Missouri Governor Calls For Death Penalty for Violent Sexual Predators

Governor Matt Blunt issued a press release today regarding proposed legislation to apply the death penalty to "forcible rape and forcible sodomy when the victim is less than 12 years old.

*****Commentary******
I disagree with Governor Matt Blunt's position but offer an alternative solution. Prisoners convicted of such crimes should be given the opportunity to drink hemlock - they should have the right to kill themselves.
Associate Circuit Judge Tony Williams stated in open court last week that child molesters and wife beaters were two classes of people who create the greatest challenge to "correctional institutions".
Recently, I had a chance to speak with guards for a Taney County prisoner by the name of Ronald Darling. He was recently convicted of sodomy with an infant. Daring is on suicide watch while in the custody of the Taney County Sheriffs department. The expense of guarding him around the clock means other prisoners have less attention dedicated to their needs - including medical services. Darling was given a 20 year sentence after a successful prosecution by Jeff Merrill, the Taney County Prosecutor's office.
Though Darling has been convicted he hasn't fully taken responsibility for his actions. He stated to a guard that he was a victim of abuse as a child.
Because of his crime against children, Darling isn't safe in the presence of other inmates. Given the opportunity they might take his life. Due to this fact his entire sentence will be served in protective custody - an extra expense to save his own life.
Many prisoners are fathers and some are victims of sexual abuse themselves. It's not uncommon for sexual abusers of children to serve lighter sentences than drug crimes. As a result harming such an inmate is a badge of honor, perhaps a way to reconcile their own past and insurance that such people will never be able to walk the streets again. Criminals views are often harder on crime than the legislatures who dictate how criminals should be punished.

Cops gone wild just a stones throw from Branson

Graphic modified from dismissed officer's photoset.
I'm sufficiently horrified. I suppose it's a skill learned over time - how not to feel what you're seeing and studying.
4 Hollister Police Officers leave the police department.Three are reported to have been dismissed.
I've been on the story full-time for a couple weeks. Hollister city administrator Rick Ziegenfuss tells me last tuesday I'm the only reporter that's made any inquiries about the topic.
Rumor on the street: Cops gone wild - compromising photos, porn, drugs, underage...
Inquiries suggest the story goes deeper than Hollister...likely ->Christian County + Springfield.
Dispatch at the Hollister Police Department denies any officers have left the force.
Unofficial sources are compelling. It comes to a point that an official source isn't needed. But...why aren't they talking? Why does the Branson Daily News (three blocks from the police station) have nothing? Still, I'm kinda disappointed when I don't hear from Hollister Police Chief Darren Parker....days pass. Sitting on the story is making me physically sick. My gut is wrenching... To date, I've never called an official source to make up a story for me. I'm alone on this one. Most city public relation specialists know they can put whatever they want in the newspaper (Thomas Paine is probably doing back flips in his grave).
A few pictures float my way and over time a body of evidence is being altered. Wait...Are the police on top of this? You hear stories of bad apples, but this is the exception...right? One thing scares me even more..."Why am I the only reporter that knows about this?"
The inside game goes a little like this - everybody keep quiet and this will all go away. They're right. News is a perishable good. After a period of time goes by, it doesn't mean anything anymore.
Wed - > I meet up with Sam Clanton and over a beer and blues-till-the-morning-sun-rises I let him know I have a story...
Enter KY3 David Catanese. Catanese heads over to Hollister City Hall, then marches into the police station with a camera. Chief Darren Parker spills that COMET is doing an investigation.
City officials have a hard time believing it wasn't me that leaked the story. I simply explain that I'm in no position to work 80 hours without pay...which is exactly what happened.
Greg Brock said he's had it for a month. The thing I'm asking is, "Why haven't all the sordid details come out yet?" Why weren't we given the green light when the investigation was over?
I need to learn how not to be affected if I'm going to do this or I can become one of those reporters I hate. Do you know the kind? The kind of journalist that is so busy kissing the backsides of public officials that they forget to give us the information we need to be free and self governed.
But, I understand something now that I didn't understand before. Why carry the burden? At least, I understand why some don't.

Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon Releases Complaint Database

Elections bring out the best in politicians. Well, at least they try harder to pull out all the stops. Jay Nixon is the frontrunner for a gubernatorial bid for governor. As the states Attorney General, it's his responsibility to follow up on consumer complaints. Yesterday, he released the database of complaints to the public.
According to the web site, travel scams aren't in the top ten (first time in years). Internet and phone solicitation complaints have bumped up. Queries with the term Branson are posted here....

Taney County Sheriff and Family

 

Branson Area Sheriff (Taney County Sheriff) Jim Russell and family enjoy a prime rib dinner before hearing lectures from University of Missouri farming specialists. The Taney County Sheriff's office can be reached at Sheriff@co.taney.mo.us Sheriff's Department Administration Phone(417) 546-7278

Branson's Senator Goodman Pushes Gun Control Law - Someone Breaks into your house - you control the trigger

Senator Jack Goodman succeeded in pushing through legislation that allows you to shoot an intruder. In a conversation a few weeks ago Goodman complained that in Missouri, if you come home and an intruder is in your house and you pump a bullet into the burglar you might be liable for damages. Not anymore. Since the bill passed, you can now shoot the intruder without fear of having to pay the medical tab. I'm not too sure a Taney County jury would require this. My question is, "If you shoot an intruder in the leg and he gets blood on your bear skin, who has to pay the cleaning bill?"

Branson Misouri Crash - Newscaster Becomes News

I don't often post car accidents or fires. Personally, it's just not my thing. I don't enjoy it but I feel a responsibility to report and document these events. At one time I would just email them to publications for their records.
As they say in the newspaper business - If it bleeds it leads. Yesterday, I covered a number of stories starting early in the morning and catching the 8:00 show at the Taney County Courthouse. Got some great stories. Next mission, the new Missouri Job Training center. When I got back to produce copy for the Taney County Times an emergency call came in. I was commissioned to cover a fire in Branson. The fire off fall creek road was small but I was soon to become the bigger story. The hilly roads make cars hard to see and as I was turning left trying to stay clear of emergency vehicles a car popped up and neither of us could escape. It could have been much worse. We could have died. It was close and I was scared. I was alive, a little banged up but what about the other guy? He was taken to the hospital and was released fairly quickly. It took me some time to find this out. I'm a little banged up myself - slight concussion - I know what this feels like from my football days. A newscaster at the radio station said ...we'll be easy on you. I demanded he do no such thing. I gave him the pictures and spent the evening writing copy for the Times. Like I said I was banged up - I still am and chances are if you turn on the radio in the Branson region you'll hear about it. Events like this make you think about what you really care about.
Before the accident I was thinking about Taney County Government, after I could think about is how much I want to tell my daughter how much I love her.

Protector of Branson, Missouri Christian Values?

Leas Campbell filed a lawsuit against Gallagher a few months ago. Leas claimed Gallagher wasn't Christian enough - after blocking attempts by Gallagher to assist a local charity on the basis it was Christian. The content made me furious; but hey, don't take my word for it. Check out the Miami New Times interview. I put some clips below....tip of the iceberg.

He is, Campbell will explain, "a white nigger," and proud of it.
Mobsters suspect Campbell of torching one of their facilities, and he stands up to them, calling in a few kneecappers ....He will expose major Mafia operations in New York and Miami..

Always tell the truth. Campbell lives by this motto, and fully realizes that his life's story will infuriate many people. "But the innocent need no protection," Campbell says. "And the guilty? F**k 'em. They're guilty."
"You're moving 500 cases a week. That makes you my third biggest customer, right behind the Philadelphia Phillies and the Navy base." Bruno offered some advice about increasing profits, and also handed over a pack of football-betting slips. "Your customers will love these."

Some of Campbell's early backing, as he explains at length in the draft of his autobiography, came from a trio of major-league marijuana smugglers.

It was Kierkegaard who first suggested that organized religion and God don't mix. The philosopher believed that any relationship with God must be personal and individual, that orthodoxy did nothing but interfere with faith. Campbell himself remains "anti-Christian" while simultaneously embracing the Christian ethos. "I'm a recovering Catholic," he says. "As a child I had my hands whacked by rulers plenty. These people are all peace and love on Sunday, Jesus is okay. But if you practice peace and love during the week, they consider you a commie, fag, pinko. Why not do this seven days a week? They'd say, 'It's not done that way A shut up.'"

He readily admits to having consumed elephant doses of all the in-drugs, of indulging in the orgiastic free love of the good old days, of living a rock and roll life.

Drug Bust Across the Street From Branson, Missouri Police Station

A search warrant was issued after C.O.M.E.T Drug Task Force confirmed evidence as part of a lengthy investigation of individuals living in an apartment connected to Welchel's chapel. Methampthetimine and marijuana was found taped to the interior of caskets. Materials used to distribute narcotics were also found. Cocaine was also found downstairs.
It's also believed that embalming fluid obtained at the scene was used to assist in the manufacture of meth. One of five suspects has been arrested.