Northeast Slammed Again - Thanks KMBC

If you were going to do a story about the tragic death of a Blue Valley Northwest High School graduate that abused Heroin, you'd go to south Johnson County rigtht? If you were going to tell about how Heroin is becoming a growing problem in the suburbs, specifically south Johnson County KANSAS, you'd go to Johnson County Kansas, right? If you were going to liberally quote Deputies from the Johnson County Kansas Sheriffs Department aboiut the increasing presence of heroin in Johnson County KANSAS, you'd go to...c'mon kids, you know the answer...you'd go to Johnson County KANSAS, right?

Well on that, you'd be dead wrong, and this lil newspooch would like to take a bite out of Martin Augustine's ankle because of it. If not him, the producer who idiotically thought it'd be a good idea to send him here.

Channel 9's Martin Augustine, came right down to the corner of Independence & Chestnut, with Avenue Pawn as a backdrop Thursday night for his live hit, right in the heart of Northeast, to talk about a heroin problem in southwest Johnson County.

Why?

Because he wanted to kick a little sand in Northeast's face, just like everyone else does out there, because this is where prostitutes are, and drugs are readily available on the avenue, and its such a baaaaad area after all. Certainly this could be the story that gets him that emmy. (Its sweeps month after all)

Here's a link to his piece...if you're interested - not that we're interested in drivin up the hit count on their site.

http://www.kmbc.com/news/21601853/detail.html

Its all about image folks and some sap, idiot producer probably told him to head down to Northeast - that's a shitty area where durgs and whores are. Nobody down there cares.

News flash for Mr. Idiot producer and Mr. Augustine - people down here DO care and have been trying their hearts out for years trying to clean up the mess. Capice?
Maybe if we had a little more cooperation from the Jackson County Prosecutor's Office when it came to prosecuting criminals, we'd be in a little better shape right now.

So next time you wanna do a story on heroin in south Johnson County, why don't you head down there and broadcast from some cul de sac at 135th & plowed ground, where the problem your talkin about exists instead of comin to Northeast and kickin more sand in our face. Thanks for nothin. Grrrrrrrrr

Cleaver Doesn't Disappoint on "Health Care" Vote.

The right Reverend Emmanuel Cleaver (that'd be Congressman to you son) went right along with 218 of his fellow Lib-Dems and cast his vote with House Speaker Nancy Pelosio to further bankrupt our great nation by theoretically providing health care for all.
Ahhhhem.
This bill wreaks and is nothing more than an unfunded mandate on small business already strapped by an over-reaching, Pelosi/Reid caused recession, to pony up even MORE money to pay for government mandated employee health care.
But wait -
Small businesses with a payroll of less than $500,000 are exempt.
OK
Some quick math for you non-entrepeneurial types. $500-k is roughly 8.5 employees (at $50-k each) - plus bens. Ask your neighborhood micro-business owner(which is how businesses with less than 10 employees are classified by the gov-ment) how he'she's faring these days. Chances are not good! Now, add on mandatory health care to the ticket and you've got the recipe for a chapter 7 perfect storm. If you thought unemployment was bad in Q-1 of 2009, you ain't seen nothin yet.

For those of you in Missouri's 5th Congressional District, check out the latest at http://voteoutcleaver.blogspot.com/

Its the unofficial spot to stay current on everything you need to oust Hizz-Honor and elect some real leadership for this district, instead of another Obama/Pelosi Liberal who thinks he knows whats best for you.

COMBAT Works? Ummm...not so much.

Thinking of voting yes on COMBAT? take a listen to this couple who bought a house in the Independence Plaza area during the summer of 2008, then, were summarily evicted from their property for allegedly breaking the law...by being in their own house.
On the October 10th Every Woman show on KKFI radio. (90.1 FM)

This is still the United States isn't it?
Props to TKC for the great mock-up of the COMBAT logo.

Here's the URL - I can't get the link thingy to work.
http://www.mefeedia.com/watch/24974124

Bye Bye Charity Car Wash - Sudsy Water Now Illegal

Say good-bye to the local charity car washes sponsored by everyone from high school cheerleaders to church groups raising money for summer camp trips. Looks like no more bikini bike washes either!

The federal government, namely the EPA is looking at clamping down on run off from people washing their cars in the street where run-off water drains to storm water drains and ultimately to rivers and streams.

A couple cities in the PNW (Pacific Northwest) are even re-writing laws on run off, Seattle Washington and Vancouver Oregon being two of them.

Here's the link to the story from the AP in this morning's daily rag.
http://www.kansascity.com/437/story/1316239.html

So if I understand this right, North Korea can, pretty much without reproach, aim and fire warheads at us but God forbid you wash your freakn car in the street. Never mind that in this neighborhood, people do everything from oil and anti-freeze changes in the street, letting the offending sludge go down the storm drain.

So if your church group or if your kid's doing a Chess Club car wash as a fund raiser - better think twice, lest the car wash police find you and send you to a re-education camp. Yup - sounds about right for this administration

Cleaver Vote on Cap & Trade Launches Ouster Effort

Missouri's 5th District Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II stood with his Lib-Dem bretheren last Friday and voted to unduly hike the utility rates of his constituency by casting a "yes" vote for Cap and Trade. A constituency that includes some of the poorest areas of Kansas City.
Didn't matter, Cleaver lined up with the rest of the Pelosi soldiers in the House and voted to approve the "Cap and Trade" legislation that he didn't even take the time to read.
To that end, one area constituent has taken his passion for the representative republic in which we live to a new level, telling the honorable Congressman that, if he voted for Cap & Trade, Mr. constituent would start a blog to foster his ouster from his Congressional seat.
He did, and the blog has been launched.

This lil pooch knows a thing or two about politics and will be watching the ongoing effort with much interest.
The URL is: http://voteoutcleaver.blogspot.com/

I’m getting Married in the Mornin, Ding-Dong the Bells are Gonna Ring!

We all probably remember that song from the Lerner & Lowe musical My Fair Lady when the father goes out with his single buddies the night prior to his pending nuptials, celebrating the last rites of his life as a single man. Well, tonight is that night for Kansas City Missouri Police Chief Jim Corwin. No word on whether he’ll “pull out the stopper” and “have a whopper” (per the musical again) or who the designated driver will be given the complete lack of “professional courtesy” shown other KCPD officer(s) recently pinched for DUI.
One thing this lil pooch DOES know is that the chief is tyin the knot once again tomorrow (Saturday June 27th) at a super private ceremony at his home. The service will be followed by a reception and BBQ at the present Corwin home (the one he didn’t lose in the divorce) somewhere up north.
Note to potential wedding crashers and angry ex-spouses though – there will probably be enough police brass (present and retired) at this little party to kill a whale. Our sources indicate that the Chief is marrying the former Patty Ryan (Fialka) who, interestingly, divorced her husband in 2006. Corwin’s first wife Glenda filed for divorce very early in 2007 according to court records. That whole affair (ahem) was very quick and very quiet, being finalized in less than 50 days from the date of filing. The future Mrs. Corwin II is a 1974 graduate of Park Hill High School and is heir apparent to the Pizza Shoppe chain, launched in 1969 in Platte Woods MO by her parents.
An interesting side note – It sure looks to this lil pooch like the Chief has an affinity for Lake Waukomis girls, given both his first wife and his second wife spent their formative years there.

RIverdogs - - Mighty MO Claims yet Another Victim

Tis a sad day in the big town for hot dog fans.

Kitchy new dive HotDog joint Riverdogs has officially closed their doors leaving frankfurter afficianados throughout the metro dogless!

The joint opened earlier this year in a tiny building near 1st & Troost in the Missouri River bottoms west of the Paseo Bridge. It was run by long-time Northeast guy and retired K.C. Firefighter John Bruno who served up some of the best Chicago and New York style hot dogs in the city. Lines at lunch often stretched across the street, mostly made up of downtown office workers who made the trip for great tasting fare including a giant pork tender and a pig snout sandwich.

This lil poooch ate there too and each time came away stuffed to the gills and highly satisfied. Bruno sold the restaurant recently however amid problems getting good help. The new owners apparently had the same issues because now there's a big "CLOSED" sign hanging over the ordering window.
Sad, sad sad.

Doing some quick labor math makes me wonder what the problem is getting good help at a place that is open 4 daylight hours a day (10a - 2p) weekdays only. Essentially what could be referred to as bankers hours. Additionally, with an 8-10 item menu that is 75% hotdogs, how tough can this be? I mean really!

Has the economy come that far that people won't work an 8-10 hour day to run their own business? I think that's a much sadder commentary than anything else!

Draw your own conclusions about why, but it certainly sounds to me like the new owners just didn't want to put the effort in to making a go if it despite a strong local following that seemed to be growing larger by the day with literally no paid advertising.
Another great Kansas City dive gone.

Seperated at Birth?

We watched the old Rankin-Bass classic Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer last Christmas and both of us wondered about whether the evil Burgermeister Meisterburger and embattled Co-Mayor Gloria Squitiro were in fact seperated at birth.
You be the judge.

Where's the Outrage?

Since January 1st of this year, moreover since our new President and chief diety was sworn in, gasoline prices have skyrocketed. In January, pump prices in Kansas City bottomed out near $1.35 a gallon with lower prices in some eastern burbs of the city. These days however, prices in the area average $2.50 a gallon, even more on the Kansas side, representing an almost 80% increase in the per gallon price. Industry experts say that's the sharpest increase in history over a 6-month period of time. Other industry analysts are predicting $3.00/gal prices by the July 4th holiday.
But where's the outrage?
Last summer, when gas prices hovered near the $4.00 per gallon mark, the mainstream media decried the evil Dick Cheney and George Bush were busy lining the pockets of their oil company buddies. Business reporters at MSNBC and CNN were quick to jump on the bandwagon, spewing bile about record oil company profits and the evil Republicans who benefit from the "price gouging" at the pump.
All of that media outrage has strangely (well, not so much)disappeared.
Why?
Where's the outrage now?

Well you won't hear about it on CNN or PMS-NBC. ABC won't tell you - especially given they'll be doing the nightly news from the Blue Room of the White House next Wednesday evening. (but they're not in the tank- ohh noooo)

The answer - this administration wants you to suffer at the pump (among other places) so they can jam cafe standards for auto makers down your throat and drive the "unheathy" and evil SUV to extinction. All in the name of their clean earth, environmentalist whacko agenda.

Hang on to your wallets folks - this is just the beginning.

Party Time!! Silver Slipper Reopens Today

After serving a 66 day license suspension for a variety of violations, embattled strip club Gerry's Silver Slipper reopens today.

Club owners denied any wrongdoing in the melee that erupted there in February and were quick to distance themselves from the double homicide that occurred outside the club a couple of weeks later after the club closed for the day.

According to provisions set forth in the suspension, club owners and management will be providing education, instruction and training to employees on city ordinances.

Tractor Parades now Legal in Missouri - THANK GAWD!!!

Hallelujah and saints be praised - tractor parades are now legal in the state of Missouri. Newly elected Governor Jay Nixon this afternoon stood out on the south lawn of the Missouri Capitol next to a 1951 John Deere (made in Waterloo Iowa mind you and owned by a Tipton MO man)and heralded the grand news that - yes indeed folks, tractors can now be driven on Missouri roadways for fundriasing purposes. But only during daylight hours though.

THANK YOU GOD!! Well, and Governor Nixon too. I've got an old Farmall I've been itchin to take to the bowling alley and this is the legislation I've ben waiting for! WOOOHOOO!!!!!
Only God knows how many high-speed tractor chases the Highway Patrol has been involved in over the years. These rogue tractor drivers, I tell ya. My guess is its well in to the...
(crickets)

Wonder if this will spark a new craze of putting neon and ground effects and resinator mufflers on the old Massey-Fergeson!

The bill's passing comes just in the nick of time for the upcoming tractor parade up St. Joe way on June 27th to raise money for MDA or MS or another acronym'd malady.

No word on if DOT helmets will be required of now legal tractor drivers or if tractor drivers just need the standard DeKalb Seed ball-cap to be in compliance.

Funkhouser, Police Fiddle while violence escalates

Rome's burning Mr. Mayor. Gang violence is escelating Mr. Corwin. Are you listening?
This lil pooch would dare say not.
The same day an arrest was made in the March 2009 shooting at a known gang hangout near Scarritt & Jackson, we are treated to more violence brought to you Kansas City's street gangs.
Police were called this evening to a location near 9th & Van Brunt, then chased a perp down near 16th & Cypress. Gang violence? Shots fired? My money's on "yes".
Payback for yesterday's murder of one Josh Sadler, 22 of Kansas City last night near 11th & Belmont?
Hard telling.
One thing is for sure. Neighborhood leaders in Northeast are fed up with the non-reaction from command staff at East Patrol.
On the same evening, neighbors in the 4000 block of Morrell were treated to what can only be defined as a training excercize in firearms training by the local street thugs. According to neighbors there, shots rang out "throughout the night".
One long-time neighbor's reaction: "I'm out of here".
Another vacant house.
Gangs - 1, Peaceful family residents - 0
Long time Sheffield and Indian Mound neighbors are under seige as well.
K.C. PD's response...
Still waiting. The emergency eviction on the criminals was filed how long ago?
(crickets)
Somehow, "I'll get back to you asap" just don't cut it when the lead starts to fly. Sleeping on a mattress on the floor so your out of harms way when the shots go astray seems to be the norm rather than the exception any more.
This lil pooch is stocking up on Kevlar and ammo.
And under this administration, you'd better stock up while you still can.

Blocked access — again!

Barricades went up on Wednesday blocking access to westbound I-70 off of
Independence Avenue in Columbus Park. Missouri Department of Transportation officials estimate the ramp to be closed through June of this year.
The Northeast News has also just received notice that the viaducts over the railroad tracks at the old Sheffield Steel plant will be undergoing maintenance beginning Tuesday, May 26. Once again, Northeast’s access to other areas of the city is stymied.
Throw in the night-time construction choking the HOA (Heart of America) Bridge down to one lane northbound, and Northeast has once again, been virtually cut off from the rest of the outside world.
It'll make summer commuting interesting, that's for sure.

City Sponsored Rent A Mob Invades Northeast - AGAIN!

.

Your tax dollars at work! Aim 4 Peace, the city sponsored rent a mob will be invading Northeast agian this Saturday May 23rd for another love fest at St. John & Hardesty.
You may recall the last Aim4Peace mob that invaded that area with bused in protesters were greeted by business owners brandishing the family hand-gun to protect themselves from the "blessed peacemakers".

Armour up Indian Mound residents living near this location. Be prepared for throngs of losers invading your neighborhood, snarling traffic on St. John and Hardesty, peddling love beads, shoving daisies into gun barrels(remember that from the 60's) and offering free hotdogs to anyone gullable enough to buy their senseless "hug-a-thug" bile. The flyer we got also promised pony rides. Make of that what you will but we're lookin at it as just another source of manure.

Spell Check is for loozers

We haven't thrown up anything in a little while, so what a fitting way to re-enter the blogosphere than havin a little fun with a concert poster we just received via electronic mail. Now we try and keep our furry lil paws on the pulse of things here at The News but this show is obviously being held at a new venue here in town.
We've heard of the Sprint Center, Kemper Arena and Memorial Hall, but this one is a new one on us.
Can anyone tell us where "Municiple Auditorium" is?

We've even thrown up the graphic so you get the picture - just like this lil pooch did!

New Country Claims Old ASB Bridge

Breaking News!
Either Clay County and North Kansas City are forming their own country or some local dare-devil has claimed the old ASB Bridge for their own!
This lil news-pooch spotted a couple of new flags atop the old operators shack on the north end of the old ASB Bridge today whilst motoring about snffing out news.
We don't know what's up or who's claiming the 100 year old structure for their own, but whoever it is, isn't real scared of heights!
One of our eagle eye news hound photo-grabbers over at Hyperblogal grabbed the above photo earlier today.

Anyone know anything about this?
New country?
New Casino?
New shopping mall?

Let us know!

FUND MY ANGRY MOB - OR ELSE!!!

This lil news-hound just received a "press release" from the Aim4Peace rent-a-mob folks that they'll be holding a press conference this afternoon to support the ongoing city (read TAXPAYER) funding of their protest mentality, scare tactics.
Now we're not sure whether it was a Freudian slip or what, but here's a direct quote from their press release.

"...to take a few minutes, come out & support this inactive to keep the movement alive.

Inactive. That'd be the perfect verb to describe what these sign totin, rented "volunteers" are. "Inactive". Course, when your gravy train is fixin to get derailed, and your very existance is threatened, ya gotta pull out all the stops. Get them buses rollin, get them signs painted, make sure the bull-horn is all charged up - we be fixin to make some noise!!!
Meanwhile - the rest of us with real jobs, who aren't dependent on the taxpayer's doll to pay our freight have better things to do than scream in to bullhorns in front of the TV cameras - especially during business hours.
And when the TV cameras disappear - so will the mobs, the buses, the signs. Its all about The Show with these types. Form over substance.
And for you folks who live in rural areas of incorporated Kansas City, you too have the unique privilege of funding these rented goons too! This despite the fact they won't come to YOUR suburban cul de sac anytime soon - trust me! It ain't about the burbs with these folks.

The best thing the city council can do with this bunch is send em packin, deny their funding, so they'll get real jobs and start paying taxes instead of livin off em.

This lil pooch has a simple solution to the crime problem. CCW.
Hasn't failed yet!

...and the gods of journalism smiled down upon us...

Word on the street, or at least according to John Landsberg over at Bottom Line Communications is that Lewis Duiguid, mr. race baiting, racist ( yes, this lil pooch called him a racist) Star columnist Lewis Duiguid has lost his VP gig, his column (which actually went bye-bye in December) as well as a good percentage of his reportedly six-figure paycheck.
There are Gods in Journalism after all.
The unfortunate part of the deal is that he maintains his position on the Star’s Editorial Board that supposedly “shapes the Star’s view on issues”.
Ahem.
I feel like the kid in the film Animal House when the “Playboy Bunny” landed on his bed and he looks skyward and exclaims: “Thank you God”!
This crack-pot Duiguid is the one who equated anyone – ANYONE who, during last year’s presidential campaign, called the messiah Obama a Socialist was also, by default – a racist.

Duiguid’s new boss will be Miriam Pepper, Vice President of the Editorial Page.

Central Bank Robbed - Suspect Gravely Wounded by Police

Police Officers responded to Central Bank at 2301 Independence Blvd this afternoon after the bank was robbedthe bank late Monday afternoon.

Police sources indicate that a lone gunman entered the bank at approximately 4:30 this afternoon and demanded cash from a teller. The suspect fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash. Police officers patroling nearby noticed the suspect and followed him south along Park Avenue toward Olive Park VIllage apartments. Officers noted that the suspect was changing clothes as he fled and at one point actually dropped the backpack that held the stolen cash. Police caught up with the suspect in a parking lot near 8th & Olive where, according to sources he confronted the officers, threatening to kill them. The suspect was shot by officers and transported to an area hospital where he was declared dead. The name of the suspect has not been released at this time. The officers involved are on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

This is the second time in a week that the main branch of Central Bank has been held up. Last week, a suspect robbed the bank and was apprehended a short time later near Independence & Chestnut.

Bloodletting Commences at Major Daily(s)

According to John Landsberg over at Bottom Line Communnications, some major players have been tapped by the grim reaper's bony hand this morning down at 1729 Grand. (The Star)
Today is Black Monday for the McClatchy owned Star as well as the Olathe Daily News.
As of 8:45 Monday evening, here's at least a partial list of who's getting the axe. So far, it reads like a who's-who of long-time, staffers and columnists.

Eric Palmer, Deputy Business Editor
DeAnn Smith, Investigative Reporter
Rick Alm, Gambling & Tourism Reporter
David Hayes, Technology/Internet Reporter
Malcolm Garcia, Reporter
Don Allmon, IT
Greg Peters, Photo Desk
Katie Middleton, Northland Editor
Jim Pedley, Motor Sports Writer
John Mark Eberhart, Books Editor
Ward Triplett, Wire Editor (credit Pitch)
Robert Folsom, Features Copy Editor
David Boyce, Sports Reporter
Mike Fitzgerald, Asst. Sports Editor
Stephen Winn- Deputy Editorial Page Editor
Trudy Hurley- Editorial Assistant
Kirk Weber- Night City Editor
Dennis Boone- Jackson County Editor
Russ Pulley- Independence Bureau Reporter
Bill Graham, Platte County Reporter/Columnist
Tom Dolphens, Asst. Mng. Editor
Terrel Harris, (Unknown)
Beth Jordan, Copy Editor
Georgann Norton, Copy Editor
Nick Poirier, (Unknown)
Kent Pulliam, Sports Reporter
Samantha Branson, Copy Editor

MADE PART-TIME WITH CUTS IN PAY & BENEFITS
Robert Butler, Movie Critic
Mike Hendricks, Columnist
Steve Penn, Columnist
Carol Powers, Deputy Features Editor
Alice Thorson, Art Critic
Robert Trussell, Theater Critic
Donna Vestal, Business Editor

Originally reported this morning by Bottom Line Communications was that the Olathe Daily News (taken over by McClatchy a few years back) would cease to publish a print product and fold their staff in to the neighborhood news section. However, updated reports indicate that it will now take the place of the Olathe Neighborhood News and will retain Olathe News-only subscribers and be inserted into the Star, taking the place of the Olathe Neighborhood News.
BLC quotes a source close to the carnage as saying: "The Olathe News will be redesigned into a tabloid, but remain independent in look and voice," says the source. "All Olathe News employees--those who are left after layoffs tomorrow---will become Star employees and work within its system to produce The Olathe News.

On the Pacific coast, sources at the Hearst owned Seattle Post Intelligencer announced today that their operation would cease publishing a print product with the March 17, 2009 edition. According to Marketwatch.com who broke the news, it is the largest Hearst owned daily paper to become a web only product.

We'd like to recognize John Landsberg of Bottom Line Communications who has been doing yeoman's work today closely following this sad and developing story. Its not fun watching the slow, painful demise of one of the oldest print news sources in the city and John is covering this professionally and objectively. We'd like to thank him for his work and credit him for our ability to post updated information for our readers.
This lil pooch sez WOOF! That's Bunny-speak for thanks!