5.30.2009
RIP Floyd Hacker
From today's St. Louis Post-Dispatch, reprinted in full here due to the short lifespan of online newspaper stories:
Floyd Hacker started teaching and coaching at Bishop DuBourg High School at its founding in 1950. He retired 42 years later as a celebrated principal. DuBourg's current students still are taught by many of the teachers he hired.
Mr. Hacker died Thursday (May 28, 2009) at Barnes-Jewish Hospital of complications from heart surgery. He was 81 and lived in Kirkwood.
DuBourg's first location was in temporary buildings at Jefferson Barracks. In 1954, Mr. Hacker moved with the school to its current location at Hampton Avenue and Eichelberger Street.
He was named principal in 1968, becoming the first lay administrator of a Catholic school in the Archdiocese of St. Louis.
Mr. Hacker was the school's original and, at first, only coach. In the fall, he coached football, in the winter, soccer and basketball, and in the spring, baseball.
He also drove DuBourg's nuns to and from the school and their residence. But he wasn't allowed to drive their car to his home. He would take two streetcars to pick up the nuns each morning and two to get home every night after dropping off them and their car.
Students and faculty honored him in 1984 with a surprise Floyd Hacker Day and to celebrate the school's 35th year. They wore bow ties and suspenders, his usual dress.
"He's an icon in the archdiocese," Kirk Boschert, president of the high school, said Friday.
He ordered the school's American flag flown at half-staff in memory of Mr. Hacker.
Mr. Hacker's career spanned two and sometimes three generations of students. When he had a knee operation, the surgeon was a DuBourg graduate, and four nurses each had children at DuBourg.
"Never once in more than 42 years did I dread coming to work," Mr. Hacker told the Post-Dispatch before his retirement. "There were never days I didn't have to face problems, but each day was new and challenging."
In his early days, he also worked at the complaint department at Sears.
"It was the school of hard knocks," he said.
Mr. Hacker received the President's Award from the National Catholic Educational Association for his contributions to Catholic education and served for six years on the association's executive committee. He received the Duchesne Award for meritorious teaching from Maryville University.
At his retirement, DuBourg named its gym for him.
Mr. Hacker remained active as a volunteer tour guide at the St. Louis Cathedral Basilica and as a storyteller for OASIS. He returned each year for freshman orientation to speak about DuBourg's history and traditions.
Mr. Hacker graduated from the old St. John the Baptist High School, then served in the Army before attending St. Louis University, where he got undergraduate and master's degrees in sociology.
Mr. Hacker's wife, Margaret, died in 1987; in 1995, he married Anne Allen.
Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. Sunday at Kutis Funeral Home in Affton, 10151 Gravois Road. The funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Peter Church, 243 West Argonne Drive, Kirkwood. Burial will be at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.
Survivors, in addition to his wife, include two sons, Kevin Hacker of St. Louis and Mark Hacker of Oakville; two sisters, Audrey Hacker of St. Louis and Carol Shaw of Oakville; a brother, Don Hacker of Affton; and two grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Floyd Hacker Scholarship Fund at Bishop DuBourg High School.
Mr. Hacker was principal during my first 2 years at DuBourg. The man is a legend...hell, he IS DuBourg. The school wouldn't be what it is now without him laying the foundation.
Rest in peace...
Floyd Hacker started teaching and coaching at Bishop DuBourg High School at its founding in 1950. He retired 42 years later as a celebrated principal. DuBourg's current students still are taught by many of the teachers he hired.
Mr. Hacker died Thursday (May 28, 2009) at Barnes-Jewish Hospital of complications from heart surgery. He was 81 and lived in Kirkwood.
DuBourg's first location was in temporary buildings at Jefferson Barracks. In 1954, Mr. Hacker moved with the school to its current location at Hampton Avenue and Eichelberger Street.
He was named principal in 1968, becoming the first lay administrator of a Catholic school in the Archdiocese of St. Louis.
Mr. Hacker was the school's original and, at first, only coach. In the fall, he coached football, in the winter, soccer and basketball, and in the spring, baseball.
He also drove DuBourg's nuns to and from the school and their residence. But he wasn't allowed to drive their car to his home. He would take two streetcars to pick up the nuns each morning and two to get home every night after dropping off them and their car.
Students and faculty honored him in 1984 with a surprise Floyd Hacker Day and to celebrate the school's 35th year. They wore bow ties and suspenders, his usual dress.
"He's an icon in the archdiocese," Kirk Boschert, president of the high school, said Friday.
He ordered the school's American flag flown at half-staff in memory of Mr. Hacker.
Mr. Hacker's career spanned two and sometimes three generations of students. When he had a knee operation, the surgeon was a DuBourg graduate, and four nurses each had children at DuBourg.
"Never once in more than 42 years did I dread coming to work," Mr. Hacker told the Post-Dispatch before his retirement. "There were never days I didn't have to face problems, but each day was new and challenging."
In his early days, he also worked at the complaint department at Sears.
"It was the school of hard knocks," he said.
Mr. Hacker received the President's Award from the National Catholic Educational Association for his contributions to Catholic education and served for six years on the association's executive committee. He received the Duchesne Award for meritorious teaching from Maryville University.
At his retirement, DuBourg named its gym for him.
Mr. Hacker remained active as a volunteer tour guide at the St. Louis Cathedral Basilica and as a storyteller for OASIS. He returned each year for freshman orientation to speak about DuBourg's history and traditions.
Mr. Hacker graduated from the old St. John the Baptist High School, then served in the Army before attending St. Louis University, where he got undergraduate and master's degrees in sociology.
Mr. Hacker's wife, Margaret, died in 1987; in 1995, he married Anne Allen.
Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. Sunday at Kutis Funeral Home in Affton, 10151 Gravois Road. The funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Peter Church, 243 West Argonne Drive, Kirkwood. Burial will be at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.
Survivors, in addition to his wife, include two sons, Kevin Hacker of St. Louis and Mark Hacker of Oakville; two sisters, Audrey Hacker of St. Louis and Carol Shaw of Oakville; a brother, Don Hacker of Affton; and two grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Floyd Hacker Scholarship Fund at Bishop DuBourg High School.
Mr. Hacker was principal during my first 2 years at DuBourg. The man is a legend...hell, he IS DuBourg. The school wouldn't be what it is now without him laying the foundation.
Rest in peace...
5.28.2009
Dear GM,
I know that you've been having some serious troubles lately, but I'd like to help you out if I can.
I am a very satisfied GM owner...I have owned my 2007 Chevy Cobalt for a year now. She is a lovely 2LT laser blue metallic coupe, and her name is Cleo. I bought her from Johnny Londoff Chevrolet in Florissant, MO on April 30, 2008. She had just 9 miles on her when I first stepped in, and she currently has over 19,000 miles.
Other than some minor wear and tear issues, my car has been wonderful to me. It looks sharp, it rides well, it handles well and is perfect for me and my lifestyle. There are a few things that could use improvement--for example, the back windshield is useless for trying to parallel park. Not everything can be perfect...but Cleo is the perfect car for me.
Prior to Cleo, I owned a 2003 Malibu. It wasn't a bad car, but it wasn't great either. I had a lot of warranty repairs that had to be done, to the point that I was ready to give up on Chevy and GM. Of the 11 cars I've owned, 7 have been Chevys. Some were great; others not so much. But I was so disappointed with my Malibu that I started looking at Toyota. Then something told me to look at the Cobalt, and here I am today.
With the money problems and all, I know you can't pay me. That's okay...I'll promote you for free. You guys have certainly done your share of screwing up, but you're one of the biggest and most legendary companies in business history. You've made some of the finest vehicles to grace our streets and driveways. And you're making some fine cars now.
We can't let you go down...you're the General. You've got to lead us back to victory.
Sincerely,
Terry B
St. Louis, MO
I am a very satisfied GM owner...I have owned my 2007 Chevy Cobalt for a year now. She is a lovely 2LT laser blue metallic coupe, and her name is Cleo. I bought her from Johnny Londoff Chevrolet in Florissant, MO on April 30, 2008. She had just 9 miles on her when I first stepped in, and she currently has over 19,000 miles.
Other than some minor wear and tear issues, my car has been wonderful to me. It looks sharp, it rides well, it handles well and is perfect for me and my lifestyle. There are a few things that could use improvement--for example, the back windshield is useless for trying to parallel park. Not everything can be perfect...but Cleo is the perfect car for me.
Prior to Cleo, I owned a 2003 Malibu. It wasn't a bad car, but it wasn't great either. I had a lot of warranty repairs that had to be done, to the point that I was ready to give up on Chevy and GM. Of the 11 cars I've owned, 7 have been Chevys. Some were great; others not so much. But I was so disappointed with my Malibu that I started looking at Toyota. Then something told me to look at the Cobalt, and here I am today.
With the money problems and all, I know you can't pay me. That's okay...I'll promote you for free. You guys have certainly done your share of screwing up, but you're one of the biggest and most legendary companies in business history. You've made some of the finest vehicles to grace our streets and driveways. And you're making some fine cars now.
We can't let you go down...you're the General. You've got to lead us back to victory.
Sincerely,
Terry B
St. Louis, MO
5.27.2009
I want an obituary and a going away party like this
Published in Sunday's St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Witherow, G.W. Aviator, Artist, Brother, Cousin, Uncle and Friend. He spoke frequently of one true love, and the family and friends he missed for the past 25 years. And of those who had judged him so harshly, how they can forever pucker up to his posterior. A memorial bash will be held at Moon's Pub, 215 South B. Street, San Mateo, California 94401 at a date and time to be announced.
Witherow, G.W. Aviator, Artist, Brother, Cousin, Uncle and Friend. He spoke frequently of one true love, and the family and friends he missed for the past 25 years. And of those who had judged him so harshly, how they can forever pucker up to his posterior. A memorial bash will be held at Moon's Pub, 215 South B. Street, San Mateo, California 94401 at a date and time to be announced.
5.26.2009
The Sycamore brand...it sounds noble, doesn't it?
Well, I got author Tom Peric to stop by the blog this morning...let's see if I can get another author tomorrow!
I was listening to Mark Reardon on KMOX this afternoon, and one of his guests was Ben Kaplan, who is apparently an author and a college funding expert. He's on Tuesday afternoons, usually offering advice geared towards college students and their parents. But today, he talked about how to stand out as a job seeker. One of his ideas was using your Facebook statuses and Twitter accounts to talk up your skills and strengths.
That's an interesting idea, especially given how quickly some folks leech onto you on Twitter. I know the basic functions of Twitter and use it, but there seems to be a lot more that I have no clue about. And it seems like every day, I pick up a few new people based on some comment that I make. For example, I made a comment to a Twitter friend one day about the use of Native American names for sports teams, mentioning the Washington Redskins in particular. Next thing I know, two people have started following my tweets...they were Redskins fans. WTF?!
So I decided to post some of my strengths on my Twitter page...you can either go directly to my page to see them, or scroll back through the Twitter updates that appear on the left side of my blog page. So far, two people have started following me since I posted them. Will this really work? I dunno...but I don't think it hurts to try.
Last thing before I shuffle off here...have you guys started work on Sycamore Day yet?
I was listening to Mark Reardon on KMOX this afternoon, and one of his guests was Ben Kaplan, who is apparently an author and a college funding expert. He's on Tuesday afternoons, usually offering advice geared towards college students and their parents. But today, he talked about how to stand out as a job seeker. One of his ideas was using your Facebook statuses and Twitter accounts to talk up your skills and strengths.
That's an interesting idea, especially given how quickly some folks leech onto you on Twitter. I know the basic functions of Twitter and use it, but there seems to be a lot more that I have no clue about. And it seems like every day, I pick up a few new people based on some comment that I make. For example, I made a comment to a Twitter friend one day about the use of Native American names for sports teams, mentioning the Washington Redskins in particular. Next thing I know, two people have started following my tweets...they were Redskins fans. WTF?!
So I decided to post some of my strengths on my Twitter page...you can either go directly to my page to see them, or scroll back through the Twitter updates that appear on the left side of my blog page. So far, two people have started following me since I posted them. Will this really work? I dunno...but I don't think it hurts to try.
Last thing before I shuffle off here...have you guys started work on Sycamore Day yet?
5.25.2009
Who wants to officially create Sycamore Day?
As I'm sure you know, there are a plethora of "holidays" out there...and I'm sure many of you have said at some point, "Hallmark has to be behind (insert odd-sounding holiday here)."
I was listening to John Carney on KMOX tonight, and one of his guests was Tom Peric, who is apparently an author and a marketing specialist. The main focus of their discussion was how to create a holiday. Apparently, the closest you can get to a federal holiday without being approved by the Feds is by submitting your holiday request to Chase's Calendar of Events. Here are today's events, as listed by them:
--Memorial Day (US)
--African Freedom Day
--Revolution Day (Argentina)
--Independence Day (Jordan)
--National Missing Children’s Day
--National Tap Dance Day
--Poetry Day (Florida)
--Spring Bank Holiday (UK)
--Week of Solidarity with the People of Non-Self-Governing Territories (May 25-31, UN)
--Gloucestershire Cheese Rolling (England)
Submissions for 2010 are already over, but if you all could get your shit together by next April 15th, Sycamore Day could be a holiday in 2011.
And remember...it costs nothing to do this, except a little time and a little love for your Sycamore. :)
Oh, and you can blame McGraw-Hill for all the stupid holidays...they own the Calendar of Events.
I was listening to John Carney on KMOX tonight, and one of his guests was Tom Peric, who is apparently an author and a marketing specialist. The main focus of their discussion was how to create a holiday. Apparently, the closest you can get to a federal holiday without being approved by the Feds is by submitting your holiday request to Chase's Calendar of Events. Here are today's events, as listed by them:
--Memorial Day (US)
--African Freedom Day
--Revolution Day (Argentina)
--Independence Day (Jordan)
--National Missing Children’s Day
--National Tap Dance Day
--Poetry Day (Florida)
--Spring Bank Holiday (UK)
--Week of Solidarity with the People of Non-Self-Governing Territories (May 25-31, UN)
--Gloucestershire Cheese Rolling (England)
Submissions for 2010 are already over, but if you all could get your shit together by next April 15th, Sycamore Day could be a holiday in 2011.
And remember...it costs nothing to do this, except a little time and a little love for your Sycamore. :)
Oh, and you can blame McGraw-Hill for all the stupid holidays...they own the Calendar of Events.
5.23.2009
On holiday, day 2
We started today off by heading down to Soulard Market, St. Louis's biggest farmers market, in operation since 1779. It's gone through rough times and was even threatened with closure once, if I recall. But she seems to be doing well now...lots of people down there today, and lots of good food, straight from the farm! We picked up some tasty fruits and vegetables, along with a killer cut of meat that I am hoping is going to taste so good on my plate tomorrow.
Other than that, we really didn't do shit. A friend of ours had a retirement party today, so we headed over to a KofC hall for a bit for that. Then we visited Kennedy at my parents' house...we hadn't seen her in probably a month. But that was really it. We chilled here at our friends' house, watched cable, made dinner and relaxed. April is already asleep...I'm headed there myself shortly.
Some photos are in order, no? Tomorrow. For now, good night, St. Louis!
Other than that, we really didn't do shit. A friend of ours had a retirement party today, so we headed over to a KofC hall for a bit for that. Then we visited Kennedy at my parents' house...we hadn't seen her in probably a month. But that was really it. We chilled here at our friends' house, watched cable, made dinner and relaxed. April is already asleep...I'm headed there myself shortly.
Some photos are in order, no? Tomorrow. For now, good night, St. Louis!
5.22.2009
On holiday
Greetings from the Holly Hills Estate!
Our friends went out of town for the weekend, and asked us if we would like to house-sit. They don't really need someone to watch the house per se, but they know our living situation, so...here we are!
It's a nice place...comfy bed, big TV with cable and a kitty cat to play with. And I'm off until Monday night.
I'm going to have a good weekend...I guarantee it!
Our friends went out of town for the weekend, and asked us if we would like to house-sit. They don't really need someone to watch the house per se, but they know our living situation, so...here we are!
It's a nice place...comfy bed, big TV with cable and a kitty cat to play with. And I'm off until Monday night.
I'm going to have a good weekend...I guarantee it!
5.21.2009
You think taxes are bad here...
From the UK's Sun: The teenage student who sold her virginity for £8,800 could have to hand over half of her earnings to the taxman.
German inland revenue investigators are studying reports that Alina Percea, 18, was paid in cash for a weekend of sex with a middle-aged Italian businessman after auctioning her virginity online.
Prostitution is legal in Germany — where Alina studies — but hookers are taxed at 50 per cent of their earnings.
The Romanian-born computer studies student is allowed to work in Germany for 90 days as long as she arrived on a student visa, even as a prostitute.
But because Alina earned so much in such a short time she may also be liable for a hefty VAT bill.
That's just under $14,000 to us Americans.
German inland revenue investigators are studying reports that Alina Percea, 18, was paid in cash for a weekend of sex with a middle-aged Italian businessman after auctioning her virginity online.
Prostitution is legal in Germany — where Alina studies — but hookers are taxed at 50 per cent of their earnings.
The Romanian-born computer studies student is allowed to work in Germany for 90 days as long as she arrived on a student visa, even as a prostitute.
But because Alina earned so much in such a short time she may also be liable for a hefty VAT bill.
That's just under $14,000 to us Americans.
5.20.2009
Who's in charge here?
From MSNBC: Authorities sought to arrest the mother of a 13-year-old boy with cancer who refuses chemotherapy after she fled with her son and missed a court hearing Tuesday on his welfare.
A judge issued an arrest warrant and ordered that Daniel Hauser be placed in a foster home and be sent for an immediate examination by a pediatric oncologist so he can get treated for Hodgkins lymphoma.
This is a tough situation. I think that people have the right to determine their treatments...and I think a 13-year-old can have a reasonable understanding of their situation. But based on what I've read, this kid should be getting chemo. He doesn't seem to truly understand his plight, and he's at the mercy of his mother's beliefs.
Does she really think she's going to be able to hide him forever? Is the rest of the family playing dumb and helping her? I dunno...this is a no-win situation. Unless of course, the kid gets chemo and comes out cancer-free.
A judge issued an arrest warrant and ordered that Daniel Hauser be placed in a foster home and be sent for an immediate examination by a pediatric oncologist so he can get treated for Hodgkins lymphoma.
This is a tough situation. I think that people have the right to determine their treatments...and I think a 13-year-old can have a reasonable understanding of their situation. But based on what I've read, this kid should be getting chemo. He doesn't seem to truly understand his plight, and he's at the mercy of his mother's beliefs.
Does she really think she's going to be able to hide him forever? Is the rest of the family playing dumb and helping her? I dunno...this is a no-win situation. Unless of course, the kid gets chemo and comes out cancer-free.
5.19.2009
Back to school
In just a couple of hours, April will be in a classroom at Forest Park Community College. After months of unemployment and soul searching, she enrolled in the school's Culinary Arts program, which is well-known and well-respected.
April has always been a great cook and baker. In the 2 years and change we've lived together, I think I've cooked a total of 3 times. She already has a strong business and art background, so now she is turning a passion into a new career. Based on the credits from her Masters degree that transferred over, she should be done with the program in a year and change.
I'm so proud of her...I wish I could figure out what the fuck I want to do with my life. I will eventually, but the waiting is killing me!
Good luck, Kitty...I know you'll kick some ass. And I'll be more than happy to be your food guinea pig. :)
xoxo
April has always been a great cook and baker. In the 2 years and change we've lived together, I think I've cooked a total of 3 times. She already has a strong business and art background, so now she is turning a passion into a new career. Based on the credits from her Masters degree that transferred over, she should be done with the program in a year and change.
I'm so proud of her...I wish I could figure out what the fuck I want to do with my life. I will eventually, but the waiting is killing me!
Good luck, Kitty...I know you'll kick some ass. And I'll be more than happy to be your food guinea pig. :)
xoxo
5.18.2009
Monday Monday
I was not intending to take another weekend off...just sorta happened that way.
Anyway...I've been working the past few Monday nights at the shop to cover holes in the schedule. The money is good and we close at 10 on Mondays, so I can't complain. I might see if I can work it permanently. I'm not allowed to pick up any more shifts, as I already work 30+ hours a week, so I would get rid of my Wednesday night. Then I'd make more money per week, work about the same amount of hours and knock my double out on the first day of my work week. We'll see.
The day as a whole was really weird. The power went out in part of the Central West End from about 1-2:30 this afternoon. We're normally not busy on Mondays, but it killed any lunch business we would have gotten. Tim and I just bullshitted and went joyriding around the neighborhood, as we had nothing better to do. He starts his awesome new FT job in 2 days, so we won't be working Mondays together anymore...which sucks.
Apparently, some employee drama went down at the shop sometime today. Either it happened before I got there or while Tim and I were out, because I didn't hear anything about it until late this afternoon. Fine by me...it's nice to be out of the loop and out of trouble.
A lot of customers seemed to be straight-up characters tonight. They were harmless, but it was just fucking crazy. Is there a full moon out?
Well, that's it for today. Good night, St. Louis!
Love,
T-$
Anyway...I've been working the past few Monday nights at the shop to cover holes in the schedule. The money is good and we close at 10 on Mondays, so I can't complain. I might see if I can work it permanently. I'm not allowed to pick up any more shifts, as I already work 30+ hours a week, so I would get rid of my Wednesday night. Then I'd make more money per week, work about the same amount of hours and knock my double out on the first day of my work week. We'll see.
The day as a whole was really weird. The power went out in part of the Central West End from about 1-2:30 this afternoon. We're normally not busy on Mondays, but it killed any lunch business we would have gotten. Tim and I just bullshitted and went joyriding around the neighborhood, as we had nothing better to do. He starts his awesome new FT job in 2 days, so we won't be working Mondays together anymore...which sucks.
Apparently, some employee drama went down at the shop sometime today. Either it happened before I got there or while Tim and I were out, because I didn't hear anything about it until late this afternoon. Fine by me...it's nice to be out of the loop and out of trouble.
A lot of customers seemed to be straight-up characters tonight. They were harmless, but it was just fucking crazy. Is there a full moon out?
Well, that's it for today. Good night, St. Louis!
Love,
T-$
5.14.2009
How to help civilize society
So I have this idea I've been thinking about for a couple months now.
Here's the concept...when someone is acting out, you hand them an unused douche. If you're dealing with an unruly driver, throw it on their windshield or into an open window. On the douche bottle, it would read, "You're being a douche bag. Please stop."
I don't know if the contents of a douche would damage a car or injure a person if thrown at them. Not to mention, throwing it at someone or their property could be considered a crime. And of course, if you hand one to someone, you might get your ass kicked. On the other hand...imagine if you were handed a douche. You'd probably be speechless, right? I know I would...for a second, anyway.
I'm still fleshing this idea out, along with my USPS overhaul...
Here's the concept...when someone is acting out, you hand them an unused douche. If you're dealing with an unruly driver, throw it on their windshield or into an open window. On the douche bottle, it would read, "You're being a douche bag. Please stop."
I don't know if the contents of a douche would damage a car or injure a person if thrown at them. Not to mention, throwing it at someone or their property could be considered a crime. And of course, if you hand one to someone, you might get your ass kicked. On the other hand...imagine if you were handed a douche. You'd probably be speechless, right? I know I would...for a second, anyway.
I'm still fleshing this idea out, along with my USPS overhaul...
5.13.2009
A Parent of the Year nominee profile
From the Hannibal (MO) Courier-Post, posted in full here because of the short lifespan of online newspaper stories: Police say a Hannibal woman used her infant son to shield a man who was being arrested from a stun gun blast.
Twenty-year-old Maliea A. Martin was arrested for felony endangering the welfare of a child.
The weapon was not fired and the one-year-old boy was not hurt. He was being cared for by a family member while the Missouri Division of Family Services investigated. Hannibal Police Capt. James Hark said he could not recall a case even remotely similar.
"I'm dumbfounded that someone would use a child, placing the child in harm's way," Hark said. "It's like throwing someone in front of a running vehicle. We've never experienced this type of thing."
Police say the incident started when Martin called them at 10:32 p.m. Tuesday to report that a former boyfriend had assaulted her earlier in the evening. While the two responding officers took a report, police said a man who lived at the same apartment complex in the 1000 block of Bird approached them in "an aggressive manner" and made threats. Officers said they repeatedly told the man, 22-year-old Joshua A. McAtee, to go back inside.
Hark said the officers were "very tolerant" and responded according to their training, despite the alleged verbal abuse and threat of violence.
"They were extremely patient," Hark said.
Police say McAtee briefly returned inside, but came back out shouting and threatening the officers again.
Hark said one officer advised McAtee that the suspect was under arrest and to get down on the ground. The officer said that when McAtee did not comply, he pulled out his Taser gun and issued another warning.
A Taser is an electric shock weapon that works by disrupting muscle control. It's a commonly-used deterrent by police around the nation to subdue suspects who threaten officers or others. It shoots dart-like prongs at a suspect. The darts are attached to thin wires, which relay the electric shock from the gun to the suspect.
Martin allegedly held her son in front of McAtee in the path of the Taser gun's laser sight. Hark said the veteran officer immediately pointed the gun to the ground and turned it off without firing.
"The officer's reaction time and sound judgment obviously is what caused things to turn out well," Hark said. "The officer responded well, but the potential for danger is there."
Hark said officers reported McAtee appeared to be intoxicated. Police are not sure of a connection between the two suspects, other than that they lived in the same apartment complex.
McAtee was arrested on two counts of resisting arrest and released pending a summons to appear in court.
In addition to the endangering the welfare of a child charge, Martin is accused of resisting arrest. On Wednesday, she was in the Marion County Jail at Palmyra. The incident happened just two days after Martin was arrested for allegedly shoplifting more than $750 of merchandise from Wal-Mart in Hannibal. Court records show no other arrests for her.
Records show McAtee had been arrested three times since 2005. In the last case, he pleaded pleaded guilty to trespassing on March 12, 2008, and was put on two years of supervised probation.
Hannibal, probably best known as the childhood home of Mark Twain, is a small city about 100 miles north of St. Louis.
Twenty-year-old Maliea A. Martin was arrested for felony endangering the welfare of a child.
The weapon was not fired and the one-year-old boy was not hurt. He was being cared for by a family member while the Missouri Division of Family Services investigated. Hannibal Police Capt. James Hark said he could not recall a case even remotely similar.
"I'm dumbfounded that someone would use a child, placing the child in harm's way," Hark said. "It's like throwing someone in front of a running vehicle. We've never experienced this type of thing."
Police say the incident started when Martin called them at 10:32 p.m. Tuesday to report that a former boyfriend had assaulted her earlier in the evening. While the two responding officers took a report, police said a man who lived at the same apartment complex in the 1000 block of Bird approached them in "an aggressive manner" and made threats. Officers said they repeatedly told the man, 22-year-old Joshua A. McAtee, to go back inside.
Hark said the officers were "very tolerant" and responded according to their training, despite the alleged verbal abuse and threat of violence.
"They were extremely patient," Hark said.
Police say McAtee briefly returned inside, but came back out shouting and threatening the officers again.
Hark said one officer advised McAtee that the suspect was under arrest and to get down on the ground. The officer said that when McAtee did not comply, he pulled out his Taser gun and issued another warning.
A Taser is an electric shock weapon that works by disrupting muscle control. It's a commonly-used deterrent by police around the nation to subdue suspects who threaten officers or others. It shoots dart-like prongs at a suspect. The darts are attached to thin wires, which relay the electric shock from the gun to the suspect.
Martin allegedly held her son in front of McAtee in the path of the Taser gun's laser sight. Hark said the veteran officer immediately pointed the gun to the ground and turned it off without firing.
"The officer's reaction time and sound judgment obviously is what caused things to turn out well," Hark said. "The officer responded well, but the potential for danger is there."
Hark said officers reported McAtee appeared to be intoxicated. Police are not sure of a connection between the two suspects, other than that they lived in the same apartment complex.
McAtee was arrested on two counts of resisting arrest and released pending a summons to appear in court.
In addition to the endangering the welfare of a child charge, Martin is accused of resisting arrest. On Wednesday, she was in the Marion County Jail at Palmyra. The incident happened just two days after Martin was arrested for allegedly shoplifting more than $750 of merchandise from Wal-Mart in Hannibal. Court records show no other arrests for her.
Records show McAtee had been arrested three times since 2005. In the last case, he pleaded pleaded guilty to trespassing on March 12, 2008, and was put on two years of supervised probation.
Hannibal, probably best known as the childhood home of Mark Twain, is a small city about 100 miles north of St. Louis.
5.12.2009
When all else fails, we go with...
5.11.2009
Let me run the Postal Service
First-class postage stamps went up effective today...it now costs 44 cents to mail a letter, up from 42 cents. I remember 25 years ago when it was only 20 cents...anyway...
Given that we have e-mail and faxes and scanners and couriers...and given that we have electronic bill pay and pay by phone...and given that the USPS is losing money...do we really need mail delivered 6 days a week anymore? I'm not trying to put people out of work, but seriously...I say you get mail 4 days a week, maybe even 3. If you want it 6 days a week, you have to pay for it. I hate mail anyway...I'd be glad to only get junk mail 3 days a week.
I haven't really fleshed this out, but I think the basic premise is sound. USPS employees would probably disagree.
Given that we have e-mail and faxes and scanners and couriers...and given that we have electronic bill pay and pay by phone...and given that the USPS is losing money...do we really need mail delivered 6 days a week anymore? I'm not trying to put people out of work, but seriously...I say you get mail 4 days a week, maybe even 3. If you want it 6 days a week, you have to pay for it. I hate mail anyway...I'd be glad to only get junk mail 3 days a week.
I haven't really fleshed this out, but I think the basic premise is sound. USPS employees would probably disagree.
5.10.2009
The past, present & future meet
This is the first multiple-day break that I've taken from here this year...I hope you'll forgive me. I've been off work since Thursday and decided to extend that break to the blog as well.
Work has been driving me nuts recently, so I decided to take a few days off to recharge my batteries. I had hoped to take April on an overnight to Southwest Missouri, where she spent part of her childhood. However, due to cost concerns, we took a day trip to Southeast Missouri, where I spent some of my high school and college days. We had a good time...ate at Lambert's Cafe in Sikeston and visited towns that I haven't been to in over 10 years.
There are a lot of small towns in Southeast Missouri, and I've been to quite a few of them. I used to like driving through the towns, seeing new places and meeting new people. Unfortunately, the towns we visited this weekend seemed worse off than I remember them. I don't know if my perspective has changed, or if these towns really are worse than they were when I last saw them.
The weekend is now just about over, and I have to go back to the grind tomorrow, which I'm dreading. It's not that I necessarily hate my job...I think it's just time for me to get back into "reality." Of course, I've only been saying that for how long now?
I have 4 short-term goals that I developed earlier today:
1. I want a real job.
2. I want to lose some weight.
3. I want to record and release a Sycamore song.
4. I want to move out of my mother-in-law's house.
I think these are realistic goals...but if I want to achieve them, I have to be dedicated and patient, which I have not been recently. Recently, I just haven't given that much of a shit. But I'm too young and too intelligent to be such a waste.
I've been threatening to make good for a while now...it's time to deliver.
Work has been driving me nuts recently, so I decided to take a few days off to recharge my batteries. I had hoped to take April on an overnight to Southwest Missouri, where she spent part of her childhood. However, due to cost concerns, we took a day trip to Southeast Missouri, where I spent some of my high school and college days. We had a good time...ate at Lambert's Cafe in Sikeston and visited towns that I haven't been to in over 10 years.
There are a lot of small towns in Southeast Missouri, and I've been to quite a few of them. I used to like driving through the towns, seeing new places and meeting new people. Unfortunately, the towns we visited this weekend seemed worse off than I remember them. I don't know if my perspective has changed, or if these towns really are worse than they were when I last saw them.
The weekend is now just about over, and I have to go back to the grind tomorrow, which I'm dreading. It's not that I necessarily hate my job...I think it's just time for me to get back into "reality." Of course, I've only been saying that for how long now?
I have 4 short-term goals that I developed earlier today:
1. I want a real job.
2. I want to lose some weight.
3. I want to record and release a Sycamore song.
4. I want to move out of my mother-in-law's house.
I think these are realistic goals...but if I want to achieve them, I have to be dedicated and patient, which I have not been recently. Recently, I just haven't given that much of a shit. But I'm too young and too intelligent to be such a waste.
I've been threatening to make good for a while now...it's time to deliver.
5.06.2009
I might have to kick my wife's ass, because...
...I still have her cold. Blecch! :(
5.05.2009
I might have to kick my wife's ass, because...
...she gave me her cold. Blecch! :(
(Of course, I would never harm my wife. Duh! She'd harm me first. ;))
(Of course, I would never harm my wife. Duh! She'd harm me first. ;))
5.03.2009
The week I broke
This was a pretty fucked up week...thank God tomorrow is a brand new week and a 3-day work week at that.
Tuesday, I had a breakdown after delivering to a dialysis clinic. The smell of the clinic conjured up thoughts and images of Rhoda going through clinic dialysis and all the hell that came with it. I've been to at least 3 dialysis clinics with deliveries and had never had such a reaction until Tuesday.
Wednesday, the store received a complaint from our corporate office about black employees making a racist remark against whites. The comment was not racist at all, and I'm the one that said it. It didn't sound like I was well-defended by the manager on duty or the GM, and after talking with the GM, I turned in my 2 weeks. I'm so fucking sick of that pizza shop. Two of the managers asked me to reconsider, and after thinking about it for a day, I changed my mind. I really don't want to make a lateral move, so it's best for me to stay at the shop for now. The GM needs to just leave me the fuck alone...and the owner needs to muzzle his GM more.
And this weekend has been pretty tense at the homestead. My sister-in-law and mother-in-law have been teaming up for neurotic excitement all weekend. I love them dearly, but we gotta get the fuck out of this house soon. I don't know if I (or we) can put up with that shit all summer.
When my mother and I had a severe falling out 2 years ago, I moved out of the house within a week. When I was sick of working at my last day job, I was back delivering pizzas within 2 weeks. When my doctor in Philly first noticed an abnormal heartbeat in April 2004, I quit smoking within a week. I know I have the fire in me to make the change...I just need to summon it to the surface. Quickly.
Tuesday, I had a breakdown after delivering to a dialysis clinic. The smell of the clinic conjured up thoughts and images of Rhoda going through clinic dialysis and all the hell that came with it. I've been to at least 3 dialysis clinics with deliveries and had never had such a reaction until Tuesday.
Wednesday, the store received a complaint from our corporate office about black employees making a racist remark against whites. The comment was not racist at all, and I'm the one that said it. It didn't sound like I was well-defended by the manager on duty or the GM, and after talking with the GM, I turned in my 2 weeks. I'm so fucking sick of that pizza shop. Two of the managers asked me to reconsider, and after thinking about it for a day, I changed my mind. I really don't want to make a lateral move, so it's best for me to stay at the shop for now. The GM needs to just leave me the fuck alone...and the owner needs to muzzle his GM more.
And this weekend has been pretty tense at the homestead. My sister-in-law and mother-in-law have been teaming up for neurotic excitement all weekend. I love them dearly, but we gotta get the fuck out of this house soon. I don't know if I (or we) can put up with that shit all summer.
When my mother and I had a severe falling out 2 years ago, I moved out of the house within a week. When I was sick of working at my last day job, I was back delivering pizzas within 2 weeks. When my doctor in Philly first noticed an abnormal heartbeat in April 2004, I quit smoking within a week. I know I have the fire in me to make the change...I just need to summon it to the surface. Quickly.
5.02.2009
If liberals really controlled the MSM...
...this would have been a big story. From MSNBC: Judy Shepard doesn't think Rep. Virginia Fox (R-N.C.) was sincere when she apologized for calling the 1998 murder of Shepard's son, Matthew, "a hoax."
"Attacks of lesser consequence have been said about Matt since the beginning... but I never expected it to be called 'a hoax," says Shepard Thursday on "The Rachel Maddow Show."
"Attacks of lesser consequence have been said about Matt since the beginning... but I never expected it to be called 'a hoax," says Shepard Thursday on "The Rachel Maddow Show."
5.01.2009
