The responsibility lies with each of us."
I'm new to this "BLOGGIN'" thang. I agree that I would like to see more audience participation much like a town hall meeting. I was at the Republican meeting when the idea of forums were proposed. I support the notion as a good idea but fell short to adhere to any matter of substance. I believe that there should be more of a notice to the public to enter questions than there was.
I blieve too many of the questions for the Sheriff's forum were too specific to be qualified questions of the candidates qualifications.
JW
"....What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?..."
Patrick Henry, March 23, 1775
There will always be Evil men, and unless brave Men are there willing to stand up to defeat Evil men there can be no peace.
And for those in the PC crowd, when I use the term men it refers to mankind, which includes women.
TLBS,said:
"There will always be Evil men, and unless brave Men are there willing to stand up to defeat Evil men there can be no peace."
That is total nonsense and its only value is to market the $750 billion of arms sold every year. If you want to promote violence, that is your right, and perhaps was taught by your paramilitary scoutmaster, but when I was growing up being a Boy Scout was about teamwork, cooperation, God and country (not to mention a great deal of fun and camping out with the mosquitos).
May I correct your mis-statement?:
There will always be a few mentally-disturbed, fearful, mistrusting, and dangerous boys, girls, women and/or men, and unless at least one person who is willing to point out the informed and educated truth, teach non-violent resolutions to conflict, offer options other than violence, negotiate, discuss and resolve differences is there and willing to stand up to correct the misinformation and hate-mongering there can be no peace.
While visiting my grandchildren at a nearby lake, yesterday, a neighbor came outside and fired off a dozen shells from his revolving "self-defense" weapon. It is true that there will always be some people who see violence as an acceptable way to be noticed. They are called "bullies".
You are not the "last" Boy Scout, you are only the last of your kind (I hope!)
I'm "prepared" for your violent reply.
Another option would be for you to take three long breaths, as taught to children in non-violent countries.
Consider what would have happened if our leadership had taken three long breaths after the attack by the Saudis on NYC on 9/11. Suppose they had spent the $650 billion on relieving the pain felt by oppressed people, instead of adding to their fears. Of course, that would not have provided five oil companies with no-bid contracts but that idea is supported by the marketing of fear by the administration you probably support while waving our tattered flag.
My answer to P. Henry would have been,"No! There are many more options than liberty and death. The price of freedom, peace, life, and the pursuit of happiness is not violence and bloodshed. The price of these is education, patience and persuasion. All war has ever bought is more war and continued violence." The knee-jerk response is "Yeah, but how about Hitler?"
May I remind you that Hitler, as with GWBII, was only the mouthpiece of many other greedy men who stood to gain from the violence. Have you ever heard of the Krupp Iron Works? How are they doing?
May I also point out that Canada was able to survive the ignorance of King George without resorting to violence.
God forgive the USA!
Pol Watcher: How can I send you an email? I have a VERY hot tip concerning two local politicians you may be very interested in.
CloverdaleSteve
Hey Cloverdalesteve nothing like dangling raw meat in front of the sharks.
Cloverdale Steve: If you have information that is accurate - why aren't you sharing it? Just wondering.
Maude's right in pointing out that Grillo has absolutely no knowledge of the traffic of this blog other than guessing from the number of posts and comments. Yes, it may be true that the repetitive nature of some posters may have driven people away from commenting and trying to engage in discussion. Sadly, some of the people pointing at the lack of comments are part of the repetition problem.
Anyone who wants to contact me can do so at MichPolWatcher (at) Yahoo (dot) com
^
|
+--- prefers broadswords or perhaps a shortbow. Weapons of choice? Betcha I can get free sword lessons from some of those Havoc in Hastings folks.
Does any blogger (or lurker) have any statistic on the number of crimes that have been prevented by a homeowner due to having a handgun (permitted or otherwise)?
Maybe more to the liking of gun-toters, does anybody have any statistics on the number of crimes in Barry County that would have been prevented if the homeowner had owned, carried, loaded and/or waved a handgun?
I suspect that the number is somewhere near the number of bombs placed on buses by Muslim women in Grand Rapids (discussed back a long time ago).
pw:
Yes,
"Grillo has absolutely no knowledge of the traffic of this blog other than guessing...."
My estimate of 36 is probably way over-estimated, otherwise I would be more careful about my comments.
You have my e-dress if you want a ceasefire.
Well, I was hoping Pol Watcher would break the story - not me.
But since you asked, there happens to be a particular area township supervisor/zoning administrator who's very married and who's been spending a tremendous amount of personal time at the home of a young female candidate for township clerk.
Now maybe he's just doing chores in her house. Or maybe not. But many neighbors of the clerk candidate have taken notice of this married with children elected official's almost daily visits to her home. He doesn't seem particularly concerned with hiding his visits.
There's talk that perhaps the word "home-wrecker" should be added to clerk candidate's yard signs.
I'm not naming names yet. Maybe you can connect the dots.
CloverdaleSteve
Since most people in that area are blood relatives, I suspect they may be cousins.
el grillo,
Why don't you take a trip to South Central LA and give your theory a try. And make sure it's after 4 PM before 4 PM it's kind of quiet. You go ahead and spread peace, love and understanding there and if it works I'll sign on to your program for the World.
TS: Must be you didn't read the local newspaper after the sheriff debate. It reported that DARling Barney said it wasn't his and the sheriff department's job to protect the citizens, it was our own. If its not their job to protect us, why do we need them?
maude - we read that in the paper too and thought it was just another misprint. if that isn't his job why did he say he was the head police officer for the county. Dad said when DARling barney doesn't even comprehend his own job description or what his responsibilities are, we, the public are in real trouble. Our local cops said they understand what their job is and they said it is to preserve, protect and defend the public. to bad their boss barney doesn't comprehend that.
why doesn't barney just stop spending so much taxpayers money on jail junkets, fruitless studies, swat patrol cars and equipment. Why doesn't Darling barney quit driving his family around in the county car all the time on our gas money, it's costing the taxpayers dearly.
One of the local cops said the $300,000.00 computer that comissioners callton, ferris, engleth and DARling barney secretly purchased still isn't working right and it goes no where. They said it just waste a lot of paper and it is costing the taxpayers more money in the long run.
Maybe we could get real protection if DARling barney got a new job peddling papers and driving his own car and paying for his own gas. He could still wear those awful looking high heeled swat boots he had on in the parade, dads barn boots look better.
too tired from lack of blood (from feeding the mosquitos for the last week) to comment...gotta get up and get a transfusion...hope someone donated A+ Republican blood today...arghhhhhh
If (as claimed) this blog has any significance, it would be refreshing to read some first-hand responses from actual candidates for (on this thread) Prosecutor.
He said, she said, games are fun and cute, but maybe before August we can actually get some "whole truth".
If Prosecutor Evans is forced to defend his positions in detail (which blogging allows you to do without just shooting from the hip which dominates the old-fashioned Commission on the Aged Town Hall confined chats), perhaps we could sift through the chaff by ourselves, ask for clarification, and perhaps the best person might emerge victorious.
On the other hand (as I have stated before) it is more likely that very few candidates (or voters) actually read our ranting.
Truth,
I am an Eagle Scout, the "Green Barret" of Boy Scouts. But if it builds your self esteem to call me names, go ahead, I can take it.
I don't need Dar or Tom for protection, I've got a .45 that does just fine. And as far as tasers go, I wouldn't carry one, I want a weapon that's lethal.
tlbs or boy scout - what an insult - "Green Barret" you must be affiliated with or a part of the trio plus team. Dad was a
bonda- fide member of the US Special Forces, a honorable GREEN BERET, never a "Green Barret". You sound just like DARling barney and his supporting tag alongs who spout off to often, not knowing what you are even talking about. We may be middle-class citizens, but we are sick and tired of your continued non-sense and half truths about everything you talk about.
Dad said people like you don't know right from wrong or truth from fiction. why do you keep spining fairy tails and making misinterpretation of actual facts. you may have been a private at best, but never a honorable member of the GREEN BRET, that honor came from dedication and hard work. the public needs protection from the likes of you and your green barret. Someone like you who brags about owning a 45 cal gun could be very dangerous or a menace to society . Whatever DARling barney has to say you take it as being the gospel and you all blindly follow. After all DARling barney said "it wasn't his or the sheriffs department job to protect the citizens"
if you want to soar with the eagles, YOU must first act like an eagle. being a "green barret" or a black belt swattish storm trooper seems to fit your mentallity lots better.
1. a green barrette is worn in one's hair to keep it from obscuring your vision. TLBS doesn't wear one.
2. Personal questions that far off the subject, meant to merely embarrass the candidates would be enough reason to avoid exposing their personal lives to ridicule on this blog.
3. Anybody that underestimates the political clout of the green barrettes in Barry County is naive. Dar, Tom and Mark are shoo-ins in August.
4. You deserve whomever gets elected.
ts,
I think we established last year that the cost will be high, and many of us are lounging along the sidelines waiting patiently for the wheels to grind down to where the rims hit the road. Eventually it will boil down to whether this County Board or the next one has to collect back for the legal fees from the private citizens they got stuck with the bill for.
Your problem is that we in the choir have that song memorized.
"Row, row, row your boat, etc.", even sung as a round, gets on your nerves if it is sung repetitively to the same audience.
I never said I was a "Green Barret", I said that Eagle Scouts were the equivilent of "Green Barrets" in the Scouting Movement. They are the best of the best of the best. I've camped in weather from -28 F to 104 F, 3 Ft of snow to 6 inches of water to axle deep mud, gale force winds, thunderstorms, gale force winds and tornados. I can tie knots that most people have never seen or heard of and some of them in under 2 seconds. I've built twenty ft tall observation towers, Ive built machines to manufacture rope from binder twine. I can start a fire without matches.
They don't just pass out Eagle Scout Badges, they're earned.
My character and abilities were question and I responded. I'm not bragging I'm stating facts.
I'm honored to be a part of the big three.
TS:
Answer to your second question:
The Clerk doesn't approve Tom's budget, the Commission does. In the Clerk case, this was employee malfeasance, and according to statute, the Prosecutor is obligated to prosecute. In Callton's case, there was the potential appearance of special treatment. By referring it to a special prosecutor, Tom avoided those charges.
Remember, you were quick to charge Tom of giving Callton a special deal. By handing over the case to a special prosecutor, that accusation loses all steam.
If this disturbs you so much, file a grievance against Tom--just like you did against Doherty. I am sure the AGC will laugh this one out to their grand circular file.
I doubt that any current Eagle Scouts would want to be referred to as violent Special Forces or some kind of paramilitaristic death squads.
Congratulations on your accumulation of merit badges.
TLBS: Those that live by the sword die by the sword. Truth is mightier than the sword. Don't they award merit badges for spelling and history in the Boy Scouts these days?
Jay: Can you cite the statute that says Tom had to prosecute the ladies in the clerk's office. To me and others that smelled of conflict of interest. Tom and his office work with them. Barney's office doing the investigation smelled too for the same reason.
I have often wondered why a crime that happened within the Hastings City limits was not handled by the Hastings Police Department
maybe the clerk was not clear on whose jurisdiction this would be. I can understand how she might unknowingly call the Sheriff. The Sheriff on the other hand should have at least called Chief Sarver I would think. Or maybe the Sheriff offers extra free service to Hastings City residents yet Middleville village residents must pay a little extra for the negotiated contract
el colibri,
I hope that I didn't give the impression that earning merit badges and striving to become an Eagle Scout was not admirable.
(This space for a long diatribe on the merits of Scouting, and local achievements, etc. You've been spared.)
As a former Scout, I was offended at the linkage between Scouting and six-gun violence.
Those of us who got our Statistical Reading Merit Badge are very aware that handguns are directly connected to most homicides and that most homicides are not committed by strangers (except on TV and video games). The probability of a shooting accident or a weapon being wrongfully discharged escalates dramatically when a handgun is allowed in a home. The argument that we all need to own guns to protect ourselves is not even worthy of discussion.
The jurisdictional question about the County Clerk's situation is interesting to me, but I suppose we won't be able to discuss it rationally without more blather about 911, etc. and name-calling diversions. Maybe I'll ask on a more intelligent blog-space.
Jurisdiction is an interesting question. Conflict of Interest is very apparent to many of us. The prosecutor and sheriff were wrong to be involved. People with integrity would have erred on the side of ethics.
The Scout Moto is "Be Prepared" and that may mean owning a .357 magnum and knowing how to use it. In the past we have been forced to leave our handguns at home, so if one stumbled into a break-in there was a chance the criminal would shoot one with one's own handgun. Now with concealed carry one would be carrying the handgun and chances are extremely high the criminal would be the one to be shot.
How is it that one would conlude taking guns out of the hands of law abiding Citizens would make one safer? They have a name for unarmed Citizens, it's victim. The West was not tamed with gun control laws.
And who is to offer protection during the 3 to 5 minutes that it takes for the Police to arrive?
BTW there is no "Statistical Reading" merit badge and there never was. One thing I do know is there are lies, damn lies and statistics. One never hears of the millions of people who fend of criminals with firearms. And how about DC the strictest anti gun laws in the Country and the highest murder rate?
All-
Just wondering, where should I look to find ACTUAL information about the candidates?
Good luck Mindless...I would wait for Battle Creek Enquirer / Lansing State Journal voter guide due out mid-July. (assuming they answered it)
Boy Scout: I sincerely hope Boy Scouts give a merit badge for 'survival skills in the jungle'. You will certainly need all the expertise you can acquire. Good luck!
49.153 Prosecuting attorney; duties.
Sec. 53.
The prosecuting attorneys shall, in their respective counties, appear for the state or county, and prosecute or defend in all the courts of the county, all prosecutions, suits, applications and motions whether civil or criminal, in which the state or county may be a party or interested.
Since these employees embezzled from the county, Tom was obligated to prosecute.
As for putting blame on the county clerk, I put more blame on Judge Fisher and the court administrator--they signed the vouchers.
Jay: Doesn't a special prosecutor fulfill Tom's duties on his behalf??? And TS is right about the 911 mess - if your theory is correct,Tom should have handled it or shut up (including his little buddy Barney)
mindless'
Almost anywhere else.
TLBC;
You can't trust any statistics, because they are all lies. The only truth you can trust is the truth that each individual has a right to kill other people if they suspect foul play.
You can't believe that nearly all people killed with handguns are people who are well known or related to the killer. That is just a big lie being spread by the government to get you to give up your weapons. Then they (the evil conspiracy) will barge into your house and rape your family and steal all your ammo.
The reason that "One never hears of the millions of people who fend of criminals with firearms." is that it has never happened, is not happening, and never will happen.
Where do you get all that hateful fear-filled bullcrap? How can you fall asleep at night?
el grillo - we have been told that those who want to keep leaf, evans and engeruth in office, that is exactly what we are going to get. by the court records it looks like all the criminals get out of going to jail because they don't get prosecuted or arrested even. now that is scary. we don't need new laws, we need a sheriff who can comprehend what his responsibility is about protection or at least understand his job description. We need a prosecutor who can win some court cases and someone who really cares about victims and their families, not just criminals.
we have been told that your son is a cop. it must be hard for him to do his job with a sheriff and prosecutor like we have. hope he is safe. We care
Actually MDOT will remove said sign if it occurs in their right of way or clearvision. And from what I understand...signage issues can be refered to the Michigan Sec of State office too. Something like a 30 day waiting period for them to act though.... ha ha...
Tutu;
For the record, your information is not the "whole truth". My son is not a local cop. He is a federal law enforcement officer. I taught him how to use his first gun and how to skin his first rabbit. His job involves apprehending nutcases who poach animals while carrying high-powered weapons. No firearms are allowed in his area, so the people he must confront know that he is a serious problem for them. If all he had to worry about was incompetent elected officials, I would sleep better at night. (He and I were both Boy Scouts, and veterans.) His Marine outfit was in the Phillipines on the way to the War on Terror when Mt. Pinatubo erupted. He is well-known to certain law enforcement people in Michigan. He teaches self-defense tactics to Forest Rangers, etc. He is the only member of the family who owns a handgun.
TLBS;
I have been harsh in my responses to you and I apologize. I have been doing a lot of reading about violence and non-violence lately, and am beginning to understand why you may be so filled with fear and feel so threatened. I wish you well. There are many of us who were raised in a loving environment who find it hard to understand your perspective.
Can we pretend that this blog is an online version of Survivor and begin the voting process now?
The issues with Big Boy, Barney, and ______ (I forgot what we are calling Mark) will not go away until someone intervenes.
Because we have ONE newspaper that lacks the teeth of a pit bull there will be no investigation by a media outlet. Maybe Henry Erb can come on down and spend a few weeks in Hicktown and file a lengthy report.
Also, In reference to improper signage: Call the township, city, or village Department of Public Works. If they do not prepond properly call start calling the township board or city council reps. I have found that the reponse depends largely on the candidates connection to the person you are complaining to :)
Lucky,
There doesn't need to be any additional fondling of the 911 issue. Nothing new has been discovered for over a year. All possible information has been out in the public for a long time. The only thing that has happened in a year is more repetitive name-calling and rewording of the same boring rants.
I don't care if people put Dar's signs in the middle of the road. I drive well enough to avoid them. The point is that law enforcement people are supposed to enforce the laws no matter how silly they may be, and also abide by them no matter how inconvenient.
My prediction is that the heavily advertised "trio" will win by virtue of voters who have been trained to respond to commercials. Immediately after the election, TS and BS, etc. will shift from the current rant to accusations of an unfair election controlled by some other conspiracy, probably the County Clerks office. The next County Board will get stuck with the bills for the unnecessary lengthy investigations, the legal fees of all the defendents, and punitive damages, but TS and BS, etc. will rant about it not being enough and how everybody got cheated by everybody else but them.
Lots of energy will be wasted on these nonissues and that will protect us from discussing anything of any importance, thereby ensuring that nothing will happen in Barry County that hasn't always been done this way.
I hope that brought you down to speed. Can I add you to the list of people who read this blog? You may be number 37.
Not at all defeatist. Very few people pay any attention to political races, and even fewer pay any attention to performance during the term of office. Spending money on advertising pays off. In a split second, those few of us who bother to vote decide which box to check, and a familiar name is what gets our attention.
Who is running for Precinct Delegate in your district? Since you probably don't know, you will probably vote for Bud Wiser, a name that sounds familiar.
Every time you use the name Dar, you make the name more familiar.
Grillo, I know who is running for precinct delegate...
I am the ONLY Precinct delegate running in Thornapple Twp.
Does anyone else know who in their respective districts?
BTW most people whom I have talked to at the fair the last few days do not know who their commissioner is or what district they live in...pretty sad :(
Heather, I do not find it that unusual that the majority of people dont know what district they live in or who their respective commisioner is. As Grillo pointed out, the more familiar the name in small town politics in likely to be the winner. I would guess that those who make it out to vote may have one or two races that they are somewhat familiar with....every other race is likely to get a blackened circle in the coolest most familiar sounding name. Based solely upon the number of signs and name familiarity thus far regarding the Sheriff, Prosecutor, and Drain Commissioner...the trio will win hands down.
Grillo gets it.
He's a realist. He also knows that jury funds were controlled by the Court, not the Clerk. The Court signed the vouchers, not the Clerk. Alas, TS's "coffee" buddies like Judge Fisher, and he cannot do anything wrong. They are also shared employees of the Court and the Clerk, but the truth means little to TS.
I also think folks are blowing the "case" against Evans out of proportion. What specific laws has Tom violated? I would contend that it pales in comparison to the shady dealings GS McNeil was doing while in office. If it disturbs you so much, file a grievance with the AGC against Tom. Sign violations??--ha. Complain to MDOT or the Road Commission (not the Bureau of Elections--they are overworked as it is). I see many Drain Commission candidates, as well as Selleck signs in the clear vision zone.
TS, the Montmorrency stuff you are floating is pure poppycock. I called the Clerk (Cheryl Neilsen 989-785-8022), Sheriff (who was a Lt. Then, Doug Baum 989-785-4238) and Register of Deeds (Teresa Walker 989-785-8079) and they all confirm Tom's version that his wife could not get a job in the area, Barry offered him a better offer. They were sad to see him go.
Alas TS, I think you just want to name call and throw mud. I think you are frustrated that Selleck is not campaigning and will lose.
Jay, Tom is not half the lawyer Shane is/was. Go ahead and make some calls on that one and post your findings.
TS:
When did Barney's incident in Lainsburg happen? Ten years ago? This year? Last week? Just wondering.
el grillo - you are possibily right. Your observation and wisdom is appreciated. because our local news media have selectively chosen to not report callton, ferris, engleth, leafs, debbie smith and evans murky track record, the taxpayers and county employees pay through the nose.
Their record speak volumes. The six of them are specialists in blame, excuses, denial, diversion, distortion of facts, failing to take management responsibility for their departments actions, and degrading of opponents or anyone else who dare to question them.
We suspect that is why you dubbed them the "trio plus" long ago. It is obvious why they have taken charge of the republican party for our county. Their energy and self-serving motives are all bout control and power and has nothing to do with service and support for our taxpayers or dedicated county employees.
several citizens and county employees have asked legitimate questions. look what has happened; the person got verbally chastized and degraded and the questions were buried or ignorned by your trio plus.
you are right, the people must live with whomever receives the majority of the republican vote here in our county. garbage in, garbage out. for our taxpayers and our county employee's sake, we hope it's garbage OUT this year.
I am tired and going to bed. No more questions or comments this election year from me. been buried, trashed and ignored to many enough. Go Blue
What's wrong everyone? No comments about the Commissioner Debate?
everyone must be sleeping...
I'm really excited!!!
I received a very humorous flyer in the mail, today.
It said,
"VOTE REPUBLICAN!"
in August for the Prosecutor.
I have to assume that there must be another choice that I'm not yet aware of. Is somebody filing to run as a write-in contender?
Green Party?
Independent?
Save the Whales?
Let me know! I can hardly wait to see that I have options other than business as usual.
OW...sorry I lasted all of 5 minutes in the comm debate before my spouse call with an "emergency" with the kids. *sigh* I tried. I hope to last longer next week because I am dying to figure this Frank Burns for Reg of Deeds out....if he shows.
Molli: Isn't this the Frank Burns of M*A*S*H fame?
Molli,
No prob, it happens heck I have two rug rats myself and have been called out of stuff to keep them from killing each other.
I received an e-mail from Frank Burns and here it is and the attachment, it's a long post read it all if you can stand to stay awake
e-mail
Dear Fellow Republicans;
Please read the attached document about myself and my run for the position
of Barry County Register of Deeds.
I would like you to consider voting for me in the upcoming August 5, 2008
election.
Thank You
Respectfully
Frank Burns
attachment
QUESTIONNAIRE FOR THE AUG. 5, 2008 PRIMARY ELECTION
Name: Frank Burns
Office you are seeking: Barry County Register of Deeds
Your top 3 priorities
1. Expeditiously Record and Process the Land Records accurately within 48 hours, giving the customer prompt friendly and efficient service.
2. Request that the Barry County Abstractor position be brought under the supervision of the Register of Deeds office as suggested by State Law.
3. I feel extremely honored and privileged to be able to Serve You as Your Register Of Deeds and I understand how important it is to You and the Citizens of Barry County to Know your land Records are Recorded and Safeguarded. I Pledge to continue to uphold the Statutory Responsibilities of this office when elected.
Biographical information:
Date of Birth: January 27th, 1943
Address: 5117 Head Rd, Hastings MI 49058-8397
Email address: FrankBurns@US-Address.net Web site: US-Address.net
Home phone: 269-623-4118
Current employer: Retired from US Postal Service
Spouse’s name: Vera S. Burns
Children: one son Matthew and one daughter Jennifer.
To what civic and religious organizations do you belong: Grace Lutheran Church Hastings MI
No companies.
No corporate boards
Never laid off of work
Never fired from a job
Never been arrested or convicted
No restraining orders
No Law suits
Never been penalized, fined or cited by the IRS, or failed to pay local or state taxes on time.
Education/Training:
04/77 - 04/77 | U.S. Jaycees | Personal Dynamic | Cert. | 04/77
10/69 - 03/71 | Metro Adult Education | Leadership & Sup | Cert. | 03/71
06/67 - 06/69 | Foothill College | Business Major | 46.5 units |
06/65 - 03/67 | Mtn. View High School | Supervisory Tech. | Cert. | 03/67
06/62 - 06/62 | High School | USAFI Madison WI | Diploma
08/92 - 08/92 | U.S. Postal Service | Sort Plan Systems – RBCS programming
11/91 - 11/91 | U.S. Postal Service | DP 90 Plus – Computer Security Disaster Planning
10/91 - 10/91 | U.S. Postal Service | NDSS – DEC VMS Operating System Management
08/91 - 08/91 | U.S. Postal Service | Sort Plan System (SPS)
08/91 - 08/91 | U.S. Postal Service | MAS – Directory Analysis Specialist
03/90 - 03/90 | U.S. Postal Service | AMS Organization File Update
04/88 - 04/88 | U.S. Postal Service | MAS – Directory Analysis Specialist
11/85 - 11/85 | U.S. Postal Service | MI – Quality of Work Life
02/85 - 02/85 | U.S. Postal Service | MAS – Address Information Systems Analyst
03/82 - 03/82 | U.S. Postal Service | Basic Labor Relations
02/82 - 02/82 | U.S. Postal Service | Injury Compensation
08/81 - 09/81 | U.S. Postal Service | MAS – Delivery Services Supervisor
05/81 - 05/81 | U.S. Postal Service | Assertive Management
02/79 - 02/79 | U.S. Postal Service | MAS – Associate Office Operations
04/78 - 04/78 | U.S. Postal Service | MPLSM Supervisor Operations
04/78 - 04/78 | U.S. Postal Service | Grievance Handling for Supervisors
04/78 - 04/78 | U.S. Postal Service | MPLSM Edit Operational Procedures
02/78 - 02/78 | U.S. Postal Service | Revenue Protection
06/77 - 06/77 | U.S. Postal Service | O.D.I.S. Operational Procedures
04/77 - 04/77 | U.S. Postal Service | Delivery of Accountable Mail
04/77 - 04/77 | U.S. Postal Service | Delivery Services
04/77 - 04/77 | U.S. Postal Service | Mail Classification
12/75 - 12/75 | I.C.S. | Introduction to Accounting
11/75 - 11/75 | U.S. Postal Service | NCD Postmaster – Third Class
10/75 - 10/75 | U.S. Postal Service | Introduction to Postal Supervision
08/75 - 08/75 | U.S. Postal Service | Customer Service Representative
03/75 - 03/75 | U.S. Postal Service | Retailing Postal Products
06/68 - 06/74 | U.S. Postal Service | Supervisor Examinations
Postal Positions:
06/93 - 01/02 | Address Mgt Systems Specialist | U.S. Postal Service – Grand Rapids MI | EAS-15
06/91 - 06/93 | Directory Analysis Specialist | U.S. Postal Service – Seattle WA | EAS – 15
09/84 - 06/91 | Address Information Sys Analyst | U.S. Postal Service – Seattle WA | EAS – 15
04/81 - 09/84 | Supervisor Sta/Br Operations | U.S. Postal Service – Seattle WA | EAS – 13
08/80 - 04/81 | Clerk – Distribution | U.S. Postal Service – CAO Seattle WA | 5-12
07/78 - 08/80 | Superintendent Postal Opns (B) | U.S. Postal Service – Hastings MI | EAS – 16
AKA: Assistant Postmaster
06/78 - 07/78 | Supervisor Mails & Delivery | U.S. Postal Service – Hastings MI | PMS – 15
04/74 - 06/78 | Regular City Carrier | U.S. Postal Service – Hastings MI | 5 – 12
01/72 - 04/74 | PTF Carrier (CAO) | U.S. Postal Service – Hastings MI | 5 – 8
08/69 - 01/72 | Regular City Carrier | U.S. Post Office – Los Gatos CA | 5 – 5
02/69 - 08/69 | City Carrier Tech | U.S. Post Office – Los Gatos CA | 6 – 5
07/68 - 02/69 | City Carrier – Career Sub | U.S. Post Office – Los Gatos CA | 5 – 4
03/68 - 07/68 | Clerk – Career Sub | U.S. Post Office – Los Gatos CA | 5 – 4
10/67 - 03/68 | Distribution Clerk | U.S. Post Office – Battle Creek MI | 4 – 3
08/65 - 07/67 | Regular City Carrier | U.S. Post Office – Mtn View CA | 4 – 1
10/64 - 08/65 | Sub Carrier - Career | U.S. Post Office – Mtn View CA | 4 – 1
Details and Assignments:
01/96 - 01/2002 | GIS Delivery Routing System | U.S. Postal Service – Grand Rapids MI
11/85 - 12/85 | Manager Terminal Station | U.S. Postal Service – Seattle WA
02/85 - 07/85 | Manager Bainbridge Island Station | U.S. Postal Service – Seattle WA
11/84 - 02/85 | Supv Stamp Destruction Committee | U.S. Postal Service – Seattle WA
10/84 - 02/85 | Project – Carrier Case Label Program | USPS Western Region Project Assignment
06/84 - 08/84 | Manager Bainbridge Island Station | U.S. Postal Service – Seattle WA
12/83 - 06/84 | Program Mgr CS Management Data Systems | U.S. Postal Service – Seattle WA
08/80 - 04/81 | Supervisor Distribution Operations (204-B) | U.S. Postal Service – Seattle WA
11/77 - 03/78 | Officer-In-Charge | U.S. Post Office – Ceresco MI
Other Non Postal Positions:
09/2004 - 02/2005 | Custodial Aide | Caledonia Community Schools
03/2002 - 10/2002 | GIS Technician | GIS Street Centerline update for Kent County MI
Grand Valley Metro Council – REGIS, Grand Rapids MI
02/2005 - 08/2007 | Court House Mortgage Research | National Agents Alliance
O.K., Enough, already!
I'm convinced!
Tomorrow I am going to vote for a Republican for Prosecutor AND Register of Deeds
Done, and done!
Oh my gosh....I know of that Frank Burns...he used to be one of the Regional USPS zip+4 admins up in GR. My contact was Gary, but Frank was a CC on that list...small world.
d'oh
Thaks OW...looks like the Kalamazoo Gazette questionaire is out.
This should be an interesting show to watch come thursday.
No doubt leading the parade will be the trio of clowns.
If the city police have to arrest someone for a violation of the law, who will be there to witness it first hand..... "big boy" who will then have to have a special Pros. to handle it, why because he will alongwith "barney" be a witness to the crime......
yes, only in Barry Co. can we have our so called sheriff and his legal advisor right there in the thick fo the march...
I, for one will have my popcorn at the fountain to watch this one.
I wonder a loud if there will be signs supporting their gun toting sheriff????????
maybe the left should march with doves on their shoulders, then we could have a real show, dove shooting supporter, "barney" and his boys could have some target practice, only in barry county...... the dumbing we will go......
"CITIZENS WHO SUPPORT THE SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS WILL WALK DOWN STATE STREET IN HASTINGS THURSDAY OPENLY CARRYING A WEAPON TO PEACEFULLY DEMONSTRATE WHAT THEY SAY IS THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO OPEN CARRY. DAVID STEVENS, REPRESENTING BARRY COUNTY CITIZENS FOR SECOND AMENDMENT AND FIREARM RIGHTS, SAID LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS INTERESTED IN FURTHERING SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS CAN JOIN THEM AT RITCHIE'S COFFEE SHOP IN DOWNTOWN HASTINGS ON JULY 24 AT 4 P.M."
TS
I don't believe sitting anywhere near the fountain war monument will be a good idea.
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