I believe that our current malaise has been exacerbated by an erosion of middle class materialistic achievement, and prospective achievement. We have been sleep walking for years, and have awoken to what we percieve as a nightmare. We grow frustrated when we pinch ourselves, and it will not end. Our bubble has burst. We now find that we are in an energy position to which most of the world has been accomodated for years. We are spoiled and bawling our eyes out as we trucently walk a road that appears to be all up hill for the moment. Meanwhile compared to economically similar countries we still have it pretty darn good. The average price of a gallon of gas in Canada is $5.09,in Spain $7.30, United Kingdom $8.71,Germany, $8.98, and a whopping $10.08 per gallon in the Netherlands. Try filling up the old Hummer at those prices Billy Bob. Even "what ever will we do" Wall Street can't seem to find their stride. This evening's PBS business news reported that this was the worst June on record for Wall Street since 1930. That was in the depths of The Great Depression folks! We have tardily realized that we put in office a bunch of oil mad malfeasants not once, but twice. We are angry at them, we are almost as angry at ourselves for being suckered twice. Throw in job losses, stagnated wages, inflation,etc., and we have a problem. Of course we can't really forget (no matter how much we pretend to) that huge Republican elephant in the living room the War in Iraq, and its drain on our national treasure and conscience. With all that I find it surprising that anyone is surprised that people have become more surly and cynical. I wonder what it will be like when we get over that hill.

and now folks, on a lighter note ... slater's own joe kleine was recently listed as one of the top 16 draft busts in nba history ... see it for yourself ...

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketbal...

Actually, Slater, Booneville, Higginsville, Sweet Springs and Carollton ALL have attributes and activities that are admirable and fun... Marshall seems to have the ancient 'county seat' syndrome in that if it isn't in Marshall, it's barely news- or noteworthy, which is unfortunate in this day and age. High school rivalries after you're out of high school should be for light-hearted fun, not 'for keeps'...

The Blues Fest in Slater was a great little gig; Booneville's Farmer's Market is lovely as is Higginsville's; Sweet Springs is a great place to shop and visit; the new EMT/whatever building is a nice facility for folks that work insane hours and and under tough conditions...

I guess the tone of many on this blog has become so unkind, intolerant, gossipy, mean-spirited, uncivil, and anonymously hateful that it's gotten a bit frustrating for anyone who has advocated caution, due process, wait-for-the-facts, kindness, temperance...

Is it human nature? Probably, one of the worst parts - like stinginess, witch-hunting, etc. Unfortunately, living down to our worst natures has become a bit of a national sport. Instead of trying to live up to our best, most generous and tolerant (read 'secure') selves, we have succumbed to fear, pettiness, extreme dogma, and a 'my-way-or-the-highway' mentality... and it's not just in Marshall, MO. In a lot of ways, this is only a microcosm of the state of the nation - hate everybody who isn't us, 'might makes right', and to hell with everyone else... go shopping...

But I am really tired of the 'race to the bottom' mentality; I am tired of mean-spirited, selfish, hate-mongering... we can do better than this, whether it's here in Marshall or anywhere else in the country... just MHO...

Sheesh....all the Slater bashing here!!! I'm thinking you could have made the best of your situation here and would have been fine. I've always found SPD to be helpful whenever I've have to call them.

Also, RedTruck speaks wise...Slater's great!!!

Cheetah.......Just because something is "good news" to you doesnt dictate that it is good news to everyone else.I know you believe your opinions to be superior and the final word. I hate to burst your bubble but..............

WHOOOO-HOO, CHeetah! Rock ON!!

I'll have to get back to this one... ROFLMAO...;>))

Hosting the suggested blog is an offer cordially extended to Mr. Crump and Mrs. Fairchild as well:) Did not mean to single out John Q. as the only capable person...

take a hint. keep to the quilts!

Ah, but JJ makes an excellent point. It's a shame the celebration of this country's independence lends itself so kindly to a foreign economy that robs us of the very core value of the phrase "independent".

Of course, the "Made in America" versions aren't available to the general public: cluster bombs and nepalm.

Ask yourself this question on the morning of July 5th: What percentage of my gross holiday pay did I spend on Chinese-made fireworks?

Sorry, JJ, but in this FREE country that requires permits (forFREE) and have strict restrictions is to protect our PROPERTY! I would be devistated in every meaning of the word if a wild bottle rocket landed on the roof of my home and burned it down.

But... you could drive to Slater and light that type of stuff of all day!

From the hilarious hypocrisy file: Republican Senators Larry "wide stance" Craig, and David "just a massage" Vitter are original co-sponsors of the Federal Marriage Admendment, aka the marriage protection admendment. Craig is the Republican Senator from Idaho convicted of a homosexual act in a Minneapolis bathroom. Vitter is the Republican Senator from Louisiana caught up with a prostitution ring. Folks you can't make up stuff this funny.

Hmmmm.....I wonder if Greg Thompson will make Jesus Christ shave, take a shower and put on a decent suit now that they are running mates according to his website...Greg's not Jesus' website btw.

fireworks boycott!!!!!

call my house phone i have all the training of a EMT and its only 385 per 4 miles! and i drive faster!

Whining is a very nice word for it... as you have probably also seen on the so-called 'cheating scandal', those who have an anonymous ax to grind get pretty noisy here, and the rights of the real people involved are NOT part of their 'whining'...

Wow.

Let's start here. Insurance. Boone Hospital's billing department does not set insurance policy. Call BCBS of KCMO--if you have the time and you're willing to wade through the many policy options. Just know there is a gihugic difference in personal healh care policies and those offered through an employer in most cases. I urge you as you have urged me, Happy, get your facts--not some billing departments opinion. See, the very person who would accuse a hospital of using you guys as a taxi is the same personality who would sue their ass off if they didn't use you guys as a taxi. The hospital is a victim of the same scare tactics that its patients are...sort of a circular argument in my opinion. That's why broken finger nails and failed hair plugs get rides with you guys--the hospital doesn't want to say "Cheese" for the lawyer's camera. Before you all BS, let me point this out: Doctors carry medical malpractice insurance. Do EMT's?

In concession, I see the potential--never said I didn't. I still don't know why it's only coming up now. And.....after living my entire life in this area I'm still stumped on why I've never heard of anyone dying because of this "problem". My failure in this discourse is this: I thought I was discussing some unreported fact. Turns out I'm arguing an unfounded opinion. Two completely different things. My bad...

The building is a great thing. EMT's provide a great service. Too bad someone saw fit to cast a shadow over that. But...such is life (or death in some less-apparent, unreported cases).

Have a great weekend, folks!!

I like your idea - *see John Q's blog on congregational healthcare* - maybe the police, fire,water treatment, EMS, street maintenance, school buses, post office, snow plows, etc. should only take care of those who can afford them...

You all do an incredible job - want real live homemade brownies....???????

To all on this Blog. It has seemed to take on a life of its own. As the Director of Operations I have tried to answer all questions as honestly as possible. Now there seems to be many more that are coming up. I don't know if a blog is the right venue to answer all of these questions or to try to educate the public on the workings of their Ambulance Dist. Some who post here seem to have only part of their information right or seem to be using demagogy to add excitement to the issues. Demographics and cost effectiveness drive our scheduling of the number of crew personnel we have on. We, like so many others would love to have unlimited resources to respond to any and all situations that may arise. This is just not so. We do rely on neighboring services as well as they rely on us to support them when situations arise that deplete our resources. This is a common practice throughout the Emergency Services Community. It is called mutual aid. As for the rest of the issues that are being discussed I will take my leave from answering them in the blog format. I feel that hiding behind the anonymity of a made up blog name lends this venue to a lot of possible ax grinding. That being said as an employee and operational head if this District I am available to answer any questions that are put to me. I am usually available at the Ambulance Base during normal business hours Monday- Friday. I do still work as a Crew Paramedic on my normal rotation as well as in the office when I am not on a Ambulance or an emergency call. I am also available by appointment. I welcome the opportunity to factually inform and educate the people of this District on any and all questions they may have about their Ambulance Service.

Sincerely.

Wade Kelling. EMT-Paramedic

Director of Ambulance Operations.

Saline County Ambulance District #3.

well actually there are 6 seperate crews only 2 of which are on at one time kathy. and if u want to argue i would be more than happy to show u a list to prove it. And that still brings up that there is only two ambulance crews on duty to respond to 911 calls and transfers, to correct cheetahs comment.

To further clear up any confusion...yes there are three crews...but they do not work all at the same time. Only two work at a time...hence the problem.

Well cheetah i would like to know where that third crew is you are talking about because i fail to see three crews at SCAD 24hr a day. And It doesn't seem to happen hardly now because Mr. Kelling is trying to work with the hospital on keeping the district staffed but not too long ago there were numerous times that both ambulances were out of the county or busy and slater or sweet springs ems had to come transport the patient. maybe you should get your info straight before you write on here. On the other hand it does seem that to stay afloat we need to take transfers because that is were the service makes the money or so i have been told.

I was recently treated for a serious knee problem at Fitzgibbon and I want to emphasize that their care was outstanding in every way. I moved here from a much larger community and was frankly concerned about medical care in particular (I'm not getting any younger - Cheetah, maybe you can share some of those pills with me?). I need not have worried - the care I've received here was on a par with any other hospital or doctor's office I've ever been in, anywhere, and that includes Illinois, Iowa, California, Wisconsin and New York, among others.

Now this is bordering on irritating.

Just a response...there are three crews. This isn't a problem. In recorded history there have been no reports of anyone dying over an extended wait for a Saline County ambulance. If it happened, it apparently wasn't newsworthy. At no time in the months I've been reviewing and participating in this blog has one person expressed concern over this issue. Now that there is a new building and people's emotions are on high, this little tangent has been interjected. You still haven't answered that yet, Cheese. Why now?

I tried to be fair earlier, now I'm gonna say it outright. You've got a problem with Fitzgibbon Hospital that's obviously been fermenting for a while. This looks like a poor attempt to tie your issues to a totally unrelated but new issue in the news that's getting a lot of attention. Isn't that the congressional bill writing method? A skate park AND a firetruck? Something like that?

The hospital is not for profit. We've established that, and your elementary approach at a response to that little tid-bit was more to the tune of "Oh yeah! BUT..."

What could have been left at interesting discourse now smacks of monotony and borders on mundane. The points have been made and all of three people besides Ms. Fairchild participated in this afternoon's dialogue. Shall we all re-post?

Perhaps you haven't noticed yet, Cheese, but you're the only one complaining about this so far. Perhaps you feel re-posting will give the nocturnal bloggers a chance to respond and hopefully agree with you...without having to dig so deep. Guess we'll see what tomorrow brings...

Your problem is the expense to the tax payer. Peachy. Here's a question for you: What is cheaper and easier to budget as a taxpayer? The taxes you already pay, or a new upfront out-of-pocket expense incurred on your doctor bill for your taxi ride in your time of emergency need?

Just a repost to catch anyone up...

Perhaps, there is a more pressing problem that the citizens of Marshall should be concerned about than the size of the new ambulance building. Whether or not there is a crew inside to respond to your emergency.

Many may not know this, but the Saline County Ambulance District is and has been Fitzgibbon Hospital's own personal patient transfer taxi to other hospitals in Columbia, KC and even St. Louis for quite a few years. The problem with this is, at any one time SCAD only has two ambulance crews working. Frequently, and I do mean frequently, as in several times a day, one crew is transferring Fitz's patients to one of the above mentioned cities and is out of town for hours at a time.

This leaves only one crew and one ambulance for the city of Marshall and surrounding area. When this remaining ambulance and crew get called out that leaves no SCAD crew/ambulance for Marshall. So, they then place Slater and Sweet Springs in that order on stand by to serve this area. Sure, the Marshall Fire Department has first responders that often get called when there is no ambulance available, but they are limited in their abilities to help. They do not have an ambulance or it's equipment and they cannot transport a patient so they have to wait on Slater or Sweet Springs also.

Obvious problem with that is a HUGE delay in response time. I don't know about you, but if I have to wait the 20-25 EXTRA minutes it takes to get an ambulance here from Slater or Sweet Springs for myself or a loved one during a severe injury or heart attack, I won't be happy...maybe even dead.

You also have to be concerned if you are a citizen of Slater or Sweet Springs as your ambulance crew is now heading to Marshall so where does this leave you when you need one?

I would like Mr. Kelling to please answer why SCAD is and continues to be Fitzgibbon Hospital's personal taxi service and how he feels about the increased risk this places on the tax payers of Marshall. Maybe this pre-dates his time as director or maybe he is just not at liberty to say why.

The next time you call for an ambulance, you should be more concerned not about the size of the building, but whether or not anyone is inside that building to help you.

BTW, thank you Kathy. I really didn't know:)

Cheese, I am by no means saying these aren't valid concerns. My opinion may differ from yours in that what's going on now is probably the most economical for all involved, and it's been working for a long time. I'm sort of a "don't kick a sleepin' dog" kind of guy. Regardless, I truly appreciate your position on this issue and intended no hard feelings.

Ms. Fairchild

Fitz is indeed a non-profit hospital...but I can bet you that it's bottom line is very, very, very deeply considered on any financial decision it makes non-profit or not.

Why don't you do a story on this? It's a great piece. Just how much is Fitz paying on transfers? Is is a break even for SCAD or does Fitz pay them enough to make a profit...if they don't whose fault is that? SCAD for doing it or Fitz for paying so little?

If SCAD does make a profit off of it then maybe we should all just shut up and sit down...myself included. Or maybe Fitz should pay for another crew to cover Marshall when they use our ambulance?

I would bet SCAD is not making a profit out of it and I bet it is break even...maybe even in the deficit category when you factor in driver/rider fatigue and equipment wear and tear.

Heck, maybe Fitz should have bought them the pool table, appliances and anything else they wanted for the new building instead of the builder!

Smokin'

What Fitz does is it's own business. We are not supporting Fitz with our tax dollars...SCAD we are.

Let Fitz figure out thier own problems with their own money just as any business is required to do.

I feel Fitz is using and abusing SCAD and the tax payers as cheap alternative to actually figuring something out on their own for their own patients. Botton line...using SCAD to transport is cheaper than finding their own alternative.

Cheese,

To explain the sarcasm in my response, you indicated your opinion that the SCAD was playing taxi to Fitzgibbon. That is not the case. Perhaps the hospitals supplying their own ambulance would be a good idea. However, that idea itself--although a good one--presents issues.

What do you pay the driver to do when he's not driving?

Is he on call?

If he's on call, he's not on site. A wait is a wait.

The driver can't drive and attend the patient. So, do they keep portable docs on hand?

Same questions: what do they do when their not on the ambulance? On call? Etc....

Don't we all already complain about the costs of medical care?

In this scenario, the ambulance vehicle itself would likely fall under a "company vehicle" classification requiring DOT certification, licensing, inspection, documentation, and maintenance--all added costs.

Then there's vehicle insurance--more costs you and I will pay. Vehicle value and value of all those contents aside, what do you suppose it would cost to buy a private policy to cover the transportation of a sick individual?

If the DOT thing *does* apply, then that vehicle and driver are subject to pop inspections on the road. You want that to happen with someone's life dangling by a string?

What if, by chance, more than one patient needs transferred at the same time to different locations? Does the hospital buy another ambulance or ask the SCAD for help? Asking for assistance still allows for the very problem you are addressing. Buying another unit is more money you and I will likely eventually pay, and also doubles all the other potential issues...

Same questions apply to the SCAD. What are they supposed to do with their time when they are no longer transporting patients. I realize EMT's do a great deal more than that, but if that service is terminated then someone is going to complain that EMT's are sitting around doing nothing and are overpaid.

In fairness and ignorance I ask, is anyone aware of any hospital that owns and operates its own ambulance service?

Hmmm....seems like there is something to this transfer thing...according to Happy EMT and stinkypinky.

By the way, I would just like to say I think the new building looks great and is well needed.

Long hours on the road doing Fitz's transfers require a nice new building to rest up in. :)

Great job!

A post by an apparent SCAD EMT that I thought would add to the conversation and deserved to be on the front page rather than the original SCAD building story. Thanks for all your hard work!

First off I'm new to this whole blogging thing and unlike wade i refuse to use spell check so bear with me. I would like to point out several issues but first off READ CHEESES POST!!!!!!!!!!!!! He or she has only touched on that issue. If you all want to talk and blog about issues that are in severe need of being addressed that is the issue……. Ok now on the the other stuff.

1. if u havn't taken a tour of our old building you should. I am probably the lightest sleeper ever and had to bunk with someone of the opposite sex who also snored so loud it would wake the person up. There were many nights I received almost no sleep due to the cramped and limited quarters we had to live in. Do you really want someone who has had no sleep for almost two days driving you or your loved one on I-70. You should also go notice that the ceiling had mold growning on it, the ceiling was falling in and missing in some places and that you could see daylight in one of the bedrooms when u look at the ceiling. Also we had no carpet and in the day room and a bay area that forced us to pull the ambulances into the street to clean and access them fully. Being on a blind corner, Boy that sure sounds safe huh…. I'm surprised I was never hit by a turning car!!!

2. If we had been able to build a basement and only one story had been showing with exactly the same stuff inside would people still be complaining. Heck No you wouldn't be. In my opinion I'm glad they had to make it two stories above ground. It looks attractive from the street and adds to the town. And as someone stated earlier it makes us look more professional having this nice building and it was well past due.

3. Yes there is some wasted space and some things should probably be changed if they had it to do over again but when u look at it on a blue print that is just a flat paper with lines it looked good and frankly hard as heck to tell how the finished product would actually look. In case your not up with times, stainless steel is the new trend and far as the huge t.v., pool table and some other stuff, it was all donated by Mortons, at no cost to the tax payers. Probably as a peace offering for taking half of my lifespan to build the building. And while on the subject of taxes you all should think Joe Blodgett for that. He was a wonderful boss who was great with money and was able to penny pinch money away for this new building so that taxes wouldn't have to be raises.

4. As far as people mentioning Corbin, ya there is times that I would like to toss him under the ambulance but there is times that he really has a good point or idea and he is only one board member you know. Maybe you all should come to the board meetings, I DO and am informed now. And besides the fact that I'm sure some of you on here live in his district of town so that means you had a chance to vote for him or run against him if you were that unhappy.

5. I gotta agree with one point from an earlier blog. We do a tough job at all hours of the night and are away from our familys for at least 48hrs at a time. We are grossly underpaid in my opinion.

-- Posted by Happy EMT on Fri, Jun 27, 2008, at 12:47 PM

Ms. Fairchild,

If you go back and read Mr. Blodgett's quote I think you may have misinterpreted what he said.

He was not saying that there are 150 cases that need transferring a year, he was saying out of the approx. 150 life threatening cases a year, they fly out about 30. 150 life threatening, but 150 is not the total numbers of transfers.

If you can check the transfer records, I would say that there are at least 150, if not more that get transported to other hospitals by SCAD. I would bet only a small percentage is by air ambulances from Fitz. Most are by SCAD.

Let's hope the new equipment helps the situation and let's hope nobody in Slater or Sweet Springs needs an anbulance when Marshall is using theirs.

Jeff Galen, manager of nuclear medicine and interim director for imaging at the hospital recently said, "Statistically, 33 percent of all visitors to (our) emergency room are sent on to either Columbia or Kansas City hospitals. (With the new equipment) we can now take care of those patients here instead of sending them down the road. This revolutionizes the way we take care of cardiac patients, too," he said.

SCAD has three crews, who work a rotating schedule of two crews on and one crew off. With ambulance crews in Slater and Sweet Springs, too and a reduction in the number of needed transfers out of the area, maybe the problem Cheese has presented will be less of a problem or disappear altogether.

New equipment at Fitz Hospital may in some cases eliminate the need for transport elsewhere.

Well, Cheese, whether it's a new building, old building, or a tent doesn't really add to your point. So, I guess my first curiosity is why the question of crew availability is only now a voiced area of concern.

My second question is, by what means do you suggest patients who require medical care be transported from one hospital to another? An ambulance equipped with, oh say, medical equipment seems to be the logical mode of transportation.

Why aren't you complaining about those foolish Saline County Deputies who have the audacity to use a police car to transport PRISONERS inter-county?

To give you insight into some of your concern about this practice, it comes down mostly to matters of liability. If Fitzgibbon Hospital or any other medical care facility has to transport a patient the hospital is obligated to provide such transport. If the patient declines the use of an ambulance when it is suggested, that patient must sign a release form releasing the hospital of any claim should they die on the way. Also, a lot of insurance companies, if the patient refuses the ambulance ride, will not treat the case as a referral but instead as a *voluntary* or *elective* procedure not covered under their plan...the beaurocractic BS we deal with in this day and age. This means the patient could end up paying for the procedure almost entirely out of pocket.

I've never heard of crew availability and long waits being a problem before. Of course, I subscribe to "JJ's Perpetually Perfect People Pills" and I will never die, let alone require an ambulance ride. Anyone else have this problem?

I have been transported to Columbia! I have also been picked up by Columbia. What you are saying, cheese, is that Fitzgibbon ownes/ runs the Ambulances?!?

I don't think I agree. Once someone is stabilized and ED finds that Fitz cannot provide a certain service or if there is not enough beds at Fitz, people are then transported. Yes, it does take away the crew for a lengthy time, but is neccessary.

No different then the Air Ambulance flying out a critical person. If the closest one is w/ cargo we would have to wait for the next closest Bird to respond

HOORAY,for the supreme court for reaffirming our second amendment right to bear arms

Too bad we couldn't. I have noticed that when you do find an authentic AMERICAN Made outlet, IT'S TOO EXPENSIVE!

Such as the Electric Car being manufactured I think in Montanna. I want one, but can't afford it. SOO cute! Kindof looks like a lil Hummer.

hey salinefire you should poll the firefighters and ask them if they have ever made F's! maybe if the school catches on fire maybe they wont have to respond.

im not a school official or anything but if you take away all the F's from MHS you lose about 10 touchdowns, 20 goals, 25 pts a game, and a few anchors on the rely teams......hey all those in favor of the no F's can move to slater where there sports teams cannot get any worse! whats santa fe's policy on sports and grades anyone know?

Maybe its just me. But has anybody noticed that according to the MDN obits we havent had a death in over a week. thats got to be some kind of record. AND WHAT A TESTAMENT TO OUR LOCAL DOCS.

On CNBC tonite, at midnite, after the children are asleep, it is so obscene .... Untold Wealth...

"The richest 1% of Americans control more than 33% of the total wealth, their wealth is now greater than the bottom 90% of Americans. (Federal Reserve Surveys of Consumer Finance."

And as Warren Buffet noted yesterday on the same channel, he pays about 1/3 the taxes his secretary does... The working class has become a throw-away externality, sort of like clean water... and we keep voting them in...why?????

bout time for another tv shooting isn't it?

while im at it........playing a varsity sport for one year probably carries as much real life education as 100 hours of any combination of classes. so the 'E-D-U-C-A-T-I-O-N' arguement of you old timers is out the window right with your logic (burrrrrn). i beleive with all my heart if a kid makes all F's and participates in sports, works hard, learns teamwork, social skills, how to be on time, and work ethic......they have alot better chance of being successful and happy as a kid that makes all A's, does nothing extra, and is in bed at 9. school barely scratches the surface of all the things that need to be learned at that age.

hey salinefire......you guys are so much better then the police! for real do you guys ever mess with them?

JJ, thank you for saying what needs to be said! When do you get your column in the print edition?

JJ I am so disappointed in you. You were out of line the way you phrased your comment on the words Con Agra Janitor and working at a gas station. Why hurt people's feelings. Are you better than they are?

Wow, this is a touchy subject.

On the one hand, I can see the public schools aiding in raising a generation of kids who could care less about basic education because they've convinced themselves their future holds million-dollar contracts playing sports. This is the "I don't care if this kid can't spell his own name...he's got a great 3-point shot and we need to WIN WIN WIN" attitude. For that much, I have to say I respect the coaches and sponsors for putting the focus on academics over athletics.

On the other hand, I can see the potential harm this would hold for a kid who is really trying and putting forth the effort. All we can legitimately ask of anyone is to do their best. But, what if their best is a D average?

Here's my proposal: Although home environment and outside influences can/may have a direct impact on a student's performance, these issues really need to be eliminated as considerations on the part of the school system. This will keep all of us from feeling like the school is "minding our business". I think the basis for determining whether a student plays sports with an F should be a strictly academic decision--using information the teachers and counselors already have. Let me explain:

If Little Johnny is in class everyday, he turns in every assignment (or even most of them) on time, he's attentive, not disruptive, and is willing to try, let this kid play sports even with an F. To be fair, ALL of this student's teachers/coaches need to come together (collaboration day would be a good day to do this) and the majority should decide. This will minimize the opportunities for favortism or conflicts of character between teacher/student influencing the outcome.

BUT...If Little Johnny is carrying an F, starts crap, doesn't bother to turn in homework or assignments, has a high absence or tardiness record, shows obvious signs of not really caring or having any respect for anyone...cut him. Again, this is a decision that needs to be reached using the majority vote of ALL his teachers/coaches for the aforementioned reasons.

Either way, there will be those who complain. But I, for one, have to throw my support behind the school system in this case--provided the goal is to improve overall academic performance.

some people dont leave high school to go to college. some graduate and do physical work. teaching the future ConAgra janitor geometry is really not a high priority. 1 F should not stop someone from doing an activity alone. thats the total opposite of what should happen. you should have to do an activity if you make an F! we need kids involved, things are bad enough with the 'parent circles' around the sports in this town. you guys are such small term thinkers....the next arguement will be learning disabilities and F's and what to do.....because in todays world about anyone that makes an F can go to a doctor and get diagnosed with ADD, depression or some valid excuse so why even bother? as soon as the F rule takes place there will be 100 exceptions. why dont we worry about our teachers, budgets, Map scores, and teachers standards before we raise the students even higher......where do we get these board members do they work at a gas station or something..SHHHEEEEESSHHH

okay kids we cant keep a budget, get along, not cheat to help you with tests, but we need you to do better! NICE MESSAGE

I DO support Janet Klinge's statement. The MSHSAA standard is a good one (1 failing grade before being disqualified) and I see no reason why the Marshall High School's standard should be even stricter than that -- they are proposing no failing grades.

There are just so many factors that can go into failing one class. I'm not talking about laziness or the teachers. How well do you think you would do in class if you were dealing with a family issue like divorce? What about a death in the student's family during a particular semester? What about being a new student and dealing with moving into a new situation during one semesters. How about lack of support at home?

I DO NOT think a student should be penalized in an area that might be a bright point for them just for 1 grade. Give the student a chance to pull the grade back up. You never know what a motivator (for good grades) or even how much hope that extracurricular activity holds for a student.

How many people do you know who drive with a beer can in their hand. How many times do you see these morons toss a can out the window. How many familes are killed because of a drunk driver. How many lives are ruined. And all you care about is some moron tossing a cigg out.

Walmart employees have a job and if that means they have to go out n sweep up a whole parking lot full of cigg buts than thats too bad. They get paid to do it.

This is a realy stupid thing to get your undies in a bunch over when there is alot worse things going on in this world.

I shop at walmart and i rarely see a stack of cigg buts on the ground. Get over it. Worrie about something else cause this is realy freekin stupid.

well i know who we cant blame...me, Jesus, and David Kemm

If a cigarette butt is still lit when you toss it out the car window it could cause a grass fire. I'm sure the people in California who are dealing with huge forest fires right now would frown upon anyone who would carelessly toss a lit cigarette from a car. Also, your lit butt could fly back into your car and burn holes in your back seats, or possibly burn your passengers sitting in the back seat. What if your lit butt got stuck down in your baby's car seat? How would you feel if you burnt your child? If you drive a pickup truck tossing a lit butt could catch your cargo on fire. Id say if you asked any firefighter they would surely tell you that tossing cigarette butts from a car window is not just littering...it's a dangerous fire hazard!

Annabelle-

I don't know why you think it is ok to throw your cigarette butts out onto the street. Many people who don't smoke end up with your butts in their yard, along with the plastic and wrapping from the pack of cigarettes. How would you like it if I just threw my trash in your yard because I could. It is just down right rude and careless for smokers to think that everyone around them wants to see their bad habit.

Annabell, seriously, your butts may blow to the side of the road, but it is still litter. And how do you know that animals know better than to eat them? What are you teaching your children about littering?

When people visit my house we usually sit outside when the weather permits. I have noticed that many smokers discard their cigarettes butts with just a flip of a finger. I tell them either they pick it up of I will have to and that I didn't put it there. Most apologize and refrain from the practice. Once tossed on the ground a cigarette but will lay in place for years as the filters are not biodegradable. When there are visible cigarette butts on the ground others feel free to discard there's also. It doesn't take long for an area visited by smokers to start looking like an open ashtray.

Maybe people who smoke toss their buts for the same reason people throw trash out of their cars,beer cans and bottles along the hiways.

I have never seen cigg buts in intersections,or all over the place they way you say. Its total exaggeration on your part.

I do see lots of beer cans and other things of that nature.Ciggs dont stay in one place long.

i plead the 5th.........it is my right isnt it? some may beg to differ.......

hey sht, you're right. JJ doesn't get it because he is "it".

well guess what!?

what is this like a one on one interview?

why would it be against the law to shoot your own tv set with your own (legal) gun? because some girl was there and was scared?.......especially in napton! thats not even in city limits! old boonesboro isnt like it used to be thats for sure. at some point these dumb arse laws and the people "upholding" them need to chill out. sure it wasnt the brightest idea but its really not even close to a felony. hopefully he has a few grand to pay a marshall 'lawyer' to drop it down to a misdemenor (the public defender would probably have this guy on death row)...and by lawyer i mean those couple guys and girls that wear suits (bad ones at that) around marshall and cop pleas with each other and see to it no justice and no trials ever take place.

class d felony for shooting a tv....new york cops shot a guy 50 times and didnt get that! after about 10 shots shouldnt that become unlawful?

What time you shooting it JJ? I might wanna come watch!

Though he was far from one of my favorite people, George Carlin had some interesting political viewpoints. George Carlin died this passed weekend and in fitting tribute to him, I felt compelled to share a George Carlin original quote that I believe illustrates very well the problems in the United States of America today:

"Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large numbers."--George Carlin

GOP:Let's drill in the Gulf and ANWR?

DEMS:NO TREES FOR OIL!

GOP:Let's build more refineries?

DEMS:WE ARE TO LAZY TO WORK! WELFARE DOES JUST FINE THANK YOU.

GOP:Let's stabilize interest rates and boost the dollar?

DEMS:BOOST FOODSTAMPS!

GOP:Let's drill for oil-shale and try to refine it?

DEMS:ILL TELL YOU IF THATS A GOOD IDEA OR NOT WHEN MICHAEL MOORE MAKES A MOVIE ABOUT IT.

GOP:Ummm...OK...What do YOU guys want to do?

DEMS:WHAT WE ALWAYS DO....BLAME THE GOP

I whole heartedly disagree with the dems. Let's utilize our own resources to the fullest extent as long as we do it in concert with an intense program for research into alternative resources.

It's amazing how utterly ridiculous the Dem's current "proposals" are for dealing with high energy costs. It's even more ridiculous how they shoot down just about every VALID proposal put forth by the GOP.

GOP:Let's drill in the Gulf and ANWR?

DEMS:Nope...Caribou will hate it...

GOP:Let's build more refineries?

DEMS:Nope...not in my backyard...

GOP:Let's stabilize interest rates and boost the dollar?

DEMS:Nope...there's the housing crisis...people are LOOSING HOMES!

GOP:Let's drill for oil-shale and try to refine it?

DEMS:Nope...not "short-term" enough...

GOP:Ummm...OK...What do YOU guys want to do?

DEMS: Let's tax the oil companies, sue OPEC and ride bikes to work! Besides we NEED higher gas prices to "fix" the environment...

a few days without oklahoma....amen!

Right on WTF...!

I gotta agree w/ the people behind the curtain being the ones that are ripping our Government apart. If we do lose this war it will be from the inside out. If you pay attention- It's not the commoner's worried about wireless phone tapping. It is the forien owned businesses, people w/ $$ and the major drug runners.

Hey, if they wanna hear me talk to my soldier when he calls from Iraq, that's fine w/ me. If they wanna hear me talk to my sister and cousins about my little one going to the potty that day, who cares.

Now, I wouldn't want them to know when I was going to bomb the next train & attempt to kill people OR- when my next shipment of cocain was scheduled to arrive at port.

In other wars we had to give up civil liberties for the greater cause. Then, after time some were restored & others changed. FOR OUR PROTECTION. Now- our rights are being picked through and tossed out, it is the AMERICANS (born&raised) that are losing out. Kindof like... Merry Christmas, or GOD BLESS. Where I work, I cannot use the phrase GOD BLESS when someone sneezes because it may offend their religous belief. Well, I say, fire me. It is my religous belief to ask for GOD's Blessing when I feel the need to do so.

Go Chiefs,

I never told anyone they hated thier country I only cut and pasted thier own words for reference. Sadly that post has been removed and I'm not sure why. If you are trying to cleverly accuse me of hating my country then you have failed once again. Blind faith in anything, like our govt and this particular administration is more dangerous to the fabric of our nation then anything a terrorist can do. Or is it? Unfortunately our collective reaction to 9/11 has done more damage to us as a country then the perpetrators could have ever hoped for. I often wonder how those who died on 9/11 would feel about

what we have become. Their deaths are every bit as noble as any soldier we have lost on the battle field. Soldiers who fought and died to preserve our constitution. Sadly, our constitution is being systematically dismantled. Our current adminstration has been criminally inept and even a party to treason with the outing of a CIA agent soley for political reasons. That is only the tip of the iceberg as we are all acutely aware. You seem to feel that turning a blind eye is "Patriotic" or is how one shows love of country. That sir/or madam makes "you" every bit as dangerous and every bit as fanatical as those we are supposedly being protected from. That does not mean that I am accusing you of hating our country, it only means that I believe you are sadly misguided. Our current adminstration fancies itself to be "The Wizard of Oz" and would prefer that we the people pay no attention to the man behind the curtain. If you can't see that or worse, refuse to see that then I truly feel sorry for you and for us. I actually have come to feel sorry for George Bush because I feel he, like the rest of us has been duped. He is the perfect patsy. He will be the fall guy while those behind the curtain slink off into the darkness to count thier millions. Do you really think that type of "leadership" should be rewarded with 4 more years in power? If so, then the "terrorists" have indeed won.

Just because the radio station ran the names it doesn't make it right. Sure it's legal. Legality, and morality are not the same things. JJ how did your family members feel when their names were in the paper,as arrested for something they did not do? Some places, Canada for instance, news coverage is limited in matters such as these. I feel sorry for your family members that had to suffer the indignity, bet you did too.

Go Chiefs you are so full of hatred that this is the first, and last time I will address you. Do not tell me nor anyone else to shut up and go away. Bully ways like that may survive on the school playground, but not here. Obviously you have never out grown them. Secondly you acted as if you spoke for everyone with your directive that I post somewhere else. You have delusions of grandeur. Finally you wrap yourself in the flag and talk about freedom, then tell me to not exercise my freedom. Hypocrisy or stupidity, or both? You make the call. I know you will come back with another hate filled tirade, which will only make you look smaller. That is your right, and your choice. Of course I have the choice to ignore it, and so I shall.

oklahoma reader- oh if it makes you feel any better.....kmmo is naming off the 'suspects' as well so i guess they share my lack of class......and save me your bleeding heart protect the innocent crap...guilty or not guilty its still the news....its still legal to report....and you still dont matter.

and actually my family members have been named on arrest in this very paper.....and were later found not guilty but that side of the story never ran. its sad that i have about 3 buddies with DWIs*(in the past 2 years) that never made the paper due to parental 'status'.

honestly has anyone ever called mdn and stopped a story from running? its marshall! be honest!

so sorry for the wrong spelling.lol thou not though . didnt wanna give OKIE. ammo for another 6 paragraphs . so i figured id better print a correction

Eric; you should call your blog the "Speak Out when you say what Eric wants to hear and he will leave your comments intact" blog! "Speak Out" just isn't very appropriate when you aren't allowed to speak out. Do you personally monitor the blog or do some of your comrades assist? ARE YOU REALLY THAT AFRAID OF THE TRUTH?

Oh Lord it's hard to be humble

When you're perfect in every way

I can't wait to look in the mirror

'Cos I get better lookin each day

To know me is to love me

I must be a hell of a man

Oh Lord it's hard to be humble

But I'm doin' the best that I can

What the f....you telling someone about them "hating their country" is like the proverbial "pot calling the kettle black

stupid DOT officers........i think the one that pulled me over last wore a g-string......he was also a man..... i think.....those MODOTs are hard to put a gender on.

Cheetah: "Blinded myself with my shorts," huh? That's one for the books. An excellent variation on "I won't be coming in today - I have eye problems." "Eye problems?" "Yeah, can't see myself coming in."

OR...

How does a 52 year-old woman answer this question 20 years from now:

"So, grandma, why do you wear an eye patch?" She's gonna be the life of the retirement community!

OK. I'm done. I needed a good Friday laugh...

Kathy,

Me? Deep-end? Surely ye jest!! LOL. In a way I guess I find it amazing that something with less than 4 square inches of fabric could even *have* a design flaw. But leave it to a DOT officer to find it!!

I don't care who McSame picks for VP as long as it is not the morman cultist Romney. When McSame dies, we'd then have a Morman President.

Now.......I've heard it all. Just when I thought it couldn't get any more ludicrous in this country, it does. Apparently, needing a warning lable to remind us that coffee is HOT isn't that bad after all...

I just read where a 52 YEAR-OLD woman is suing Victoria's Secret for "unspecified damages" because a rhinestone popped off her THONG and hit her in the eye, damaging her cornea. I don't know what's worse: the stupid lawsuit, or the fact this lady is willing to make a lawsuit over a funky G-string national news. FCOL...

Darwin Award nominee.........

"But why the Dems first???"

Oh jeez- quit your whining- what are you in 2nd grade.

When is the paper going to have a poll about who McCain should choose for VP?? Humm kinda bias???

Congratulations to Art and Darin. Both are really nice guys and deserving of their big breaks. Art has been a real icon in the Springfield area for years, and it's time his journalist/sports skills are going to be appreciated for an even broader audience. Good luck to both!

and while im feeding you useful info.........obama should pick jeb bush for his running mate! if he has any sense whatsoever!

local fishing report! awesome idea pal! maybe we can win an award for town or village with the lamest possible comination of blogs and/or most redneck themed blog section for a local newspaper website! you know its people like you that vote obama........sickning

Once-Removed, no one realy cares.

i won't be back on this site i have no use for marshall

I see there are now two blogs about racing. can we get a real sports blog?

The Ambulance District is holding an Open House for the new facility here in Marshall on Friday, June 20, 2008 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. I am a taxpayer and would like to view the facility but I, like most people, will be working during these hours. Why can't they have this in the evening, say 5 p.m to 7 p.m. I am a regular working person, like many others in this community, and I work during the day. I know that I could run by on my lunch hour, but remember I only have an hour to eat and be back at my work post in one hour on the nose. That's not a lot of extra time to view the facility. I am not some kind of big wig business owner or community leader who can leave their workplace at anytime. Why can't these kind of things be held when it is convenient for most of the working public and not just an elite few? We may not have a lot of money, but our tax dollars spend the same as Mr. Big Banker, Mr. County or City Representative or Mr. Business Owner, shouldn't we be allowed to see what we helped to build too?

the cardinals are a joke (the most roided team in baseball according to the mitchell report)........!

Apparently okie is not from Muskogee.Because I understand they are a flag wavin, god fearin, government respectin sort of folk round those parts. Are you havin trouble finding a liberal rag in Ok? Try down around stillwater, I heard there used to be a bunch of hippies down there who may subscribe to your conspiracy in government theorys

It's almost FRIDAY!!

GoChiefs.

Rule of law is all that we have left and without it where does that leave us? If the rule of law is not extended to every human being regardless of perceived guilt then what have we fought and died for? Our govt cannot be trusted not to abuse a system where they are allowed to pick and choose whom has protection under the law. It is all or nothing and it is that simple.

9/11 sucked. It was horrible and like many of you I watched it unfold on live TV. It was a sucker punch and it worked. Look at what our country has become. We have put our troops in Iraq in an impossible position while at the same time we have all but forgotten about the party responsible for 9/11-Osama Bin Laden. I mean forgotten literally because the president has said as much. What has the invasion of Iraq done for us? our troops? I know what it has done for Haliburton and Blackwater. Have you ever once tried to put your self in the postion of an innocent Iraqi who lost a family member? Have you ever once wondered how they felt? We have lost our way and it's time to get back on the high road and I hope that you will join me and others on election day. This administration is at best inept and at worst criminal and should be held accountable under RULE OF LAW.

I do have one after thought to my last post to throw out. I long ago observed that those who sling excrement at others most often miss their target, and are left with a stinking hand that few care to shake. As I have continued to observe human folly that observation has been consistently verified.

All that and that liberal from okie never did answer my question.

sorry kathy that last response was to what the f.......

Kathy, What was journalist Daniel Pearl "suspected" of when they left his rotting corpse on the side of the road? And what did they "suspect" the young contractor of when they chopped off his head on a video which his mother could see? We are not dealing with clear thinking human beings here.We are dealing with religous fanatics almost on the same level as animals.They have been brainwashed to know nothing but to KILL AMERICANS.Sometimes you have to get down in the dirt to flush out your enemys.

a marine says 'as harshly as possible'??? get outta here.....they let you speak?

tonight at midnight i will make the greatest post in the history of mdn....it might get deleted so be sure to tune in soon or miss it forever!