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HERMANN MISSOURI OKTOBERFEST 2010
HERMANN MISSOURI OKTOBERFEST 2010 - CLICK ON PHOTO FOR THIS YEARS SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
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From Wikipedia "Stairway to Heaven" is a song by the English rock band Led Zeppelin, released in late 1971. It was composed by guitarist Jimmy Page and vocalist Robert Plant for the band's untitled fourth studio album (usually referred to as Led Zeppelin IV). The song, running almost eight minutes, is composed of several sections, which increase in tempo and volume as the song progresses. The song begins as a slow acoustic-based folk song accompanied by recorders, before electric instrumentation is introduced. The final section is a high-tempo hard rock section highlighted by an intricate guitar solo by Page. The song, often considered one of the greatest rock songs of all-time,[1][2][3] was voted #3 in 2000 by VH1[4] and was placed at number 31 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. It was the most requested song on FM radio stations in the United States in the 1970s, despite never having been officially released as a single there.[5] In November 2007, through download sales promoting Led Zeppelin's Mothership release, "Stairway to Heaven" hit #37 on the UK Singles Chart.[6] on its list of the 100 Greatest Rock Songs,
In ruling against President Obama‘s health care law, federal Judge Roger Vinson used Mr. Obama‘s own position from the 2008 campaign against him, when the then-Illinois senator argued there were other ways to achieve reform short of requiring every American to purchase insurance.
“I note that in 2008, then-Senator Obama supported a health care reform proposal that did not include an individual mandate because he was at that time strongly opposed to the idea, stating that, ‘If a mandate was the solution, we can try that to solve homelessness by mandating everybody to buy a house,’” Judge Vinson wrote in a footnote toward the end of his 78-page ruling Monday.
Judge Vinson, a federal judge in the northern district of Florida, struck down the entire health care law as unconstitutional on Monday, though he is allowing the Obama administration to continue to implement and enforce it while the government appeals his ruling.
The footnote was attached to the most critical part of Judge Vinson‘s ruling, in which he said the “principal dispute” in the case was not whether Congress has the power to tackle health care, but rather whether it has the power to compel individual citizens to purchase insurance.
Judge Vinson cited Mr. Obama‘s campaign words from an interview with CNN to show that there are other options that could pass constitutional muster including then-candidate Obama‘s plan.
Congress eventually included the individual mandate in the bill it passed, and Mr. Obama signed that into law in March. Since then, he and his administration have defended its constitutionality, arguing the mandate is the linchpin that brings in more customers to insurance companies, which in turn allows those companies to expand the availability and lower the cost of coverage.
Much of Judge Vinson‘s ruling was a discussion of how the Founding Fathers, including James Madison and Thomas Jefferson, saw the limits on congressional power. Judge Vinson hypothesized that, under the Obama administration‘s legal theory, the government could mandate that all citizens eat broccoli. . Click Here to Read More.
Monday, January 31, 2011
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Ameren says it is doubling its force of line workers and utility trucks by bringing in 500 contractors from states south and west of Missouri. Crews are expected to arrive tonight to prepare to respond to possible widespread outages caused by the looming ice storm. Link to Ameren's outage center. Ameren's mobile link.
Governor declares state of emergency as storm enters St. Louis area
Monday, January 31, 2011 UPDATED 4:07 p.m. Monday with Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon's declaration of a state of emergency and details on National Guard members dispatched to St. Louis.
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ST. LOUIS • A "potentially historic" winter storm is bearing down on the St. Louis region, with forecasters predicting a dangerous blend of ice, sleet, rain, high winds, bitter cold and perhaps 20 inches of snow. Parts of St. Louis area could see an up to one-inch layer of ice before the snow moves into the area, according to the National Weather Service. Ice build-up on power lines is likely to cause power outages when high winds gusting up to 40 mph blow through. Lambert-St. Louis International Airport reported about 170 canceled inbound and outbound flights this afternoon and that no more flights would depart after 3:30 p.m. Airport spokesman Jeff Lea said several airlines are preemptively canceling flights ahead of the storm. The airport has nearly 500 departures and arrivals each day. For more information about how the storm is affecting transportation around St. Louis, go here. Forecasters say brace for the worst: a "potentially historic" winter storm packing a punch of ice, followed by heavy snow and severely cold temperatures.
. Current Rank 23rd WE KEEP MOVING UP!!! Let's Keep it GOING Up!!! Remember to Vote Daily and tell a Friend or Two!!! Current Rank 23rd The top 10 ideas for 50K Receive funding The Hermann 'Field of Dreams' project CLICK HERE TO VOTE!!!
About City of Hermann Parks and Recreation/Hermann Schools
The Hermann 'Field of Dreams' project is co-sponsored by the City of Hermann Parks and Recreation and the Hermann Schools. Jointly these entities will work together to support the development/rejuevenation of a safe non-flooding ball field.
Text* 105222 to
Pepsi (73774) *Standard text messaging rates apply.
As of 10:07 a.m., Jan. 31, 2011, the Hermann entry ranks #23 for the top 10 entries to receive $50,000 in funding. ________________________________________ Park board to pursue grant for softball field
The Hermann Park Board received support from the Gasconade County R-1 School District to pursue a grant that would improve the ball field adjacent to the elementary school.
Several members from the Hermann Park Board appeared at last Thursday's school board meeting, asking the R-1 school district to partner with them in seeking a Pepsi Refresh Grant.
Their goal is to win a $50,000 grant to help with providing a softball field on the land owned by the school district. The space, located behind what was the old middle school, has been used for the Hermann Junior League in the summer.
Susan Lenger, a member of the park board, said the board would like to convert the area into a softball field dedicated for the Hermann High School Lady Bearcats. In the off-season the local little league teams could use it, and would be a fenced-in area that the elementary school would also use.
"The Lady Bearcats would have their own field," said Lenger. "And if they would ever want to hold a tournament, they could also use the city park field (Dick Ochsner Ballpark)."
The Hermann High girls' softball team plays its home games at Dick Ochsner Ballpark at the city park.
Hermann's junior league football teams also use the old middle school field between West 8th and West 9th for practice fields. They would be given some space to practice west and south of the HHS athletic complex.
Todd Anderson, high school athletic director, elementary school principal Steve Heidger and softball coach Diane Shoemaker have all approved the idea.
Lenger said the park board is not asking for money from the school district for the project, but was only seeking its support in applying for a $50,000 grant from Pepsi.
She said on Dec. 1 the park board's proposal was accepted as a Pepsi Refresh Grant project.
Lenger added that a campaign would be started later to get people to vote on-line for their project.
If the Hermann Park Board garners enough support with online voting, it would receive $50,000 for the project. CLICK HERE TO VOTE!!!
There are four categories of entires based on dollar-size: for a $5,000 award; a $25,000 award; a $50,000 award; and a $250,000 award. Each month, 10 different contestants are chosen in the first three categories, two winners get $250,000 each. That's $1.3 million awarded to 32 local community projects, small businesses, and individuals each month.
The Hermann entry is in the $50,000 category of the health category. The $50,000 would be spent as follows:
* $20,000 for a small concession stand and storage closet
* $14,000 for dugouts and backstop materials
* $10,000 for relocation of lights to new field
* $ 4,000 for fencing
* $ 2,000 for field prep, sod repair and striping
This month (January 2011), the Hermann little league/softball park is one of the thousand projects. .
This Hermann entry in the Pepsi Refresh Project is sponsored by the City of Hermann Parks & Recreation Board and the Gasconade County R-1 School District.
It costs nothing to vote. You can vote every day.
CLICK HERE TO VOTE!!!
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Missouri Churchill museum to host Smithsonian exhibit
___________________________________________________________________________________ THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Monday, January 31, 2011
FULTON, Mo. • The National Churchill Museum in central Missouri has been selected to host a Smithsonian exhibit about work in America. The Missouri Humanities Council notified the museum in Fulton that it's one of a half-dozen sites to host the exhibit called "The Way We Worked." Westminster College, where the Churchill Museum is located, said in a release the exhibit will be on display in early 2012 and will run for a month. The exhibit is adapted from one developed by the National Archives in Washington, D.C. It explores how work became a central element in American culture and traces changes that affected the workforce over the past 150 years. It will feature audio, film and interactive components.
March 5, 2011 marks the 65th Anniversary
of Winston Churchill's
'Sinews of Peace' Address
___________________________________________________________________________________ Winston Churchill's "Sinews of Peace" address of 5 March 1946, at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, used the term "iron curtain" in the context of Soviet-dominated Eastern Europe: .
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"30 Days in the Hole" was the seventh single by Englishrock outfit Humble Pie, a band from the 1960s-'70s. Released in 1972, the song became a radio hit but failed to chart. The B-side on its US release was "Sweet Peace and Time", while everywhere else they were "C'mon Everybody" and "Road Runner". It was released on the Smokin' album.
The song, a group composition, mentions alcohol (Newcastle Brown Ale) and illegal drugs, including cocaine, Durban poison, a potent strain of marijuana, and Black Nepalese, a type of hashish.
“
Black Nepalese, it's got you weak in your knees, it's just some seeds and dust that you got buzzed on, you know it's hard to believe, 30 days in the hole....
”
The song has been much covered, most notably by Gov't Mule and Mr. Big, and remains one of the group's better known songs.
U.S. manufacturing has edge, despite China's might
___________________________________________________________________________________ Monday, January 31, 2011 By PAUL WISEMAN • Associated Press
WASHINGTON • U.S. factories are closing. American manufacturing jobs are reappearing overseas. China's industrial might is growing each year. And it might seem as if the United States doesn't make world-class goods as well as some other nations. "There's no reason Europe or China should have the fastest trains, or the new factories that manufacture clean energy products," President Barack Obama said in his State of the Union address last week. Yet America remains by far the No. 1 manufacturing country. It outproduces No. 2 China by more than 40 percent. U.S. manufacturers cranked out nearly $1.7 trillion in goods in 2009, according to the United Nations. The story of American factories essentially boils down to this: They've managed to make more goods with fewer workers. The United States has lost nearly 8 million factory jobs since manufacturing employment peaked at 19.6 million in 1979. U.S. manufacturers have ranked near the top of world rankings in productivity gains over the last three decades. That higher productivity has meant a leaner manufacturing force that has capitalized on efficiency. "You can add more capability, but it doesn't mean you necessarily have to hire hundreds of people," says James Vitak, a spokesman for specialty chemical maker Ashland Inc. Industry's fortunes are brightening enough that U.S. factories are finally adding jobs after years of shrinking their payrolls. Not a lot. But even a slight increase shows manufacturers are growing more confident. They added 136,000 workers last year — the first net increase since 1997. What has changed is that U.S. manufacturers have abandoned products with thin profit margins, such as consumer electronics, toys and shoes. They have ceded that sector to China, Indonesia and other emerging nations with low labor costs. Instead, American factories have seized upon complex and expensive goods requiring specialized labor: industrial lathes, computer chips, fighter jets, health care products. . Click Here to Read More.
Thousands are rallying in the streets of Egypt, calling for an end to the 30-year rule of their President Hosni Mubarak.The protest, which has so far left at least 125 people dead and thousands more injured, have entered their sixth day.
updates below.
3:20pm: China has called for a rapid return to stability for its "friend" Egypt, as it restricts media coverage of the nationwide revolt that has left President Hosni Mubarak clinging to power.
"China is paying close attention to developments in the situation in Egypt," foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said in a statement. "Egypt is a friend of China's, and we hope social stability and order will return to Egypt as soon as possible."
China's ruling Communist Party is wary of disturbances to public order overseas that may influence demands for political reform and democracy at home, and it is restricting coverage of the protests online and in other media.
These types of phone scams seem to move from county to county, so please report any suspicious calls to your local law enforcement agency.
Recent calls from a group claiming to be a part of the sheriff’s department attempting to solicit donations have angered residents. And while Sheriff Dennis Crane is not sure who is making the calls, he cautioned citizens not to give money to the group. “The Missouri Sheriff’s Association does not solicit money over the phone,” Crane said. “They only use mailings to known past sponsors.” Mick Covington, Executive Director of the Missouri Sheriff’s Association concurred. “We have never used telemarketers,” Covington said. “We never have and never will.” Covington said the group uses a direct mail campaign to prospective new members and existing members for renewals. The Missouri Sheriff’s Association is a 501c3 organization, registered with the Missouri Attorney General’s office. “Anyone interested in finding out how the money we get is utilized can use the attorney general’s website,” Covington said. The Check a Charity function allows people to type in the name of an organization and find out where the money is used. “Nine percent of our funds are used for administrative and housing costs,” Covington said. “Ninety percent goes directly to our programs and training facilities. Over the last four years, we have graduated the largest amount of licensed police officers in the state.” Crane said if someone wanted to give money to any charity, they should contact the organization themselves, rather than give money to someone who contacts them over the phone. Covington agreed. “In my experience, the majority of the money given goes to the telemarketer and not the organization,” Covington said. “They are pulling 80 to 90 cents out of each dollar so the money is not getting to where the person thinks they are sending it.” Crane said even money going to the Sheriff’s Association does not necessarily go directly to the sheriff’s department. “If people think their specific sheriff is getting the money, people should know all the money given is divided between the 114 counties’ sheriff’s departments,” he said. “A lot of the money goes to their training facilities, so people who go there for training and different things are helped.” . Click Here to Read More.
Missouri wines are becoming more well known, but they largely remain a regional product.
By David BaugherJanuary 24, 2011 ___________________________________________________________________________
St. Charles will become a prime destination for wine lovers early next month.
For the first time ever, the city will play host to the Midwest Grape & Wine Conference, a four-day showcase of educational events for individuals in the winemaking field. Normally scheduled for the Ozarks, the 2011 event is set to be held at the St. Charles Convention Center Feb. 4-7. It will be capped off by a grand finale dinner prepared by Chef Dwight Hawkins of the Kansas City Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in conjunction with local chefs Dan Welsh and Tony Wise.
“What we want to invite the general public to is our grand finale wine and dine dinner,” said Rozanna Benz, conference director. “It’s a wonderful meal.”
A dozen different wines will be served with the four-course spread which will also include a dessert. Tickets are $95 to attend the Feb. 7 dinner.
Benz said the city’s proximity to Lambert-St. Louis International Airport was a big selling point in moving the event. About 130 exhibitors have signed up for booths, roughly 50 percent more than last year. About 550 are expected to attend the seminars, while 175 have signed up for the dinner. Benz hopes that number will grow to about 300.
“We feel like we can reach out and extend the invitation to the public since there is so much interest, especially in this area, for wine,” she said.
The seminars and activities can be attended on a $150 day pass or $600 for all four days. Benz said that vintner’s associations from at least six surrounding states have now endorsed the conference, the third-largest wine industry trade show in the country.
“That’s really a big deal for us,” she said. “That means they reach out to all of their members and ask them to participate. That’s just the first step in making this a regional conference.”
Missouri wines will be featured prominently. Benz said that wine produced by the state’s 96 wineries are becoming more well known on the regional level, though outside the Midwest, recognition of the product still lags. During a recent visit to California’s famed Napa Valley, she found that some of the vineyard owners were unaware that wine was produced in Missouri.
That’s a common refrain from Missouri wineries. Thomas Held, director of sales and advertising for Stone Hill Winery in Hermann, MO., said his organization is among those that do consumer-direct sales to patrons around the country, while mass distribution is typically limited to Missouri and surrounding states.
The biggest increases in sales have been within the state itself.
“About 10 or 12 years ago, I was on the Grape and Wine Advisory Board on the statewide level, and Missouri wines were at about 3.5 percent of market share of all wines sold in Missouri,” he said. “Now, we’re sitting right at eight percent of the market share, so it’s definitely grown.”
He said wine producers hope to increase that total to 10 percent within three years.
“The quality of Missouri wine is excellent, second to none,” he said. “Several of our wines can go to any competition in the country and consistently win golds and top honors in different categories. Missouri shows well, and we’re going to continue to do that.”
