Qulin News

Archive for October, 2009

We have been having problems with our events list, but believe we have finally worked out the problems. You should notice a list in the left column. We have also added a page for events (see the navigation bar at the top of the page). Just click on Events in the top navigation bar to see the full details of the events.

If you have an event planned, please send an email with the details to lpearson@qulinnews.com. We want to help you get the word out about your events.

Attorney General Koster announces settlement of class action suit against Silver State — Missouri victims have $2.9 million debt forgiven

Jefferson City, Mo. – Attorney General Chris Koster today announced that Missouri and 11 other states have obtained a settlement with a private student loan provider, resolving an 18-month multistate investigation. Student Loan Xpress will forgive a total of $112.7 million in debt for students who obtained non-government guaranteed educational loans to attend a now-bankrupt helicopter training school, Silver State Helicopters, LLC. Read the rest of this entry »

St. Martins, MO – After missing for two days, Elizabeth Olten, age 9, was found dead Friday not far from Jefferson City, Missouri, on Friday. A juvenile suspect has been taken into custody.

Family members describe Elizabeth as happy, outgoing, afraid of the dark, and an angel.

Due to the signal transmitting from her cell phone, the police were able to narrow the two-day search and find Elizabeth’s body.

Read more of the story at KSDK-TV.

Senator Bond continues to fight against cap-and-trade legislation that threatens Missouri families and farmers with higher energy prices and job losses. The bill proposed by Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and John Kerry (D-MA) sets even stricter emissions targets than the House-passed Waxman-Markey bill. The Sena te bill also removes  provisions that require the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to be fair to ethanol producers and to protect energy-intensive manufacturing jobs in the United States that are exposed to unfair competition in China, an unsettling fact as experts say that the Waxman-Markey bill alone will eliminate 2.4 million net U.S. jobs. Read the rest of this entry »

Gov. Nixon, business leaders outline need for increased training at Missouri community colleges

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The need for workers with vocational or technical training is growing quickly, and Missouri must be ready to keep up.

That was the central theme of a roundtable discussion led by Gov. Jay Nixon during a visit to the automotive training program at Ozarks Technical Community College today.  Gov. Nixon visited the campus to hear directly from college administrators and local business leaders about strategies to help Missourians compete for 21^st-century jobs.  After touring the automotive program’s shop, the Governor and the leaders discussed the need to train additional Missouri workers to meet the demands of high-tech, growing industries. Read the rest of this entry »

Saturday morning, October 24, 2009, if you are in Poplar Bluff and decide to have breakfast out, the Recycling Grace Women’s Center is doing a fund raiser at Applebee’s.  We will be serving an all you can eat breakfast – bacon, pancake and a beverage for $5.00.  It will be from 8:00 -10:00AM.  We get to keep $3.00 of each $5.00 that we collect.
 
If you have not heard of Recycling Grace Women’s Center, it is a women’s recover center for women who are attending outpatient treatment for addictions but needs extra support.  We are now incorporated, we have our 501(c ) (3) status. We have applied for two different grants to purchase the old Edgewood Home to use as a place to house the women.  Even if we get the grants, neither of them will pay for items that will be used on a daily basis, such as towels, bed linens, food, personal care item, payroll, etc.  ….. the list is long. 
 
We will appreciate any help that you can give us.  If you can’t come to the breakfast, please tell someone who might be abe to come.

by Linda Sedrick Pearson

 There was an article in the Daily American Republic (DAR) newspaper on Sunday, October 18, that was written by Associated Press (AP) Writer Katharine Houreld. It was titled Denounced by the church as Nigerian child witches. 

After reading the article is makes me wonder – are we headed backwards toward the old witch burning Salem days? Many of the children in Nigeria are being labeled as witches by some church pastors and members. The children are then tortured and many burned by family members, as church people stand around and cheer on the parents or other members inflicting this torture. The torture ranges from forcing acid down their throats to burnings.

 That is not Christianity, folks. The children have done nothing (according to this article) that would cause anyone to think they were witches. In other words, they have not been casting spells or speaking incantations as you would expect from a witch. They did not speak curses on any person. So what caused them to be labeled as witches?

 The only thing found wrong with these children was poverty! They had the misfortune to be born into a family that was poor and had too many children already. For these families to lose on poor child is a blessing because it means one less mouth to feed. It means more food in the bellies of the other family members.

 What we have to do is to guard ourselves and make sure we do not make the same mistakes here in America. Most of us are quick to judge others and then jump on the mass hysteria bandwagon to join the accuser’s side of the question. Before you judge anyone, take a good look at ALL the facts. And remember, the Bible says that you will be judged by the same rules you used to judge others.

City of Qulin

Board of Aldermen

Thursday October 15, 2009

The City of Qulin, Board of Aldermen met in an open workshop meeting on Thursday October 15, 2009 at 6:00 pm at the Qulin Lion’s Club. Those present were Mayor Long, Alderman Barbara Head, Otto Griffin, Linda Johnson, Sherry Goff, City Clerk Margaret McDonald and citizens Gloria Flowers and Don Goff.

Mayor Long called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm and lead the invocation.

Public input

Gloria Flowers stated that she had been contacted by Robertson Tree Service concerning the issue of her pecan tree. Mrs. Flowers stated that Mr. Robertson has refused to take responsibility for the damage she states was done to her tree and had asked that the City do something about this issue since Mr. Robertson had been hired by the City to trim the trees.  Mayor Long states that the issue of the pecan tree is between Mrs. Flowers and Mr. Robertson and if she wants Mr. Robertson held responsible for the damage then she would just have to take him to court.

After much discussion on this issue, Mrs. Flowers has decided to “ Just drop it” and “ Let it go.” Linda Johnson apologized for what has been done to the tree but stated that nothing can be done to bring the tree back to its previous condition. Mrs. Johnson states that the City will be more cautious when hiring contractors to do work for the City and that when contractors are doing work for the city that someone should be with them at all times and if an issue arises at any worksite that the contractors will stop the project at that time until the issue is settled.

The Board has agreed to try to contact the citizens in advance of any work that will be done in the city prior to the contractor’s arrival.

Mrs.  Flowers also states that in the ordinance books that there are several ordinances that will bring in revenue for the city that the city is not collecting; she will bring a copy of these ordinances to city hall, so the Mayor can see what can be done to collect this revenue.

Approval of previous minutes

Linda Johnson makes a motion to approve the previous minutes.

Barbara Head second the motion.

Motion passes.

Approve amended ordinance 11.01.09-.001  increase wastewater rates in order to maintain operating expenses for the city’s sewer system.

Mayor Long read amended ordinance 11.01.09-.001

1^st reading-motion: Linda Johnson, Second: Sherry Goff. Motion carried

2^nd reading- motion: Barbara Head, Second: Linda Johnson. Motion carried

3^rd reading-motion: Sherry Goff, Second: Otto Griffin. Motion carried.

Items requiring action

Mayor Long states that he and Terry Stewart are working with Harry Neiwald, engineer to see about installing a lift station on Mr. Stewart’s lower 9 acres to accommodate the mobile homes Mr. Stewart wishes to install there. Mayor Long and Mr. Neiwald believe this will be more economical and beneficial for Mr. Stewart. Mayor states that he will keep the board informed of any further progress with this project.

City Clerk is to send Mr. Stewart a bill for the water usage resulting from a water leak at one of Mr. Stewart’s mobile homes. Mr. Stewart has agreed to pay for the water used by the leak.

Mayor’s Report

Mayor Long asks the Board to approve reimbursement to Chief Fisher the amount of $38.43 (thirty- eight dollars and forty-three cents) for ammunition purchased. The Board approves unanimously.

Mayor Long states that he has been working with the Butler County Assessor’s office to determine the city limits for the City of Qulin. Mayor Long states that he should know something by Monday.

Mayor Long calls for a motion to adjourn

Motion: Linda Johnson

Second: Sherry Goff.

Motion carried.

Meeting adjourned at 7:15pm                    

 ____________________________

Mayor Gary Long, Sr.                City Clerk Margaret McDonald

Have you see the web site, Veterans for Common Sense? This description was taken from their web site:

“Veterans for Common Sense (VCS) was formed in August 2002 as a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization by war veterans who believe that we, the people of the United States of America, are most secure when our country is free, strong, and responsibly engaged with the world. Our mission, based on the pragmatic ideals of the American patriot Thomas Paine, is to raise the unique and powerful voices of veterans so that our military, veterans, freedom, and national security are protected and enhanced, for ourselves and for future generations.”

A group of military veterans are on a bus tour through 21 states to discuss climate changes, national energy policies, and national security. Their main goal is cleaner energy. The group will be in Springfield, Missouri, on Tuesday.

There will be a town hall style meeting Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. at the Goad Ballinger American Legion Post 69 at 149 Memorial Plaza in Springfield.

The group was formed in August by veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

You can read more about the group by visiting the  Operation Free web site.

VoteVets.org is running radio ads to promote the tour.