Joe Blumberg
Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008
Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008
County land could fetch $4M
Friday, Nov. 14, 2008
Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008
Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008
Whatever happened to ...
Friday, Oct. 31, 2008
Friday, Oct. 31, 2008
Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008
Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008
Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2008
Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2008
Sunday, Oct. 26, 2008
Ready, set, vote
Saturday, Oct. 25, 2008
Saturday, Oct. 25, 2008
Friday, Oct. 24, 2008
Friday, Oct. 24, 2008
Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2008
Saturday, Oct. 18, 2008
Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008
Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2008
Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008
Thursday, Oct. 9, 2008
Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2008
Time running out for voter registration
Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2008
Monday, Oct. 6, 2008
Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008
Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008
City sign ordinance has some baffled
Friday, Oct. 3, 2008
Council ponders decision on streetlights
Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2008
Monday, Sept. 29, 2008
United Building gets grant
Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008
Saturday, Sept. 20, 2008
Saturday, Sept. 13, 2008
Remembering the fateful day, from New York to St. Joseph
Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008
'Nite Ride' kicks off Oct. 1
Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008
Industrial roads scraping for funds
Sunday, Sept. 7, 2008
Saturday, Sept. 6, 2008
Friday, Sept. 5, 2008
Thursday, Sept. 4, 2008
Thursday, Sept. 4, 2008
Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2008
‘Green’ lights all about greenbacks
Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2008
Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2008
City rolls toward bike tour
Monday, Sept. 1, 2008
Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008
Cell phone tax revenue will help fund alley work
Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2008
Boiling Point: Racial, political tensions came to a head in 1968
Sunday, Aug. 24, 2008
Sunday, Aug. 17, 2008
Saturday, Aug. 16, 2008
City could ‘challenge’ county hotel tax
Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2008
Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008
Official election results boosted Barack Obama’s margin of victory to 54 votes against John McCain in Buchanan County.
Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008
A preliminary 2009 Buchanan County budget projects only 1 percent growth in sales tax revenue and zero growth in property tax revenue, reflecting if nothing else a relative lack of confidence in the economy.
Auditor Nancy Nash released the first budget draft Friday before today’s deadline by state law. The County Commission, Ms. Nash and elected county officeholders have until Jan. 30 to make changes.
With a “gun to his head,” a Midwest economic analyst said he’d also estimate a 1 percent growth in sales tax. But he notes there’s often little wiggle room in local government.
County land could fetch $4M
Friday, Nov. 14, 2008
Buchanan County could reap $4.25 million from the sale of 15 acres near the Shoppes at North Village.
Washington state-based developer Albany Lending & Investments has an option until March 31 to buy the land, although the county can extend the option 90 days if the developer has made “substantial progress.” Hotels and restaurants are among the possibilities for the land, according to the agreement.
Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008
The incumbent parties held on to their respective seats on the Buchanan County Commission.
Turnout watch -- Early editionTuesday, Nov. 4, 2008
How to measure the difference between a big turnout and a record turnout. And other observations.
Whatever happened to ...
Friday, Oct. 31, 2008
Jesse Thrasher could have wondered “What if?” as he watched the Philadelphia Phillies win the World Series this week.
Maryville death nets 7 years in prisonFriday, Oct. 31, 2008
The first of two men involved in a Maryville, Mo., beating death was sentenced to seven years in prison Thursday.
Attorney General candidate Gibbons visits St. JosephWednesday, Oct. 29, 2008
Mike Gibbons, Republican candidate for Missouri Attorney General, stopped his bus tour at the Buchanan County Courthouse on Wednesday morning. He offered his plans for the office, and his hopes in a "challenging" year for Republicans.
Experience, economy square off in assessor’s raceWednesday, Oct. 29, 2008
Candidates in the Buchanan County assessor’s race cast themselves as the experienced and capable incumbent versus the challenger who thinks a new tax approach is needed for difficult economic times.
Higdon leads county fundraisingTuesday, Oct. 28, 2008
Candidates for Buchanan County offices made their final campaign filings before the election Monday.
Memorial Day flower thieves sentencedTuesday, Oct. 28, 2008
Two women who stole Memorial Day flowers from cemeteries have been sentenced to jail and house arrest, respectively.
Election victors set for pay raiseSunday, Oct. 26, 2008
The winners in the Eastern and Western District county commission races will not just lay claim to the seats.
Ready, set, vote
Saturday, Oct. 25, 2008
Don’t be that guy on Election Day. That’s basically what Buchanan County Clerk Pat Conway is trying to say. The only big concern on Nov. 4 is people who haven’t updated their addresses attempting to vote at the wrong polling place, Mr. Conway said. Those voters’ records must be updated, and they must go to the proper location to vote. The process can tie up a poll worker at the polling place and at the clerk’s central database.
Hook’s finances questionedSaturday, Oct. 25, 2008
Buchanan County Commission candidate Ron Hook’s most recent campaign finance report includes several bookkeeping mistakes, including a bounced check in May, misstated financial information and two summary sections left blank on the report.
Ag expo center draws debateFriday, Oct. 24, 2008
The Buchanan County Agri-Business Expo Center could be the next-decade version of a county-initiated project that promises a boost to the local economy, restaurants, hotels and a prominent interstate intersection.
In so many words, it’s the countrified version of the Shoppes at North Village.
And one man is the man on this project: Eastern District County Commissioner Dan Hausman. He touts its benefits for the community — not just as a tourism draw but also with respect to St. Joseph’s push to tie its agricultural roots with life sciences industries.
Friday, Oct. 24, 2008
What happens on three corners of exit 50 on Interstate 29 in northeast St. Joseph will go a long way toward the political and financial fortunes of two Hausman brothers.
That prime land is a prime campaign issue in the race for Eastern District Buchanan County commissioner.
Democratic challenger Rosie Gach Haertling has gone on the offensive against incumbent Republican Dan Hausman over his involvement in developing the interchange. The concern is a perception that Mr. Hausman is lining up public dominoes to fall in such a way to help a private development — Tuscany Village, in which his brother Scott is a primary investor.
Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2008
Dan Hausman ran for office four years ago to shore up the inefficiencies and informalities of county government, and he thinks things have gotten much better. Funny thing is, Rosie Gach Haertling is running against Mr. Hausman this year to shore up the inefficiencies and informalities of county government. She said the Buchanan County Commission is still plagued by the overbudgeting, bad priorities and lax tradition of spending that Mr. Hausman said he’s worked so hard to correct. “You correct it by watching the budget on a monthly basis or quarterly basis, but you can’t continue to spend, spend, spend when we’re in a budget crunch around the country,” Ms. Haertling said. “... It happens at home, and it’s got to happen at the county.”
Alleged driver charged in June robberySaturday, Oct. 18, 2008
Authorities have charged a Kansas woman as an alleged getaway driver to the vicious robbery that nearly killed a 19-year-old convenience store clerk earlier this summer.
Cave pleads guilty to robbery, assaultThursday, Oct. 16, 2008
Sean Cave has pleaded guilty to the convenience store robbery and vicious attempts to kill the store’s clerk, Kimberly Dejonge.
Stormwater funding on ballotWednesday, Oct. 15, 2008
Cities like St. Joseph could get help for stormwater projects from a dried-up grant program if Missouri voters approve a measure on the November ballot.
Ott, Hook face off for open county officeSaturday, Oct. 11, 2008
There will be a new face as Western District Buchanan County Commissioner. But will there be a new party?
Democrat Bud Crockett is retiring after four terms in the seat. First-time candidate Republican Bob Ott faces first-time candidate Democrat Ron Hook, who emerged from an 11-candidate primary to get his name on the Nov. 4 ballot.
Thursday, Oct. 9, 2008
St. Joseph City Manager Vince Capell knows plenty about how it feels to have someone question his work by an outside auditor.
Now he wants Buchanan County and the Law Enforcement Center Commission to have their turn.
Mr. Capell, who is a member of the joint city-county LEC Commission, is calling for independent audits of LEC funds after it was found that the Buchanan County Commission inappropriately used $487,612 from an LEC fund in May 2006.
Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2008
Homebuilders more than got their way Monday night when the City Council loosened streetlight standards and scolded City Manager Vince Capell. Streetlights on residential streets are now back to a pre-2004 standard — basically a light at every intersection, plus a light in between if the block is longer than 400 feet. “Because of the way developments run, you’re very rarely going to have lights 400 feet apart,” said Todd Griffee, an attorney for the Greystone housing development, which initiated the push for the change.
Time running out for voter registration
Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2008
Despite all the presidential hype and a hefty number of newly registered voters, perhaps 15,000 people in Buchanan County are eligible to vote but haven’t registered. Facing a deadline of 5 p.m. Wednesday to register to vote in the November election, County Clerk Pat Conway’s office is making a final push tonight to corral the procrastinators at 12 locations in St. Joseph and Agency. Anyone who will be 18 by Nov. 4 can register by filling out a form. “The census data I’ve looked at, roughly 30 percent of the people are not registered to vote. It’s a significant number of people,” said David Tushaus, an associate professor of legal studies at Missouri Western State University.
Brown to face Baier in raceMonday, Oct. 6, 2008
Forty-one years and party politics create a wide distance between the candidates for the 30th District Missouri House of Representatives.
Stereotypes can swing back aroundSaturday, Oct. 4, 2008
“The Daily Show” sent a black “reporter” down to Florida a few months back to see why old Jews supposedly didn’t support Obama. It was during his dustup with Hillary, and some of the early-bird specialists didn’t much care for the younger black candidate.
McDonald’s robber pleads guiltySaturday, Oct. 4, 2008
The last of three men charged with robbing a McDonald’s via the drive-thru window pleaded guilty to felony charges Friday morning.
City sign ordinance has some baffled
Friday, Oct. 3, 2008
Unless Julius Caesar is running for county commissioner and holding $5.55 carryout-dinner fundraisers, the Little Caesars pizza chain is advertising in many St. Joseph yards.
The orange “vote” for pizza signs, just like military recruitment signs along the Parkway and “We Buy Houses” signs tacked to utility poles earlier this year, provide further evidence that laws are only as good as the enforcement.
“If we get a complaint about a sign — an address-specific complaint — we go out and check that address,” said Steve Hofferber, who oversees property maintenance enforcement for the city.
Council ponders decision on streetlights
Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2008
Arbitrary standards for residential streetlights could go into place, as the St. Joseph city manager is unwilling to compromise with developers and the City Council. Home developers have asked the city to relax residential lighting standards that went into place in 2004, and council members say they asked City Manager Vince Capell to work on a compromise. But the only option city staff put on the table was to go back to the pre-2004 standards, which would completely do away with engineered illumination standards within neighborhoods.
Contractor-city saga stallsMonday, Sept. 29, 2008
The local construction community’s lack of faith in City Hall caused some City Council members to rethink a 22-month endeavor to revamp trade licensing and testing.
It’s difficult to weed out the self-serving aspects of the building trades’ arguments, but this much seems sincere from recent meetings and back-and-forth with the city: A broad spectrum of homebuilders, electricians, plumbers and other contractors don’t think the city can handle its current, relatively small licensing and permitting program, so they don’t want to see the bureaucracy bite off more.
Some are also convinced that a bigger licensing program will require bigger fees, and again they’re not convinced they’ll see any meaningful improvements at the end of the day.
United Building gets grant
Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008
Another Downtown building got help toward renovation thanks to a Save Our Heritage grant from the city of St. Joseph.
The City Council on Monday night voted 8-0 to approve a $45,000 grant for the United Building, at Sixth and Felix streets. The grants typically have gone to historic homes on the verge of demolition, but the Kirkpatrick Building ($40,000, at Seventh and Francis streets) and now the United Building have received relatively large Save Our Heritage grants in the past two years.
Saturday, Sept. 20, 2008
One of Triumph Foods’ big selling points — the long-term tax gain for schools, libraries, the city and county — is now forecast in the longer-term. After Buchanan County Assessor Scot Van Meter’s office found a mistake and lowered Triumph’s tax assessment earlier this year, the city of St. Joseph projects that it’ll take the full 23 years to pay off Triumph’s tax-increment financing, or TIF, bonds. Originally, the bonds were scheduled to be paid off in 12 to 15 years. In short, the city calculates that it could take about twice as long for taxpayers to get their hands on about $700,000 per year in Triumph’s real property taxes. (Triumph does pay an additional $172,742 that flows to schools, libraries, the city and county.)
St. Joseph, neighbor not likely to work things outSaturday, Sept. 13, 2008
Millions of dollars and good neighbor relations slip further away as each month passes.
The city of St. Joseph and Country Club Village have made no progress in reconciling their broken relationship since April 29, when a state appeals court issued a stern ruling against the city’s sewer tactics.
Appearances worsened at the City Council’s last meeting. Councilman Bill Falkner proposed to reduce village sewer rates by 15 percent, but the council voted 3-4 on the proposal. Even with that dip, village sewer rates still would’ve been double what city residents pay.
Remembering the fateful day, from New York to St. Joseph
Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008
We remember the towers. We remember where we were. We remember the Pentagon and the field in Pennsylvania.
And we slowly forget the fear, the anger, the unity, the anthrax, the water supply, the color-coded threats and even Afghanistan. We move further toward a post post-9/11 world.
Today we remember.
'Nite Ride' kicks off Oct. 1
Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008
St. Joseph city buses will rumble while most people slumber, beginning Oct. 1. A two-year federal grant will pay for overnight bus routes to and from the Mitchell Woods, Stockyards and the old East Side industrial areas. With thousands of people working early or late shifts and constant rider requests for longer hours, the city conservatively estimates that 300 people will use the “Nite Ride.” “One of the things riders always told us is they want more access at night,” said St. Joseph Transit Manager Kurt Janicek. “They can get to work on the bus, but they can’t get back.”
Industrial roads scraping for funds
Sunday, Sept. 7, 2008
Road repairs in St. Joseph’s original industrial park would cost between $800,000 and $3.6 million, the city told business leaders Friday.
Painting, presidents and pigskinSaturday, Sept. 6, 2008
Two vital seasons begin this weekend. I’ll be painting the second half of my house, and the National Football League gets under way.
Riverfront gondolas idea ‘still very much alive’Friday, Sept. 5, 2008
A string of consultants from 2001 to 2004 had the city of St. Joseph dreaming of tourists gliding through the treetops on the river bluff between Wyeth Hill and the riverfront.
Charter review committee announcedThursday, Sept. 4, 2008
A mix of City Hall supporters and critics — and even a former mayor — make up the 14-member volunteer committee to review the City Charter.
More Background on City Charter CommitteeThursday, Sept. 4, 2008
Nine volunteers for the City Charter review committee represent an interesting mix of City Hall squabblers and supporters. Here's a little bit of the skinny on all nine.
South Side Cleanup/Tired of looking at R.J.'s faceTuesday, Sept. 2, 2008
I'm tired of looking at sports reporter RJ Cooper hogging all three spots on our blog posts, so without any delay, I'm glad to report that South St. Joseph Progressive Association will hold a free Dumpster day on Sept. 6.
‘Green’ lights all about greenbacks
Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2008
Talk about “green,” and people tend to either raise their eyebrows in interest or roll their eyes in cynicism. But regardless of how they feel about the environment, some new green initiatives are simply about the old green — money.
The city of St. Joseph plans to pay KCP&L about $780,000 this year for streetlight electricity and maintenance.
As technology improves, a few communities are switching to LED (light-emitting diodes) bulbs. They’re more expensive, but one city says LEDs can provide a net savings within three to six years.
Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2008
Just as a romantic dinner calls for candlelight, St. Joseph home builders claim they need softer outdoor lighting to sell upscale homes.
They want to repeal a 2004 city lighting ordinance so they can go back to an older standard that only placed lights on intersections and once every 400 feet. The relaxed standards would only apply to purely residential streets — not arterial and collector streets that see heavier traffic.
City staff is opposed to the change, but the volunteer Planning Commission voted 8-0 Thursday night to recommend the City Council approve the developers’ request.
City rolls toward bike tour
Monday, Sept. 1, 2008
Whether St. Joseph will be absolutely overridden or merely busy with bike enthusiasts next weekend, it’s not in a bad position as the start of the Tour of Missouri.
Local hotels give mixed outlooks thus far, but other signs show that St. Joseph could be in for a big three days. Although St. Joseph shares the Monday race day and tourism dollars with Kansas City, St. Joseph will host two more days of races, a free blues festival and other events to take full advantage as the “grand depart.”
Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008
The City Council will write letters of support for two developers vying for state funding to build low- to moderate-income housing in St. Joseph.
Cell phone tax revenue will help fund alley work
Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2008
Dollars at the bottom of St. Joseph cell phone bills soon will go to fill holes in alleys.
Boiling Point: Racial, political tensions came to a head in 1968
Sunday, Aug. 24, 2008
The 1968 Democratic Convention perhaps marked the climax of the Sixties revolutionary movement in America. Divergent groups — Yippies, hippies, the National Mobilization to End the War in Vietnam, anti-war Catholics, civil rights activists and Black Panthers — converged en masse on Chicago 40 years ago this week. They hoped to force the Democrats into a platform to end the war in Vietnam and to prevent the nomination of Hubert H. Humphrey for president. Local residents who went to Chicago still recall the gravity of those days, how that convention led to Richard Nixon’s presidency, and how convention politics have never been the same.
Sunday, Aug. 17, 2008
The South Side could get its first taste of new affordable housing since a state program began more than 20 years ago.
Mike Dalsing named fire chiefSaturday, Aug. 16, 2008
Mike Dalsing will start working an eight-hour shift for the first time in 29 years.
On Friday, City Manager Vince Capell announced that Mr. Dalsing will take over as the city’s fire chief in September. Mr. Dalsing, 51, is a St. Joseph native and a 29-year veteran of the St. Joseph Fire Department.
“I’m pretty excited about it — of course a little nervous,” Mr. Dalsing said Friday after the news became official. “There’s a lot of responsibility involved, and we’ve got a lot of exciting things going on.”
City could ‘challenge’ county hotel tax
Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2008
The talk of unrelated city and county hotel/motel taxes has grown louder and more complicated.
Both the city of St. Joseph and Buchanan County want to increase the current 3 percent city hotel/motel tax by 5 percent, although the city will not seek the increase on the November ballot.
Even as the two defend their uses of the tax dollars as “tourism promotion” to satisfy legal requirements, the taxes still could end up in legal trouble. The city is prepared to “challenge” if the county gets voter approval to raise the tax.
