Mt. Vernon Register-News - Culli's Corner

Every day craziness

Rend Lake College students who are trying to get to school on time will need to leave home a little early while roadwork is being done on the ramps and bridge at the Ina exit to Interstate 57. Those going to the college will need to take Route 37 through Ina and past Big Muddy River Correctional Center to County Line Road to get to the campus during the next week.
Ever notice that just about the time you make plans for the week, things happen that blow your best-laid plans out of the water? This is shaping up to be one of those weeks in the Register-News office. Lots of special events are happening in the King City. The city council will hold a workshop on Tuesday to discuss proposed zoning around the overpass/interchange; the Girl Scouts will host a father/daughter dance on Friday, and this weekend is shaping up to be busy with VFW Post 9233 hosting a Veterans Day ceremony at Times Square Mall; the Waltonville VFW hosting its annual Veterans Day Parade and Woodlawn veterans holding a ceremony at the Woodlawn Veterans Memorial. In addition, a Marine Corps Birthday Ball will be held Saturday, and Toys For Kids of Jefferson County will hold a fundraising event at Country Time in Nason. Motorcycle riders from Continental Tire North America will be helping raise funds and toys for the effort with a toy run Saturday morning.
Monday I was reminded that some rumors are just that — rumors. Every once in a while we get a good one, but Monday’s wasn’t the golden news tip. One of our forums gave us the first inkling there might be a major story coming out of City Hall regarding an employee and misuse of public funds. After chasing the rumor for a couple of hours, I was able to track down City Manager Ron Neibert, who had already read the rumor on our site and made an official answer.
“I heard about the rumor this morning,” Neibert said. “I did some checking and investigated ... There is no basis to anything on the site.”
Neibert also said he was disappointed that so many of those posting on the forum were blaming Human Resources Director Mary Jo Pemberton. Neibert said the HR director isn’t the one who would take action in an investigation of wrong doing, but acts at the direction of the city manager.
I’m glad there are residents out there watching, and I take my job to find out more about what’s happening very seriously, doing follow-up investigations to verify rumors and news tips. In the biz we call it exerting “due diligence.” Sometimes journalists get the run-around from public officials while we are following up on rumors, but their duplicity usually comes out eventually. Personally, I can respect a public official or politician who says they can’t comment on an issue but I have no respect for the person who looks me in the eye and lies to me about an issue.

November 05, 2007 05:00 pm

Genius in disguise

I had an interesting conversation with Sarah Sledge of Cedarhurst earlier this week about one of the artists whose work will be on display starting this weekend at the Administration Building.
The collages, which Sarah said are more like mosaics to her untrained eye, were created by Breese native Jerome Schmidt under the pen name of Adoni Chevez.
It seems Mr. Schmidt, who died last year at the age of 75, was a bit eccentric. No one knew he was an artist until they went into his house and found literally thousands of art works in watercolor, pencil, pen and ink, crayons and the collages. He lived alone over his course of his life, never went to high school, but frequented the local library. Each day he would visit his aunt to get a warm meal and in the winter to warm up because he didn’t have heat or running water in his home.
Sarah said Schmidt created about 300 collages, and of the 20 to 30 that will be on display at the Administration Building each is created with “teeny, tiny” bits of colored paper.
“He had to have some tiny, sharp scissors,” Sarah commented.
The sad part of the story is that during his lifetime, no one knew the genius he was harboring and the beautiful work he was creating. Marching to the beat of a different drummer, Schmidt lived his 75 years quietly and was probably ridiculed by many.
The old adage, “Never judge a book by its cover” came to mind as I was talking with Sarah. I’ve never liked it when someone makes fun of other people — not the good-natured ribbing that friends engage in, but the kind designed to put others down.
You never know who might be the person who really does have all the answers or who will discover a cure for horrible illness or create the next masterpiece.

November 01, 2007 02:41 pm

Things are happening

Congratulations go to the City Hall Cerebrals trivia team on winning first place at the St. Mary’s Parish fundraiser last weekend. The team consisted of Mayor Mary Jane Chesley, City Manager Ron Neibert, Tourism Director Bonnie Jerdon and her husband Harold, Public Works Director Allan Trout and Assistant Fire Chief Kevin Sargent. Also congratulations are in order for a fun evening to the church.
On another City Hall note, employees are working to raise $3,500 for the United Way and are selling chances to shoot Ron Neibert with a paintball. Kudos to Ron for being willing to take the punishment! Ron says only city employees will be allowed to handle the paintball guns, but employees say they’re willing to take donations from anyone in the city to help them reach their goal.
There are lots of things to do this weekend, so everyone ought to get out and enjoy the weather before it gets cold. The Shriner’s will be holding a ham and bean dinner at the local Masonic Lodge on Saturday. The annual knife show will be featured at the Rolland Lewis Community building at Veterans Park on Saturday, the American Legion will be hosting the Women Veterans Conference and the Amy Center will be celebrating the opening of its new facility at 500 Old Fairfield Road. Local singer Amanda Sheridan will be performing during the event which will be held from 1 to 3 p.m., and residents are encouraged to take their lawn chairs and enjoy the entertainment.
It’s getting close to Veterans Day, which will fall on a Sunday this year, so many organizations are holding events the day before or the day after. An honor event and bell ringing ceremony will be held at the Times Square Mall on Saturday Nov. 10, the Woodlawn Veterans Memorial will be having a ceremony on Monday, Nov. 12 and the Waltonville Veterans Parade will be happening on Saturday, Nov. 10.
If anyone is out and about on Friday, Nov. 2 and see Mt. Vernon Fire Department Capt. Chris Hurst, be sure and wish him a big happy 48th birthday. Another fireman who will be celebrating a birthday on Nov. 15 is MVFD firefighter Brad Baum who will be turning the big 30.
On a final note, the Mt. Vernon Rams Football team will be playing in the next round of state competition at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3 at Charleston. I’ve noticed several signs going up around town wishing the team good luck, and my luck and best wishes go with them. This is a group of great kids and athletes, who have been going out all season and giving the game their all. Be sure and let them know we’re supporting them all the way.

October 30, 2007 02:00 pm

Every day craziness

Genius in disguise

Things are happening

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