Lake Area Conservative Club

TEA PARTY Speaker ‘Barbra from Harlem’

lakeareaconservativeclub — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 03:26:10 +0000

Listen to the Commentary From Barbara about their Visit to the Lake Area and speeking at the TEA Party Rally.

“THE MID-WEST at THEIR BEST!” …. Barbara from Harlem

My daughter and I just returned from America’s beautiful Mid- West, where you can really see “the American Dream” in living color. We attended the Camdenton Tea Party Rally at the Camdenton County Court House in Camdenton County, Missouri, which was held on Saturday, April 28th. We were honored to be invited to this patriotic gathering. The Lake Area Conservative Club, which sponsored this event, is a dynamic group of Americans in the Mid-West who are definitely at their best. Their theme for this special event was, “Setting the Record Straight from 2008!”, which MUST be done this election season. These are individuals who know who they are and they know, for the sake of America, what they must do on November 6, 2012. They are not only ready, they are willing and they are able to do what is right and best for their beloved country — NObama in 2012!

As we drifted down the Lake of the Ozarks, my mind imagined how proud the strong and wonderful people who settled in this beautiful land years ago would be of the progress and sense of God, Family and Country that all that we met exhibited. Unlike liberals (secular humanists), the people we met were well informed, independent thinkers, jovial and every thinkable accolade that you can pronounce. They were like the Americans who founded this country and who worked worked so that we now enjoy the benefits of their past labor, hopes and determination, as we build on the legacy that we inherited. What a beautiful land filled with beautiful people who love this country and are resolute to work even harder to reclaim and restore the freedoms and liberties that we are endowed with by our Creator, not the Government!

FOLLOW THEIR LEAD: At this rally not only was it graced by Sophie Shore, who is an eight grader, 14 years old and a beautiful patriot, but we heard the inspiring words of Missouri State Rep. Paul Curtman. It’s always refreshing to young minds that are not shaped and molded by the secular humanists that drip poison in every area that they touch. Not only that, but this group is supporting conservatives running for office. Cynthia Davis who is running for Lieutenant Governor outlined her plans to make a positive difference in that office, and Ed Martin the candidate for Attorney General also addressed the gathering with his plans to make Missouri even better. And last, but not in the least last, Cliff Luber who is running for County Commissioner. After spending hours riding with him and his lovely wife Vicki, you know that this man has a Large Heart for God, Family and Country!! This is what the Tea Party is about, replacing those who ignore the will of the people and play politics for personal gain and gratification. Those types need to be booted out of their comfortable positions and replaced with those who love this country and are not more concerned with their personal fame and fortunes! We pray that they are successful in their quest to serve their constituents to the very best of their abilities. FOLLOW THEIR LEAD.

*******************************************************************************

Thanks to Our Special Guest Speeker at the

TEA PARTY RALLY, in front of the Camden County court house on Sat., April 28th 2012 “Setting the Record Straight”

Barbara from Harlem,as she is affectionately known, is a genuine and authentic native New Yorker. Her young life was

molded and shaped by her family of five children and in the

environment of urban America where she attended elementary,

junior high and high school. After the unfortunate collapse of her

parents’ marriage, she was thrown into the pool of poverty and just

scraping by. Life was not easy, but her mother as the main source

of physical survival, worked hard and diligently to provide the

essentials of life. She did not depend on the government to

provide the meals and shelter that her children required; which was

a lesson well learned and needed as Barbara faced life with her

own five children and a failed marriage.

Like approximately 99.9% of blacks, Barbara was instructed to

register as a Democrat when she reached voting age as young married woman. This she did without

questioning the motto that “the Democrats are for the poor and the Republicans are for the rich”. She just

went with the flow that seemed so normal and right at those moments. However, as time evolved, her

listening to renowned theologian Dr. D.J. Kennedy, motivated Barbara to began to question her allegiance

to the Democratic party that promoted and saturated the air with hopelessness and a sense of defeat

because of the dark color of our skin. This was repeated throughout her journeys as a member of several

Harlem based Democratic political clubs which included the Charlie Rangel club. With her inner self

becoming more and more troubled by the conflict of what was being espoused meeting after meeting and

the logical sounds of reason coming from the pulpit of Dr. D.J. Kennedy, his teachings proved to be the

impetus for change. As this new strength emerged, she experienced a different mindset from her

constituents and strength burst forth to question the racial propaganda and innuendos — to no avail.

In 1994, the mental awakening and birth of Barbara from Harlem became solid realities. Following the

acquittal of O.J. Simpson, and the horrific remarks from her associates about the justification of his

acquittal because he was black, proved to be the final straw. Barbara started calling the Jay Diamond

radio program, who suggested that Barbara from Harlem was an appropriate call-in name. It was full

steam ahead as she worked in Harlem for the election of Mayor Rudy Giuliani campaign. As a result of

her efforts, she was invited to his victory party. She is now a known and recognized call in voice on the

Mark Levin radio program who continues to educate and inspire Barbara and others to stand up for what’s

right for America.

Aside from her political involvements, she has served as executive director for a not-for-profit and city

funded family day care agencies. The focus was to provide year-round services for single parents and

children. Working within the urban community with children and parents whose lives are in shambles is

her passion and has been a crucial part of her life for over twenty plus years. Presently, she volunteers as

the educational instructor for a not-for-profit agency to address the educational and social deficits of

school age children in a highly distressed area of Newark, New Jersey. To personally experience the

liberal teachings in higher education and the impact it has on young minds, Barbara attended and

graduated with honors from a very liberal arts college in New York City in 2006. In 2009 Barbara and

her daughter Bee Bee Diamond, launched a website called www.BarbaraFromHarlem.com where they

discuss present issues and concerns about the state of America.

Website:

http://www.BarbaraFromHarlem.com/

Email:

BarbarafromHarlem@gmail.com

P.O. Box 1705

New York, New York 10027

Barbara from Harlem

Mo Dept. of Conservation(MDC) OUT of Control !

lakeareaconservativeclub — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:25:31 +0000

Mo Dept. of Conservation using Gestapo Bully technics and OUT of Control, yet AGAIN!

Now YOU can have your voice heard and tell the MDC BOSS whats going on and that it MUST STOP !

Come Join us June 9th 2012

From an article by Larry Dablemont

Steve and Laurie Kastning own 40 acres of land near Seymour Missouri, where they each killed a doe deer on opening weekend of the deer season using their landowner tags. Steve Kastning also bought two deer tags so he could hunt on his neighbors land, where he killed a button buck and checked it on his purchased antlerless tag, as you are permitted to do with a buck which has no antlers.

As you are suppose to do, they notched their tags and promptly called in each deer, and wrote the confirmation numbers on their tags. At noon Sunday they took their deboned deer meat in coolers, with the tags, to a deer processing business in Seymour, and the lady in charge said she would do the meat immediately. Steve left the three tags on the counter and went back to his home to get his checkbook. Returning, he wrote a check for $48.10, and he and his wife took the 70 one-pound packages of ground deer meat and their three tags and returned home, where they put the meat in their freezer. You couldn’t do things any more legally than they did it.

That Sunday afternoon a Missouri Department of Conservation enforcement agent came to their home with another man in plain clothing, and said he was doing a routine spot check. The Kastnings let both of them in their home, and said the agent was very friendly to begin with, but his demeanor changed as he quickly found something wrong. He said the tags had not been punched on the day and month the deer were killed! Mrs. Kastning patiently showed him where they had indeed been punched, just as they were suppose to be. His mistake seemed to anger him, then he complained that Steve should have checked his button buck as a buck, and said he was getting tired of hunters checking them as antlerless deer. Of course, a button buck IS an antlerless deer, so he couldn’t write a ticket for that. So then he left and went to the processing plant, and returned to say the plant indicated they hadn’t processed any meat for the Kastnings. Of course, that processed check proved they did, and the packaged meat was marked in packages, as the processing plant marked it. Personally, I think the agent knew that all along.

“I work at the department of corrections on Sunday afternoon,” Steve Kastning said, “so I went to work and when he returned, I was gone. My wife took him to the basement and showed him the meat in the freezer and he called me and wanted to know where the hides and heads were. I told him I had dumped them at the back of my place. That seemed to make him mad, and he wanted to know if he could find them. I told him I would take him and show them to him when I was off work. He really was belligerent over the phone, and told me that if he could find a reason to write me a citation, he would. All that, knowing we had done nothing wrong, and I told him that.”

One week later, the agent returned on a Sunday afternoon and gave Steve Kastning two citations, for not having his tags with the deer meat which he referred to as ‘unidentifiable’ which was packaged in the freezer. He gave Laurie Kastning one. And then he proceeded to tell them how to pay the $475 in fines. All this time, the tags were there, they just weren’t in the freezer with those 70 packages of meat. How in the world, one might ask, would any hunter be able to identify which deer was in which packages after it came back ground up by a processor? What deer hunter with meat in his freezer would not be subject to some kind of petty and malicious charge as this agent came up with.

Mrs. Kastning made a mistake by graciously taking the agent down to her basement to show him the processed meat, the only way she knew how to prove to him they had indeed taken it to the processor. To legally look in that freezer and go into her basement he would have had to have a search warrant had she not voluntarily taken him to prove they had done nothing wrong.

If there was ever a case where completely innocent people have been targeted by an M.D.C. agent, this is it. Mrs. Kastning has an appointment to see a specialist physician on January 30, a long standing and necessary medical appointment. That’s when they are to appear in court. The prosecuting attorney wouldn’t talk with them, they had to hire a lawyer to go to court on the 30th, and he will only enter a plea of not guilty, so that a court date can be set. It is likely that the Kastnings will be in court a short time, be found guilty and have more than a thousand dollars in costs and fines, just because that agent was looking for an easy way to do his job without actually getting out in the woods. He targeted people who were innocent, and I seriously doubt they have a chance in court, even though a jury would doubtless find them innocent. It will be a single judge who hears them, not a jury.

A year or so ago, MDC enforcement chief Larry Yamnitz told me in his office that when this type of thing happens, and innocent people are targeted with petty offenses, he would act to have the situation corrected. We will see if that can be the case here. If this one can’t be overturned, what could be? These people are only one of many such injustices which involve MDC conservation agents. That badge gives them so much power, that some of them freely abuse it.

I am absolutely and completely convinced that the Kastinings tried their very best to do what was right. How ridiculous it is to come back a week later and target them because their meat in their freezer can technically be found stacked in the wrong place or the wrong way! With the standards he used, all deer hunters with meat in their freezer are guilty of something. The MDC ought to be ashamed of this, and that agent should be fired. Any judge and prosecutor should be ashamed to see this situation come to their court. I intend to be there when the case is heard and I will follow up on this and let readers know the outcome.

Several hog hunters were similarly targeted last year when their dogs strayed on to private land. Leaving their guns on land they had permission to hunt, they went on the adjacent land to retrieve their dogs. The caretaker of the land, who later boasted he was paid handsomely when a trespasser was prosecuted, called three MDC agents who came in and found the feral hog bayed by the dogs. The agents instructed the hunters to take the dogs and tie up the hog and take it to where they could kill it and butcher it. They complied, and FOUR MONTHS LATER they were charged with transporting a live feral hog. Of course feral hogs are unwanted, and hunters are urged to kill them. The MDC traps and slaughters all they can catch. But in this case, Larry Yamnitz, Chief of Enforcement told me on the phone that the agents just didn’t know the law when they told the hunters to take the hog away alive. Even though it was butchered and eaten, the agents were told by the local prosecutor, he says, to write the men up for the violation. Each paid 780 dollars in a court without a jury, plus the cost of a lawyer who basically did little more than offer a guilty plea for them. Again, the agents weren’t familiar with the laws, the hunters followed their instructions, and paid dearly for it. The MDC should be ashamed of such a thing, and if this doesn’t amount to persecution of innocent people, I don’t know what does. There seems to be no end to it until the people of Missouri stand up in mass against it.

Will YOU be next ?

………………………….And Now You can Help set things RIGHT

By Larry Dabelmont

The little snake known as the hog-nosed viper, or spreading adder, is the snake I wrote about last week which has venom, yet is never mentioned as a venomous snake. One of nature’s most unbelievable creatures, he puts on an aggressive show with his cobra imitation; he spits, he bites himself, he writhes on his back and plays dead. The act often gets him killed. His venom is weak, used on toads mostly, his main food. Hog-nosed snakes have small fangs back in the rear of their mouth, and those fangs inject that mild venom into toads to stun and kill them. They can’t bite people. Years ago, some college professor put his finger against one of those fangs and injected some of the venom into himself. I don’t know if it is true, but it was said that the venom caused swelling and pain and the professor got a little bit sick.

You’ll hear it said that copperhead bites have never killed anyone. I doubt the truth of that. In this day of antivenin, which costs thousands of dollars per dose, no one should ever die from a bite. But the cost of the shot might cause a stroke! When I worked in Arkansas, I heard of people dying of poisonous snakebites in the early 1900’s. But that was in a time when no one got treatment. My uncle, at the age of 6 or 7 was such a victim of copperhead bite, and he nearly died because of a very high fever.

I find no fault with someone who kills poisonous snakes, or even some farm lady dispatching of black snakes or bull snakes around her chicken house, but I see no reason to ever kill one of those smaller species which I find up here on Lightnin’ Ridge all the time, king snakes, garter snakes, green tree snakes, and many others.

Common sense goes a long way in the country, in the woods and on our rivers. Determining whether to kill a snake or not just goes along with common sense. If you kill every snake you see, just because you are afraid of them, you aren’t using much common sense. If you allow copperheads to live around your home, you aren’t using much either. Someone out on one of our rivers, shooting every water snake he sees, is not very bright, and the law concerning snakes should rightly put that person at risk.

Last week I wrote about killing a black snake and two copperheads on my place. In doing so, I broke the law. It is against the law to kill any snake unless he represents a threat to you or your property. I got that information by calling the Conservation Department and talking with the enforcement chief. He said that he didn’t figure any conservation agent would strictly enforce it, as no jury would convict anyone for killing a snake.

Trouble is, you cannot get a jury trial in such situations. When an agent writes you a ticket, you either pay the fine, or hire a lawyer for big money, and your case will be decided by a local prosecuting attorney or a judge. If you get cited on some silly, petty technicality like killing a snake, or not writing your license numbers on all your deer packages, or by having a dozen crappie in one bucket shared with another fisherman, you are guilty of violating obscure petty and vague laws.

In Missouri, those of us who try to be law-abiding outdoorsmen are still often subject to the ‘out-to-get-somebody’ efforts of a conservation agent who may have grown up in a city suburb, and is suddenly carried away by his power. He feels he needs to write as many tickets as he can with as little effort as possible. I have watched this happen, have seen an agent spend a whole day on a boat launching ramp in his vehicle, occasionally leaving it only to try to get someone on a technicality. The cases like that, involving something so minor and insignificant, which I have seen in the past couple of years, would fill a big book. An agent’s boss may have no idea what he is doing unless we tell him.

If there is ever going to be a situation where this targeting of innocent people stops, it has to involve a large group of people, the building of a fund which can be used in defense of a few, and an ability to get those instances in front of the public… letting large numbers of people see what is happening. Our justice system is so clogged up, so convinced that no one is ever innocent, that you do not have a chance if you try to go to court and tell what actually happened on your own. Judges deal with some real low-life’s all the time, and they get hardened. They don’t have the time to listen to you and they really figure you wouldn’t be there if you weren’t guilty.

Nothing will change the actions of some of these agents and prosecuting attorneys more than knowing the public is becoming aware of what is going on. That’s why we are having that big fish fry here in Bolivar on June 9, and it is why, if you have ever complained, ever been targeted, ever watched innocent people clobbered by this system which is just getting out of hand, you need to be there. It can happen to you to. Read all the details, where, when and what, on my website, given at the end of this column, or contact me to get all details mailed to you.

I got letters this week from a lady who says conservation agents have approached her telling her that they might need to take their vehicles on her property and want her to leave gates unlocked when they call. ‘Do I have to do that?’ she asked. My advice to her was, “come to our meeting and ask the MDC’s chief of enforcement in person.”

Another lady sent me a letter saying that an agent made her take her bow and go out in her back yard and show him she could shoot it well enough to kill a deer. ‘Can they do that to just anyone?’, she asked. People who have these questions need to be there to talk to Larry Yamnitz, and let him know what some of his agents are doing.

One man said he was told if he didn’t let the agent search his barn without a search warrant, he would hold him in jail for 24 hours. He needs to be there to talk with Yamnitz about this. Others tell me that agents have threatened them with further charges and increased fines if they go to court and contest the ticket. Yamnitz says he doesn’t believe these things are happening.

Not long ago when we were talking on the phone he told me, “I will investigate any complaints, even the anonymous ones. But you aren’t getting any of these people to tell ME about these things, I only hear it from you.”

On June 9, if you want to bring complaints directly to him, we will set up meetings after dinner, so that you can make your grievances known. I don’t know if it will change a thing, but I can tell you this, he is willing to be there and listen and talk with anyone, and this has never happened before. If nothing comes of this, it will never happen again.

My website is www.larrydablemontoutdoors.blogspot.com and my e-mail address is lightninridge@windstream.net. Write to me at Box 22, Bolivar, Mo. 65613

L A C C Meeting Info. (updated: May 17, 2012)

lakeareaconservativeclub — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 04:20:37 +0000

SPECIAL News Update:

On Wednesday May 16th at the Camden County Planning & Zoning Mtg., things seem to be going out of control !

COMMENTARY:

I think it’s time to speak to the obvious fact that we need to do something to endorse Cliff in his run for Commissioner of the 2nd district, and get behind him as he needs our support right now.

As I sat at the P&Z meeting last night I could not believe what I was witnessing. I watched a board member yell at members of the public who were asking questions of merit. I watched, our presiding commissioner walk out of the room at a point where the debate became a little heated, only to have two armed deputies walk into the room and sit at the back of the room as a form of intimidation. Questions or comments are not welcomed. The message was loud and clear,” we are going to ram this P&Z agenda down your throat whether you like it or not…it is what is best for you.” The deputies that showed up to send a message were just the punctuation to that thought. I was shocked at what I was witnessing. It was my first P&Z meeting. I was terribly troubled after I left. Ameren/FERC is only a fraction of the worries we should share. Our public needs to wake up and pay close attention to what is going on right under their noses, they need to show up to these meetings and just listen. I have a feeling that they won’t like what they find.

I feel compelled to write this and ask that you let the membership of the LACC know how important it is to get behind our candidate Cliff Luber. He will not push himself or use the LACC as he feels that is a conflict. He has pushed many, many good candidates in recent months, but he has never pushed himself. Someone should.

He needs our help in order to advocate for us, and our property rights here locally. If we lose sight of what is happening in our own back yard and lose our liberties within our own county as we are distracted by the issues that draw state wide attention or national attention away from the atrocities that we face in our community; we have let the fox in the hen house. We need a guardian of our rights who is willing to fight for us. There is no one better equipped to do that than Cliff. He is a man of principle who will stand for the Constitution and the unalienable rights that no man can give, and no man should be empowered to take away. He will petition state and federal officials when it comes to issues like FERC and the EPA. He will protest when a device such as P & Z is armed with too much power, and promises to kill development and the protection of private property rights. He will not rest until he knows the little guy is protected. He is one of us.

As a supporter I see how hard he is working. 7 days a week he is going door to door. He is standing in the gap for us and he is fighting for the opportunity for us to “vote ourselves a voice”. Every night after work he hits the pavement and knocks on doors, usually not getting home until 10:00 pm or after. He understands that this is much bigger than a job, it is a calling. I know there is not better man to fulfill that calling than Cliff Luber. However, he needs help. If anyone can donate even $5.00, every penny counts, and Cliff needs the money to move his/our vision for our county forward. The money will go to signs and literature to help get out his message. He will not ask for financial help, even when I know that he desperately could use the cash to help buy the paint and lumber to make his own signs. He needs for us to remind our friends and neighbors about him and tell them how desperately we need a man like him to stand for us. He needs our prayers and words of encouragement. He has put himself in the midst of one of the ugliest of fights many say they have ever seen in a local election. Most would have quit by now, or would have never tried to fight the establishment. He has, and now he needs our help. Whether it be our prayers, or time, our words of encouragement, or a donation, please remember the commitment he has made to move our county forward in the right direction on our behalf and how desperately we need that. Remember to show him your support in any way you can. Even just a pep talk now and then can work wonders!:)

Stay connected to his web site: www.cliffluber2012.com. Write a few words to endorse him to post on his site, or find it as a place to stay connected, or donate. Take a stand by showing your support for one of our own who is not afraid to do what is right for all of the “little people” out there. Singularly we may have an uphill battle, but together may they hear us roar in November. We can and will make a difference. Let us stand united and support Cliff as he rounds the corner into the next phase of his campaign. After what I witnessed last night at the P & Z meeting, November cannot come soon enough!!!!!

Sincerest Regards,

Stacy Shore

==================

I attended this meeting and was appalled with the arrogance displayed by the elected persons – - a couple of the Board members did seem to be concerned about the arrogant responses, but they kept quiet while the Chairman ran roughshod over those who asked questions – - – - this is not he way our elected people should respond!

During last month’s P&Z Board meeting I listened as the Chairman berated a Developer who was having difficulty getting financing – - rather than act as a Board that wanted to help the Developer.

In a previous months P&Z meeting I was also witness to the Board responding with derogatory comments to another person asking simple and straight forward questions.

Other persons in attendance were equally appalled by the response to simple, straight-forward declarative questions.

Rich Knoch

LACC

———————————————————————————————————-

Cliff has gone out of his way not to request help from Conservative Club or Camdenton Tea Party members, so he cannot be accused of “using” the organizations for his candidacy.

I’ve remained quiet, honoring his request and only making campaign contributions, but, as Stacy writes we need to do something to endorse Cliff in his run for Camden Commissioner of the 2nd district, and get behind him as he needs our support right now.

I’ve stayed on the sidelines long enough and am ready tojoin the campaign to openly support him. At this click in time, I have not even told Cliff this, but we need to start openly supporting him.

We’ve already heard, via the grapevine, the opposition will accuse him of using the organizations to further his campaign . . . . but, this is positively and categorically NOT TRUE.

First step, everyone who supports Cliff, let him know you support him www.cliffluber2012.com or EMail at CliffLuber2012@gmail.com Contact him for Street Signs and bumper stickers.

Second, contribute, if you’re moved to provide financial support, http://cliffluber2012.com/?page_id=231

Third, post a response to his weekly community questionshttp://cliffluber2012.com/?page_id=327

Fourth, contact his Campaign Manager, Diana Sederwall rbs1238@hotmail.com or Vicky, at CliffLuber2012@gmail.com with ideas; i.e., sponsor a campaign meeting at your home or other site and any other way to help Cliff win.

Fifth, get prepared for our (2nd annual) bi-annual “Holding of Campaign Signs” event, on the Camdenton City Square – - we should start somewhere aroundJuly 13th and go through the election in August. This is actually a fun event where you’ll see many of your friends (driving by or holding signs) and make a positive statement as to your support for Cliff’s candidacy. We usually meet a few days a week though the first few weeks of July, then daily, if possible the last couple of weeks before the election (August 7th), from around 5:00 to 7:00PM (or so).

Sixth, we need to have a meeting fairly soon, to plan this out so everyone can participate.

Rich Knoch
LACC and Camdenton Tea Party

========================

On 5/17/2012 1:23 PM, Barry Kane wrote:

Stacy, Rich,et al:

I heartily agree that Cliff Luber would make an excellent choice for the office. Perhaps someone should inform the community about his run for office. what is the step necessary for endorsement? Is there a time frame to be considered?

IMany campaigns may fail due to poor timing- they peak too soon-or too late! Organization is key. Experienced personnel are valuable in this area.Throwing money at something may not be the best answer. What is being cone at present?I was also in attendance at the meeting. What a lame excuse for a community organization!I became disgusted and left early!

Next L.A.C.C. meeting schedule :

The next monthly pot luck dinner meeting of the LACC will be:

* To be Announced ***

Please come join us for an evening of good conversation with like minded conservatives.

…. and bring a friend and lets get busy for the 2012 elections.

Remenber it’s a monthly pot luck dinner meeting !

Please bring a dish to share and enjoy an evening with like minded conservatives.

As always, thanks to the those who get there early to help with the setup and cleanup. There are a significant number of LACC members who work to advance the goals of this organization without fanfare or praise. To those dedicated conservatives,

THANK YOU!! for all that you do.

*The Reporter Newspaper did another great job covering our Tea Parties.

You can read it online at: www.theccreporter.com ,

or buy a paper, it has some great pictures!

also….

We have had several requests for a DVD of the Camdenton Tea Party and will have them available at our May 10th, 6:00 pm pot luck dinner Meeting at Son Light Christian Fellowship Church.

Please let us know if you want a copy. They will be $10.00 each to cover our costs.

………………………………………………………………………………………

Roy Blunt has filed two Amendments regarding HR2354.

These are very encouraging,

BUT WE MUST KEEP THE PRESSURE ON OUR

LEGISLATORS AND AMEREN !!

**********************************************************************

The Town Hall was very interesting and we appreciate everyone’s attendance. It is important for folks to understand this is FAR FROM OVER. Ameren only plans to lower the elevation to 662 for those 1200 homes. While this is significant for those folks, this does not even begin to address the lake wide concerns. We have not even begun to address the over reaching environmental regulations and governmental authority over our private property.

This issue, in my opinion, MUST have a permanent solution in order to have long term growth and stability in real estate and construction at the lake. All businesses here at the lake are heavily dependent on these areas for their survivability and profitability. When these businesses are strong, the Lake is generally strong.

The Lake Area Conservative Club will begin to run the radio ads on KRMS and we ask that you send this email to everyone you know and ask them to call Ameren’s hotline and tell them to go to 660 Lakewide. Please distribute this email far and wide.

The hotline number is 573 365-9203.

Also, please call Senator Blunt at 202 224-5721,

Senator McCaskill at 202 224-6154,

Congresswoman Hartzler at 202 225-2876

and explain to them we need 660 Lakewide Now!.

If Ameren will do the right thing and submit their request to FERC to lower the elevation, we can then go to work on FERC and get our legislators to put pressure on them. Keep in mind folks, elections have consequences. FERC does not even belong in the Shoreline Management Plan business. We need to get legislators in office who will promise to defund FERC, the Department of Energy and the EPA. Please get involved!!

******************************************************

Lake Area NEEDS the 660 Contour Elevation

lakeareaconservativeclub — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:42:26 +0000

Subject: Politics aside, the Lake Area needs the 660 Contour Elevation.

I wanted to thank Trish Creach from the Camdenton Chamber Of Commerce for giving the Lake Area Conservative Club time to address our concerns over the Chamber Of Commerce’s public endorsement of the 662 elevation for the lake, to their Board and Legislative Team. Again, We feel this is a mistake and is evidenced by the homeowners who are adversely affected by a 662 contour elevation. The 660 elevation will undoubtedly settle just about all future problems regarding the project boundary and folks can live, enjoy, and invest in Lake front real estate without outside future interference, ie; Ameren or FERC. Keep one thing in mind. Going to the 660, and quit claiming the property to the water’s edge, removes Ameren’s project boundary( which they said they will regulate) from homeowner ‘s back yards and allows the owners to walk to the water’s edge on their own property, and not across the easement. Our local economy must have assurances this problem is settled once and for all so local businesses can prosper.

Mr. Jeff Douglas, Ameren real estate executive, failed to justify his insistence on the 662 elevation yesterday morning on KRMS news. Try telling the homeowners whose properties are adversely affected by the 662 it is a good compromise. Also, to say they need the 662 for the operation of the dam is hardly justifiable considering the dam has not flooded since 1986. Lake front owners are not disputing Ameren’s right to flood if a weather related event should warrant. That goes along with being a lake front homeowner. Ameren has not even approached FERC about going to a 660 elevation, even though Ameren stated at the LACC Town Hall meeting they would if FERC told them to do so. It’s note worthy they didn’t say they couldn’t because it would interfere with the operation of the dam. It hinged upon FERC’s approval, not operational considerations. As conservatives and we who live here at the lake, we are also concerned about the quality of our lake. Wetlands are already identified and believe Ameren could raise the contour elevation if needed to protect them. Further, with only two endangered species at the lake, and limited wetlands, the aggressive environmental agencies input should be minimal at best.

What is clearly lacking from the

SMP Team was the lack of private property owners on the lake. Of the Approx. Forty seven on the SMP Team most were businesses, environmental agencies, and law enforcement. Approx. three were private property homeowners. Their representation was basically non existent. I will take Ameren at their word it wasn’t intentional, but still shows the level of disparity regarding homeowners. The chambers have remained virtually silent throughout this entire situation and only after Ameren decided to go to 662 lakewide, do they publicly make an endorsement. At the Lake Area Conservative Club’s second Town Hall meeting, Ameren stated they had no intention to even ask FERC for a lakewide contour elevation. It was at the insistence of the LACC in that Town Hall meeting they needed to go lakewide. They were only initially dealing with the 1200 homes. Ameren claims thousands of additional structures are encroaching into their project boundary and, thousands have still, to this day, not been notified by Ameren. This has been going on for a couple of years and if Ameren has identified the properties, why weren’t the owners of all such properties promptly notified as well?

Camden County Assessor Eddie Whitworth is on the record stating as far as he is concerned Ameren has been paying taxes only up to the variable water’s edge. Which begs to ask, has the homeowner been paying the property taxes down to the water’s edge, perhaps for decades on land they thought to be their property. Missouri case law gives strong deference to the person paying taxes, suggesting ownership.

It is time to put politics aside and do that which is right for the homeowners so they have peace of mind, and our economy and businesses, who are dependent on the real estate market at the lake for their livelihoods can thrive.

We know it will take extreme courage for the Chambers to do the right thing to support the 660 contour elevation.

We are also very much in favor of Camden County invoking coordination. This is about local folks and our county government having not just a seat at the table, but a clear mandate that the federal Government work with Camden County, instead of running roughshod over top of it. As a Conservative organization, the LACC feels coordination is in the spirit of our forefathers that states can best govern themselves locally rather than an overtly intrusive federal government 1,100 miles away. We are a growing grassroots conservative organization and firmly believe in “We The People.”

Ameren has a Shorline Plan ‘NOT’ in your best intrest?

lakeareaconservativeclub — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 16:39:25 +0000

Subject: : Ameren’s Shoreline Management Plan-Not in our best In our best interests here at the lake.
For anyone who may not be up to speed on the recent development concerning FERC, there is a good possibility that a new boundary line of where Ameren’s authority will stop (called the Project Boundary “PB”) will be based on an elevation.

This is one writers opinion on fighting hard for the 660 elevation; and here is why…

First keep in mind the PB is a different set of lines than lakefront property lines. It defines an area much larger than the lake itself , and was set up to allow the power Co. to control the lake so do not confuse the Project Boundary lines with personal property lines.

Most of the PB lines are based on various elevations, with some of it at 662 and much of it higher, even up to and encompassing peoples’ homes. This is the reason it has been in the news. The lake area and the great vacation destination we know today, was enabled because of an easement established back in the 1930’s on behalf of all lakefront property owners, which clearly states that they can build on their own property and use it as they see fit .

At this moment there are regulations currently in Ameren’s Shoreline Management Plan “SMP” that clearly ignore this easement.

It violates the sovereign rights of private property and forces lakefront properties to follow the severely strict guidelines of Ameren’s SMP for any portions of private property that lie within their PB.

Ameren is fully aware of the easement covering lakefront properties.

FERC clearly is ignoring it and by all appearances Ameren is not in the peoples corner.

* The current FERC Order clearly states “….the Commission does not condone residential development and occupancy of project lands, since residential use is inconsistent with the of maximizing public recreational development”.

After 80 plus years of the lake developing into the great area that it is, FERC wants to change the rules !

BUT WHY 660?

The normal pool for the lake is 660 at the dam and that elevation can be higher the farther you travel away from the dam.

On occasion the lake gets higher , and we all know that. It is part of living on the lake and it has never interfered with Ameren operation of the dam. Some Chambers of Commerce for areas around the lake are considering endorsing the 662 elevation. This is a huge mistake, for it ignores the serious implications for lakefront properties. That two foot vertical difference between 662 and 660 does not sound like much but it means Ameren’s control claims a much wider area up onto a property if the ground has a subtle slope near the shore! In other words, if the 662 is adopted by Ameren, you will lose control of what you can or can’t do on any portion of your property that is at or below the 662 elevation.

You will be subject to the new criteria which includes new fees. They could be substantial, and may include being assessed a fee for improvements that you have made on your own property, such as landscaping, tree removal and replacement, piers, sidewalks, and the drainage field your septic system just to name a few.

We want the PB set at 660 because that would greatly minimize the iron fist of Ameren’s rule.

This is just one of the serious problems with the SMP. These new regulations have granted Ameren this power…… even the power to change the rules if they see fit, charge user fees or leases for anything within their PB, and even permitted docks and marinas.

The linked PDF files below have review comments in the margins may help you understand the magnitude of what we face.
Click on these links:

http://www.lakeareaconservativeclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/ModSMP1of3.pdf

http://www.lakeareaconservativeclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/ModSMP2of3.pdf

http://www.lakeareaconservativeclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/ModSMP3of3.pdf
For the complete Report in full length,
Ameren’s Shoreline Management Plan dated march 2008 and FERC’s most recent Order/modification dated this July 2011 can be found on theses links to Ameren’s website: http://www.ameren.com/sites/aue/lakeoftheozarks/Documents/FERCOrderModifyingApprovingOsageSMP.pdf

http://www.ameren.com/sites/aue/lakeoftheozarks/Documents/ShorelineManagementPlan.pdf

Please look them up and read carefully to fully comprehend what lies within these documents.

What is invoking coordination ?

lakeareaconservativeclub — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 14:43:09 +0000

Click this link : http://jclac.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/The-Coordination-Process.pdf

FERC / AMEREN Progress UPDATES

lakeareaconservativeclub — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 18:02:13 +0000

This is a website that is being started in regard to the FERC/Ameren issue. This is not a LACC or Camdenton Tea Party website, but will have valuable information concerning the Lake Of the Ozarks and other adversely affected lakes across the country. Please check it often to keep udated.

Subject: Website to keep you updated on FERC/Ameren Progress

http://www.lozstakeholders.blogspot.com/

I hope this site will help keep too much “misinformation” from keeping us from making the progress on this issue that we must in order to save our lake.

Help get the message out and stay tuned to the site and forward this link to anyone and everyone who has a stake in this issue. To educate the people is to empower the people. I hope that is what this site will do. I will add to it often in small doses to get out the word on what this all really means to real people here. We will share real life stories, and we will give progress reports on where current law suits are going, And we will break down the FERC orders in small doses in real english so people get it. I will also share stories from Smith Mountain Lake and how their situation can teach us.

Please feel free to send anything to me that you think may be of benefit.

There is so much to share.

This site will serve to educate and keep stakeholders current…truly current on the issues and where we REALLY are in all of this.

Any input is welcome. Please leave comments on the site as those serve as a tool to educate also.

Pass it on so people who have homes here stay in the loop and know that we are making progress, but we must continue in order to accomplish what we know is best for us all.

Thanks,

Stacy Shore

Latest FERC News

lakeareaconservativeclub — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 23:26:56 +0000

Veteran’s Day

lakeareaconservativeclub — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 22:10:34 +0000

Veterans Day is a very special day, so I thought I would take a few minutes to discuss how it came into being, how it has changed over the years and to remember and celebrate all our Veterans.

Veterans Day gives Americans the opportunity to celebrate the bravery and sacrifice of all U.S. Veterans. Some Americans today don’t know why we commemorate our Veterans on Nov. 11th. It’s important that all American’s know the history of Veterans Day so that we can honor our former service members properly.

In the USA, Veterans Day annually falls on November 11. This day is the anniversary of the signing of the armistice which ended the World War I hostilities between the Allied nations and Germany in 1918. On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month 1919, “Armistice Day” was commemorated for the first time. In legislation that was passed in 1938, November 11 was “dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as Armistice Day.” This new legal holiday honored World War I veterans.

In 1954 after having been through both World War II and the Korean War, the Congress, at the urging of the veterans service organizations – amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the work “Armistice” and inserting the work “Veterans” making this a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

There always seem to be some confusion on the difference between remembering our Veterans on Memorial Day or on Veterans Day. Memorial Day honors service members who died in service to their Country or as a result of injuries incurred during battle. Deceased veterans are also remembered on Veterans Day but the day is set aside to thank and honor living veterans who served honorably in the military – in wartime or peacetime.

So as we near November 11, 2011, please take time to remember all our Veterans. If you see a service member in uniform, take time to say “thank you for your service”. As we all know “freedom isn’t free”.

Take care of yourselves.

Bev Thomas

Frank Moment – November 2011

lakeareaconservativeclub — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 05:01:35 +0000

I have been asked by several people to address the tax sale situation. I want to preface
the facts that I am going to present by saying that I have been going to the tax sale for years. I have bought property at them. I have never had a property that I have bought change title to my possession. The old owner always redeemed them. Very few properties that are purchased at a tax sale ever actually change ownership. In our area, the only properties that actually change hands are vacant lots in Four Seasons and Pine Cove Subdivision. It never occurred to me that I needed to stop going to the tax sale once I was elected. It is not illegal, or even considered unethical by state requirements, but I will guarantee you that I will not go to another one, even though I did nothing wrong or influenced the advertising process in any way.

The facts of the situation are these: (1) the decision to award the tax sale publication to The Reporter was done so on the County Collector’s recommendation. It was motioned, seconded, and voted on by commissioners Gumm and Thomas. I had absolutely nothing to do with the process that resulted in this award. I only vote in the case of a tie between the two commissioners or if one of the commissioners is absent. I am attaching a copy of our meeting minutes to evidence this fact. (2) I was not the only county official to purchase land at the tax sale, but I was the only one whose activities were made public. This is a fact, draw your own conclusions on this. (3) I want to emphasize that this year’s decision was made at the recommendation of the collector. The money that pays for the tax sale comes out of the collector’s budget, so they should have a say and they should make a recommendation. The recommendation of the collector is noticeably absent from the commission meeting minutes for 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010. This was because the lowest bid was not accepted. The collector’s recommendation was present in the minutes from 2004, 2005, and 2006. Once again, take if for what it is worth. Make your own decision. If I offended any of you with this process, I apologize, and as I stated above, I will not be attending any more tax sales while in office.

With regards to the FERC, the commission has not sounded any type of surrender on
this subject. We are exploring several alternative avenues to dealing with the FERC, one in particular that looks like it is going to be effective. I will keep you posted on our progress in this matter.

Thank you for your support.

Kris Franken
Presiding Commissioner Camden County