Hometown Matters

By Pauline Masson Pacific is not alone in trying to determine how to deal with persons sleeping in tents or makeshift shelters within the city limits. But how cities deal with the challenge varies greatly. Police Chief Scott Melies has been consistent in his quest for a law that will authoize his department to remove homeless persons, which he describes as “unsheltered.” Aldermen backed away from his fist attempt at a new city law that would have made it a … Continue reading “Homeless People Assist or Banish? New Law in Progress – To weigh in, Talk to Your Alderman”

First in a series to celebrate February as Black History Month in our Area By Pauline Masson – We are all familiar with the stories of famous Black athletes, movie stars, miltary heroes, musicians, and politicans. But in our local area, we are blessed with an impressive list of Black citizens who helped shape Local History. Lonzie Cole 1928-2008, deserves to be remembered for the impression he made on young people. He died in his sleep and was found by … Continue reading “Lonzie Cole Made a Difference / Urged Young Blacks Stay Fit and Learn”

By Pauline Masson A 1906 photo of the old Franklin Road crossing two sets of tracks in Dozier – that former mayor and Pacific history guru Jeff Titter shared with a Eureka day tripper – inspired a search for the old road and the community of Dozier . Franklin Road between Allenton and Pacific once entered Pacific at present day Union Street. A fragment of the road exists behind the East Osage Plaza but does not connect to the old … Continue reading “Dozier: Photo of 1906 Rail Crossing Inspired Search For Long Lost Community on the Old Franklin Road”

By Pauline Masson Heading into his fifth year as Franklin County Clerk, manager of elections, Franklin County Clerk Tim Baker says knowing how government works might be as beneficial to citizens as the right to vote.  As head of the department that manages County elections, Baker comes across as the County’s head cheerleader. Understanding how government works, he says, is as simple as ABC. Citizens should start young. To illustrate his point, Baker and his staff of eight have put … Continue reading “Tim Baker, County Clerk – Manager of Elections and Head County Cheerleader”

By Pauline Masson –   After five months of debate and delay, a controversial law to make it illegal to be homeless in Pacific ran into a stumbling block at the Jan. 17 board of aldermen meetng. Bill 5156, AN ORDINANCE PROHIBITING THE OCCUPANCY OF STRUCTURES DEEMED UNFIT FOR HUMAN HABITATION, would have made it a crime for citizens to allow people to sleep in tents, campers or RVs on their property for longer than three days.  The proposed law … Continue reading “Homeless Law Fails / Eversmeyer Asks Attorney and Police Chief to Write Another Version”

By Pauline Masson – Well, not exactly on the drawing board, but a Viaduct-Thornton-Hogan roundabout occupies the center of studies that are underway to update the five-entry, road network north of the I-44 exit-257 interchange. It would be safe to say that no Pacific road has been studied more than Viaduct Street – the one-block-long roadway beneath I-44 that connects West Osage with Thornton Road and crosses the west bound I-44 exit and entry ramps, as well as Hogan Road. … Continue reading “Driving in Circles / Viaduct Street Roundabout Back on the Drawing Boards”

By Pauline Masson – The city’s six-month slog to enact a law that makes it illegal to be homeless in Pacific moved a step farther last Friday. The city Operatios Committee, chaired by Alderman Jerry Eversmeyer, met Dec. 6, with one item on the agenda: Bill 5156, AN ORDINANCE PROHIBITING THE OCCUPANCY OF STRUCTURES DEEMED UNFIT FOR HUMAN HABITATION, aka the “no camping” bill. Eversmeyer, who described the meeting as a fact finding mission, noted earlier that no citizens would … Continue reading “Operations Committee Advances Police Chief’s Law Targeting the Homeless And Their Hosts”

By Pauline Masson – The Board of Aldermen faces reorganization prior to the April election.   Ward Three Alderman Andy Nemeth, who serves as acting president of the board, resigned his position effective immediately –  saying the Jan. 3 meeting would be his final meeting as alderman. Nemeth filed then quickly withdrew his name from the race to regain his seat in the upcoming election, leaving the ward three seat to Collector Debbie Kelley, after the April 4 municipal election, … Continue reading “Nemeth Resigns – Triggering Board of Alderman Reshuffle Prior to April Election”

By Pauline Masson – The City Operations Committee is scheduled to meet at 1:00 p.m. Friday, January 6 at City Hall to discuss whether homeless people in Pacific and residents who harbor them should be considered criminals, subject to $1,000 fines. The ordinance, Bill 5156, AN ORDINANCE PROHIBITING THE OCCUPANCY OF STRUCTURES DEEMED UNFIT FOR HUMAN HABITATION, came before aldermen four months ago on August 16, where a first reading of the bill gave prelimiay approval to the new law. … Continue reading “‘Homeless’ Bill on January 6 Operations Committee Agenda / Public Cannot Speak”

By Pauline Masson – Engineers are under contract to redesign the intersection of North First Street at Osage, rebuildng the roadway, adding one lane and widening another. The result is expected to make more room for traffic, especially tractor trailers, entering the intersection, and enable the City to establish an enforceable truck route to and from the Denton Road industrial parks. Anyone who has ever sat in backed up traffic as semis swung wide enough to make the turn onto … Continue reading “If Engineers Get it Right, Road Widening Project May Ease Traffic Woes on North First Street”