Excelsior Springs Standard Archive

excelsior springs standard, excelsior springs, missouri

Serving Excelsior Springs since 1889

July 23, 2010

Community News | Sports | Opinion | Close Window

E. coli found in Watkins Mill lake

By ERIC COPELAND
Managing Editor

The strain of bacteria which has shut down numerous swimming beaches throughout Missouri over the past year or so has now made an appearance at Watkins Mill.

The swimming beach at Watkins Mill State Park was one of three Missouri state park facilities closed to the public due to E. coli levels higher than the standard set by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Water samples drawn Monday from public beaches at Wakonda, Pomme de Terre and Watkins Mill state parks showed E. coli levels above the 235 colonies per 100 milliliters of water allowed by DNR.

Wakonda’s E. coli level was highest, at 307.6 colonies per 100 milliliters of water. Hermitage Beach at Pomme de Terre State Park showed 235.9 colonies, and Watkins Mill had 272.3 E. coli colonies.

DNR’s standard for safe swimming is the same as that used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Another beach previously closed, Pittsburg Beach at Pomme de Terre State Park, met DNR standards and will be open for the weekend.

No other state park beaches tested high for E. coli levels; however, bacterial levels often rise after heavy rains and lake users should use their judgment when swimming after heavy rains.

Sample results from Crowder, Cuivre River and Finger Lakes state parks were delayed and were expected to be available by today. The latest information on beach closings at state parks is available online at mostateparks.com/beaches/index.asp.

A ranger at Watkins Mill said Thursday that E. coli is present in most bodies of water and some groundwater. He said no action would be taken to lower bacterial levels, but instead the E. coli colonies would be eliminated in the course of nature. Testing on Monday will determine whether the beach is safe to be re-opened.

E. coli is a bacteria found in the intestinal tract of warm-blooded animals, including humans. While most strains of E. coli are harmless, some strains can cause gastrointestinal illness.

Knowledge and experience lead to understanding, tolerance

By ABI BROADBENT
Staff Writer

The following article is the third and final part of a series. This series tells the writers recent experience visiting her sister in Turkey while she studied abroad her senior year. The first story ran in the Tuesday, July 6, edition. The second story ran in the Tuesday, July 13, edition.

Mahatma Gandhi once said, “No culture can live, if it attempts to be exclusive.”

The culture of America is thriving, proud, diverse and continually changing. However, there are times when another culture clashes with our own, and in our pride and ignorance, we put up walls against it, without realizing we are also preventing the diversity of culture that makes us Americans.

With this thought in mind, my trip to Turkey was an experience in a culture very distinct from what I encounter day to day, a culture deeply steeped in religion, and caught in a period of radical change.

A 2009 CNN report stated that Turkey’s population is about 98 percent Muslim. With about 73,619,000 believers, it has the eighth largest Muslim population, after Iran. However, life in Turkey has been changing rapidly over the last hundred years, especially in recent decades. The transition from a religious to secular state has been swift and harsh for many of the population, who appreciate the moral and cultural influence religion had in state affairs, while others approve of the state’s control of government and its continued dominion.

However, as the traditions imbued in Islam have also become a part of the nation’s culture, much the way the predominant religion of the United States has been incorporated into our culture, the rapid separation of church from state in this region is causing a fair bit of turmoil. I was fortunate enough to visit several different regions of Turkey, from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean, and was able to see the clash of these values first-hand.

It’s 5 a.m., and there is singing. The morning prayers have begun, and the music washes over the city with the morning fog. In every city in Turkey for thousands of years, this is how the day is begun. Quietly, all over the country, the rich and poor alike bend on their knees in supplication and silent prayer to their God, who is called Allah in the language of their religion, Arabic. In small cities and villages, life hasn’t changed much, because so much of their lives are influenced by religion. Dress, speech, polite behavior and relationships are all affected by conduct preached by the Imam and written in the Quran. However, turn on the TV and soap operas from Istanbul depict women having children out of wedlock, men getting drunk, and children disrespecting their parents. Even in the remotest of villages, it is possible to get satellite TV, cell-phones, even the internet. Go to Istanbul, the nation’s capital, and stand in Taksim Square. The night-life here is comparable to New York City’s Times Square, and is famous all over Europe. Dress varies from more traditional, conservative apparel to fashions that rival Paris, Milan and NYC.

Turkey is rapidly becoming a major tourist destination, and the many beach towns and port cities are developed and urbanized by companies from Russia, Germany, France and other countries looking for Mediterranean getaways with rich culture and history. This influx of foreign influence comes at a time of great internal conflict, with the continuation of violence in the East on the Pakistani border and great ethnic animosity toward the Kurdish people. Universities and schools across the country have banned the wearing of Asharp (headscarves) and the break for prayers between classes that many young Muslims had previously utilized to represent their faith. While some citizens wish for freedom, others fear the death of their national identity and persecution of their faith in a world that has grown to fear and place stigma on practices they incorporate into their daily lives.

Radical Islam is a real threat. Many Shiite extremists use Islam as a means to justify their hatred and misunderstanding of our culture, much in the same way Americans use the differences in Muslim culture to justify our hatred, ignorance, or intolerance of their beliefs. Mark Twain once said, “In religion and politics, people’s beliefs and convictions are in almost every case gotten at second-hand, and without examination, from authorities who have not themselves examined the questions at issue but have taken them at second-hand from others.” The next time you watch the news, listen to the radio, or, yes, read a newspaper, remember that quote. Until I was able to speak face to face with people from this culture, until I asked them how they felt, what they thought about, everything I believed about them was a generalization gathered from a blanket statement gathered from several conflicting sources. Often, people get so hung up on differences they forget the similarities. Often, people forget how fascinating, helpful, and exciting differences can be. Sometimes, a culture becomes so apathetic and focused on its current situation that it forgets the surest formula for growth is challenge, innovation, adaptation, and tolerance. Mahatma Gandhi warned the world against cultural exclusion, and I believe this is a warning every nation should heed, be it Iran, India, Germany, or the U.S.A.

Ralcorp to sell notes to fund AIPC purchase

Ralcorp Holdings Inc. has announced that it plans to sell $450 million in notes to help fund its $1.2 billion acquisition of American Italian Pasta Company.

The purchase was announced a few weeks ago, and is expected to be finalized this year. Ralcorp, based in St. Louis, said Monday that its third-quarter profits plummeted more than 29 percent to $53 million, primarily due to cost related to the purchase of AIPC, which was founded in Excelsior Springs and remains based in Kansas City.

AIPC has four plants, including the one in Excelsior Springs. Under the purchase agreement, AIPC will become a subsidiary and operate as an independent division of Ralcorp.

Welcome bags being prepared

The Excelsior Springs Area Chamber of Commerce is in the midst of preparing about 20 “welcome bags” for new teachers in the Excelsior Springs School District.

Several businesses have contributed brochures, coupons, pens, keychains and other items for the bags. The deadline to add items is July 26. For additional information, call the Chamber office at 630-6161.

Clarification

Due to incomplete information, a photograph in the Tuesday, July 20, edition of the Standard did not mention the affiliation of several people who attended the signing of the Missouri jobs bill last week.

Attending the signing by Gov. Jay Nixon were Magna Seating Co. plant manager John Tarpley, Magna employees Nick Dudding, Shane McClure, Rick Woods, Lana Fletcher, John Dreier, Matt Riley and Byron Colvin. Also attending, but not pictured in Tuesday’s paper, were Steve Manning, Rex Rogers and Shawn Breit of Woodbridge Foam Co.

The photo was submitted by Shawn Breit.

Rainbow Swim Club event to benefit Good Samaritan Center

Rainbow Swim Club, located at 300 Sherry Lane, will be open to the public from 6 -9 p.m. on Thursday, July 29, to benefit the Good Samaritan Center food pantry.
Those attending are asked to bring a non-perishable food item. Radio stations 93.7 K Love and KWJC Air 1 91.9 will be in attendance.
Evening festivities will also include games and prizes.
The Rainbow Swim Club is membership-based. The tigershark swim team is a noncompetitve beginner level swim team that attends meets at surrounding area swim clubs.
The goal is to introduce swimming to kids for fun and fitness.
For more information about becoming a member or joining next year’s swim team call (816) 637-6496.
This year’s team ended the 2010 swim season earlier this month.

WIC Clinic to relocate to ES Baptist Church Aug. 10

Beginning Tuesday, Aug. 10, the Clay County Public Health Center will move their Excelsior Springs WIC clinic from The Good Samaritan Center to the Excelsior Springs Baptist Church, located at 1500 Rosalea St.
The clinic is from 8 a.m.-4 p.m., on the second Tuesday of each month.
To schedule a WIC appointment at this clinic, call (816) 595-4358.
The Women, Infants and Children program is a nutrition education and supplemental food program for pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women, and children up to the age of 5.

Lawson Theatre presents ‘Drop Dead’

The Lawson Community Theatre will present their upcoming comedy, “Drop Dead” on Aug. 6, 7 and 8.
The comedy will be performed at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 6 and 7 and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 8 in the Sellers Performing Arts Center, 600 Bob Gill Drive, in Lawson.
Cast members include: Paige Moppin, Megan Owens, Stephanie Weber, Mick Turpin and Carroll McQuerrey, all of Lawson; Kerri Brock, Kearney; Larry Tesar and Cindy Siefers, of Excelsior Springs; and Nino Casisi and Bill Pelletier, of Kansas City.
The play is under the direction of Cress Hewitt and Mick Turpin. Lawrence Alford is the technical director and Alex Murphy is the stage manager.
“Drop Dead” is a potboiler murder mystery directed by “Wonder Child of the Broadway Stage,” Victoria LePewe. At the dress rehearsal, the producer and an actor are murdered.
During the opening night performance, the murders continue. The remaining thespians must save the show and their careers, solve the mystery, and stay alive for curtain calls.
Advance tickets are available at The Lawson Review newspaper. Tickets will also be available at the door.

Cougars struggles continue in extra innings

By DUSTIN CARROLL
Sports Writer

It was a tough weekend for the Cougars, winning just one of their five games played.

On Monday, things didn’t get any easier for them, falling 8-7 in extra innings to the Sedalia Bombers.

With the end of the season rapidly approaching, the Cougars had five big games in front of them as they sat in the third place spot in their division. While a third place finish is a fairly good inaugural season, third doesn’t get you into the post season in the M.I.N.K League. Third place ends your season.

The top two teams in the division advance to the championship where they battle each other during a three-game series before both teams advance to the NBC World Series. For everyone else, they head back to their hometowns for a short summer break or go back to college where they begin to prepare for their collegiate season.

The Cougars had a chance to gain the second place spot before heading into the weekend before they hit a skid, dropping three straight to Chillicothe on Saturday and splitting the Sunday double header with Omaha. With the losses the Cougars still had a chance at second. All they had to do is win their last three and hope for the Chillicothe Mudcats to lose all of their remaining games. Not a very likely scenario.

While it was still possible to make the post season with some help, the Cougars still had to win their final three and Monday, their extra innings loss to Sedalia ended their postseason hopes.

It was a great game for the Cougars at the plate, finishing the game with 14 hits. It was a game that everyone was contributing as four players ended the game with multiple hits. Of those four, it was Bobby Leeper who had the best night at the plate, driving in three runs on three hits.

Ryan Lopez also had a big game for the Cougars, going 3-4 with an RBI and scoring two runs for the team. While Lopez’s bat was lighting up the scoreboard, his glove was getting it done on the field, making numerous great plays to help his team hold a lead that they had late in the game. But that lead wouldn’t hold up.

Christian Saveri pitched a great game, going eight and a third innings while striking out eight and giving up four earned runs. But Saveri was left in the game an inning to long as he returned to the mound in the top of the ninth, looking for a complete game.

With a two-run lead, Saveri gave up a walk to the first hitter before allowing a game tying two-run blast before being taken out of the game.

The Cougars went into extra innings where they saw the Bombers put a run on the board in the top of the 10th that would seal the game and their season.

Standard to host 2nd Annual Golf Tournament

By DUSTIN CARROLL
Sports Writer

The Excelsior Springs Standard and the Optimist Club of Excelsior Springs are proud to announce that they will be hosting the Second Annual Tee off Against Cancer Golf Tournament at the Excelsior Springs Golf Course on Friday, August 27.

Once again this year, all of the proceeds from the tournament will be going to the i-ROK Foundation who is supporting the Children’s Mercy Cancer Center and CureSearch, which is the world’s largest childhood cancer research organization.

The i-ROK Foundation was started by Kori Quinn, a local high school student who was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma last year. Since then, with the help and support of many people around the area, the foundation has been able to raise thousands of dollars that goes towards helping find a cure for cancer. On top of that, Quinn herself was able to kick the cancer and has went back to living a normal life. This year we hope to help the numerous other children that are in the same position as Quinn was just a short time ago and with your help we can make that happen just as we did last year.

With a sold out tournament and help from some great sponsors, last years first ever Tee Off Against Cancer Tournament was a huge success, raising thousands for the i-ROK Foundation. This year we hope to surpass the amount raised last year and make the tournament bigger and better and with the help of the local community as well as surrounding areas, we could easily do that.

Once again this year the tournament will be held at the Excelsior Springs Golf Course. A beautiful course that has been voted the Best Kept Secret in the Kansas City Metro as well as being voted a “Must Play.” The course was opened in 1915, designed by renowned golf course architect, Tom Bendelow. The 6,603 yard par 72 course will be the perfect place to host the Second Annual Tee Off Against Cancer Golf Tournament.

This year’s tournament will begin at 11:30 a.m. with lunch and sign ups. Following that, there will be a 1 p.m. shotgun start. The cost is $90 for an individual player and $320 for a team of four. There are also many levels of sponsorship that are available if you would like to contribute to the fight against cancer. All sponsors will receive recognition in the Standard as well as at the golf course on the day of the tournament as well as other recognition and benefits. To sign up or become a sponsor, click here to download a copy of the tournament registration. You may also pick up a registration form at the Standard office, 417 Thompson Ave. and there will also be forms that will be available in upcoming issues of the Standard. For more information, or if you have any questions, call (816) 637-6155 or e-mail sports@leaderpress.com.

Additional oversight needed for 10 detour

A few weeks into the project to repair the Missouri 10 bridge on the east end of Excelsior Springs, commuters and neighbors are seeing some unintended effects.

While no one is surprised that local traffic, mainly cars and other private vehicles, use an “unofficial” detour that takes miles off the official version put forth by the Missouri Department of Transportation, we’re somewhat surprised that larger vehicles, including some big rigs, have also been cutting corners by using the shorter detour.

Officially, highway traffic is supposed to bypass the construction site by heading north to Lawson, then using Route D in that community to move east or west before heading back to the state highway. This covers any load limit issues and relegates truck traffic to roadways designed for that kind of weight.

Golf Hill Drive, on the other hand, is a twisting, winding, narrow route that can be tricky even for private vehicles if the driver is unfamiliar with the road’s unusual path. Still, some truck drivers apparently place “making good time” above their own safety and that of other drivers. They use the street anyway, regardless of whether their weight will damage the road bed or whether they block other traffic around curves.

At least, we think a few “no trucks” signs are in order—not to mention strict enforcement of the guidelines that keep trucks on safe roads.

Protecting sources means protecting public

By KEVIN Z. SMITH
Guest Writer

During the course of its investigation into the current Gulf of Mexico oil spill, The Associated Press was given information from the then-office of Mineral Management Services that was not making a lot of sense.

As millions of gallons of crude spewed into the gulf waters and the oversight by MMS officials on BP’s well was being called into question, an anonymous source in that office told reporters far different stories than what they had been initially told. This anonymous source set the record straight by coming forward and speaking out, and suddenly the world knew this was more than a mechanical failure; it was a full system failure. The people hired to keep these events from occurring were ignoring their responsibilities.

At times, anonymous sources provide crucial information to the press. Stories of oil disasters may be the latest, but without citizens coming forward and sharing vital information, Americans would not know about steroids in sports, excessive military spending, or food and drug hazards. We would never have been told about Watergate.

A bill currently in the U.S. Senate will help assure such stories continue to reach the public. S. 448, The Free Flow of Information Act, will protect the sources on whom journalists rely from having their identities exposed in all but a few circumstances including where national security concerns are raised. Five years in the making, the current version of this bill is supported by more than 50 journalism organizations, the White House, the Justice Department and most of your Congressional delegation.

Most states have laws that can protect a source’s identity from overzealous prosecutors and judges, but there is no such protection yet at the federal level. S. 448 would change that and extend the same protections offered through statute or common law in 49 states to the national government. Without it, stories focusing on the federal government will not be told because reporters are faced with threats of jail time and fines if they do not turn on their sources.

Subpoenas against the press numbered more than 3,000 nationwide in 2006 with 335 issued by federal prosecutors seeking the identities of news sources, according to a survey conducted by a Brigham Young University law professor. More than a few journalists have spent time in jail, and some have been forced out of the profession all together by heavy fines that crippled them financially. These are all heavy-handed tactics to illicit the names of people who can then be identified and retaliated against. Media companies large and small faced with the enormous expenses of fighting such legal battles to protect sources are turning their backs on compelling stories.

As S. 448 awaits permission from key senate leadership to come to the floor for a full vote, all senators, representing the interests of American citizens, need to hear from their constituents. Citizens who value the importance of transparency in governance and think the American press needs to continue to serve as the watchdog on the federal government should tell their senators to support this measure.

The clock is ticking as Congress will recess in August. Tell your senator to have the bill moved to a full Senate vote as soon as possible and support its passage.

Without this bill, stories that affect lives, like the oil spill in the Gulf, will never get the detailed attention they need to bring about change. Without this bill, your government has a better chance of operating in darkness or lying its way out of trouble. Help bring this to an end by voicing support for S. 448.

Only when there is a free flow of information from the government to its people can we truly appreciate the beauty and power of a democracy.
***
Kevin Z. Smith is the 2009-2010 national president of the Society of Professional Journalists. Reach him at ksmith@spj.org. For more on SPJ’s work to improve and protect journalism, see www.spj.org.