heartbeat

18
Wed, Jun

Mike,  I have recently become reaquainted with an effort/ministry based here in Columbia and am amazed how they are quietly, steadily, faithfully making a difference around the world.  I'm speaking of the Personal Energy Transportation (PET) project that is producing and sending "personal energy vehicles" to the poor and disabled in underdeveloped countries around the world providing them with a means of mobility that literally changes their lives.  Please check out their website http://www.petinternational.org/  and if you find the cause compelling, please give it a mention.  Thanks.  -- Donna Spickert, Columbia
 
 
Mike:   For the past year Keith Fernandez worked with 3 of us gals and Karen Kahler doing boot camp classes at the ARC.   Each of us really loved Karen.  Karen called Keith her "Rock Star"!   Whenever someone pushed themselves physically to the limit -- to do more -- she'd call out "You're a Rock Star".  
 
Keith will be our Rock Star at the St. Jude Marathon he's running in memory of Karen, and dedicating his run to her son Sean Kahler.  "Be Strong Sean" is the homemade arm band that he made.  Here's a link: 
http://www.stjudemarathon.org/marathon.htm
 -- Traci Wilson-Kleekamp, Columbia
 
[Ed. Note:  Sean Kahler was the sole survivor in the shooting deaths of his mother, sisters and great-grandmother.  His father, former Columbia Water and Light director Kraig Kahler, has been charged in their deaths].
 
 
Mike,  Thanks for the latest Beat Byte.  Really appreciate these stories and the service they provide for Columbians.  These two stories intertwine:
 
1)  CITY HALL:  Billing mess, legal violations widen
3)  FAMED MEDIA GURU:  "Autopsies" Columbia Tribune
 
In September, I learned a Trib reporter was prepared to write a whole lot more about the sewer billing scandal than the paper printed, but the article never materialized. -- Joy Piazza, Columbia
 
 
Mike:  Articles about sewage users that were never charged could be put into perspective from friends of mine on West Boulevard in Columbia who were apparently paying sewer charges for years, even though they were not hooked up to the system!    Once realized, however, the city was quick to charge them a hookup fee, but no past credit.  -- Jim from Columbia 
 
 
Mr. Martin,  I do not live in Columbia, I care not at all for the Columbia Heart Beat, and I find the messages to be very unwelcome clutter in my inbox.   Please remove my name and address from your e-mail list.
-- S. R.. Koirtyohann, Clark, Missouri
 
 
Why did you take your mayoral poll down?  And why wasn't Sal Nuccio even in the choices?  Just curious because I have the feeling that "OTHER" as a choice may have meant me. -- Sal Nuccio, Columbia
 
[Ed. Note:  Mr. Nuccio has declared his intentions but has not filed to run for mayor of Columbia.  We took the poll down because it will not accurately represent choices until after filing has ended.]
 
Greetings & salutations, Mike!   As always, continue your great work!
-- Scott Cristal, Columbia
 
 
Your blog would be much more reader-friendly and look more professional to web-savvy visitors if it was in more of an actual blog format, i.e., instead of a periodic post with 6-10 headlines, post 2-4 times a week, with just a single article per post.  Basically, as soon as you have one of your articles ready, don't save it for the bi-weekly collection - post it then.

Blog readers like to check back frequently during the week to see if new content has appeared.  If you only post once every few weeks, many will lose interest.
-- Tim Robertson, Columbia

[Thanks for the advice.  I only use the Columbia Heart Beat "blog" to archive these newsletters.  I'd love to do the regular blog thing, but with the newsletter it would be time-prohibitive.  Such constraints are one of many dilemmas facing "free news" and journalism on the Internet.]
 
 
About "The most fascinating story I've ever written"
Those of us who know Mike O’Hare find these scurrilous accusations highly offensive.  I can find no justification for publishing this in any forum, let alone one focused on doings in Columbia.  Very disappointing--even with the disclaimers and negative conclusions, harm continues to be done to O’Hare.
-- Barton Wechsler, Ph.D., Director and Professor, Harry S Truman School of Public Affairs
University of Missouri, Columbia
 
 
About our story on new media guru Clay Shirky's Columbia Tribune "autopsy"
After your autopsy of the Tribune, you may like this Dilbert:
-- Bruce Duncan, Columbia
 
[Ed. Note:  Of course, it wasn't my autopsy.  I merely summarized that news from another site and provided a link!  (Go Dogbert!)]
 
 
So glad to see you have added Columbia Second Chance to your newsletter!  Outstanding decision!
-- June Hurdle, Columbia
 
 
Hey Mike, I went to Hemingway's for lunch a couple of weeks ago and found out they are only open for dinner now!  The crepes are as your writer said, out of this world.  Also, they have a side of brussels sprouts that are to die for.  I get them as an appetizer and split them with whomever I am with.  Even people who claim not to like brussels sprouts love them!   Thanks!  -- DeAnna Walkenbach, Columbia
 
 
Mike,  I have ALWAYS enjoyed your writing!  I used to receive your emails and I miss them!  Please add me to subscription list.  Not only do you often hit the nail on the head, but you really find it!   Keep up the good work.  
-- James McNabb, Columbia
 
About our stories on recent MU research
Hi, Mike!   A "Well Done!" goes out from me to Dr. Mian Liu  (http://web.missouri.edu/~lium/)  who coauthored the newest work on aftershocks on the New Madrid Fault zone.   Southeast Missouri has been a continual source of new discoveries about midcontinent geology, and this latest study seems to confirm some suspicions that some geologists I know have held about the zone for quite some time. 
 
Next, if Keith Contracting, LLC is a Columbia firm, it's a new piece of information for me!  The last I heard from them, they were in Jefferson City.  One job that I know they did was a pair of 60" diameter drainage pipes that went under US Highway 63 in Macon, Missouri using a trenchless technology technique known as pipejacking.  These installations were even a featured article in both Underground Construction and Trenchless Technology magazines.  This was right next to Lolli's auction barn in Macon, where they auction exotic animals in central Missouri.
 
Just some thoughts from a regular reader.  Keep up the good work!
-- George Davis, Certified Professional Geologist, Columbia
 
[Ed. Note:  Thanks for the note!   I have two addresses for Keith Contracting in Columbia, and one in Jefferson City.  The Federal contract I referenced also had a Columbia address.]  
 
 
HEAR YE!  HEAR YE!   Local Announcements
 
Adopt Wiley the Hound from Columbia Second Chance!   Wiley and her siblings were dumped in a Columbia Second Chance board member's yard. Wiley is very shy. However, during the last few months she seems to be getting used to the idea that humans are OK, and will come up for treats and a scratch on the nose or head. A forever home will surely bring out the best in her.
 
Columbia Second Chance
 
 
Christmas for the Animals!  Thursday, December 10, 6-8 pm at the Central Missouri Humane Society.
Open House, Silent Auction, Refreshments will be served.   616 Big Bear Blvd., Columbia  www.cmhspets.org
 
 
If you have an announcement, please send it along, but only in the body of an email.  We cannot accept attachments of any kind.  Not for profit announcements are free of charge.  For profit announcements require a nominal fee. 
 
  
ERRATA:  Mizzou professor Rebecca Meisenbach
  
In an article entitled MU PSYCHOLOGIST:  Studies female breadwinner troubles, the Heart Beat wrongly referred to Rebecca Meisenbach as a University of Missouri, Columbia psychology professor.  Meisenbach is a University of Missouri, Columbia communications professor:

 
 
Mike Martin
Editor in Chief
The Columbia Heart Beat
http://columbiaheartbeat.blogspot.com

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