STL TNT Still Relevant -- 50000 Calls During Weather Snap 321-2522

Record Breaking cold and snowfall in the St Louis Metro area has a lot of folks holed up, but they still have a very healthy curiosity about what's outside their four comfy walls.

St Louis Time and Temperature -- which can be dialed at 321-2522 from any area code -- has received over 50,000 calls the past couple of days.

Attorney Mike Carter, who runs the service says "our free TNT service normally does see a massive call spike at daylight savings time and during super hot and super cold snaps, but I have really never seen this big of a jump in calls."

The St Louis winter storm the past couple of days is very reminiscent of the 1982 St Louis blizzard when children and some adults were off school and work for as many as 5 business days.

Most schools now in 2014 have already called off school tomorrow in addition to today.

"I think we ended up with two dumpings in 1982 -- when I was in like 3rd or 4th grade -- and the accumulation got up to like 24 total inches. We didn't get THAT much this time, but it sure seemed a lot more windy and blizzard like this time around to me. I actually made it down to Forest Park yesterday from o'Fallon MO for our must-go snow sledding. However, it was simply too cold and windy to really make a go of it once there. So, of course, we went to warm cozy great grandma's house in Hazelwood and visited for a time," said Carter

All People in the St Louis area can dial 321-2522 -- the nearly 100 year old Time and Temperature service phone number -- from their home or cell phone for free 7 days a week, 24 hours a day for the most accurate time, temperature and short weather forecast provided by the National Weather Service.

Mike Carter bought the service in 2005 after Bank of America decided the service didn't work with its marketing mix.

Yay Yay Snow Sledding At Rotary Park With Dogs

Rightfully so, Wentzville's mayor and alderpersons are flooding Facebook with warnings of the impending snow tonight. First, out of my own civic duty I guess I should share with you that they seem particularly concerned with getting your dang cars off the streets. So there you go.

However, and more importantly, what I think is most concerning is how sad I am that we (I, You, Yours, Theirs, Me) won't be able to sleigh ride through Rotary park while the Christmas lights are still burning bright. :(  I can see rounding up 11 or so Wentzville dogs (ones that haven't been outlawed by the peculiar new Wentzville dog ordinances) to pull me on my sled in and out of each of the 12 days of Christmas light display (the coolest part of all the lights, yes, even cooler than the bridge thingy). 

"Whoaaa, watch out for those doves; they can drop nastier things than that one Duck Dynasty dude. Hey, hey, hey, on Wentzville's Pitbulls, on you foamin Rot, faster you pinchin Dober; we've no time for those maids' milk; you can get a drink when I say my ride is good and over. Scccrrreeeeccchhhh!!! Holy dog poo; what's the matter scooby? Are the pipers playin dog whistles? Mush, mush, mush, get on, on, on; we're marchin to MY drum not those 12 guys over there. On, on, on, get on!! I want to see that fish constantly jumping in the pond ahead!!!!"

So . . . I say the snow coming tonight is of no concern whatsoever. Embrace it! Love it! Lay down in it (be sure and take a picture and, heck, let someone PHOTO BOMB it). Make a snow angel (a good one). Wrestle in it (it is better than a gym mat). Tinkle in it (it turns yellow and you can blame it on one of those dogs above). Grab some and shove some in your kids face while shooting a VINE VIDEO of it -- use a HASH TAG like #SnowSmack.  And, and . . .  for Pete's sake . . . Do not . . . Do not touch a shovel -- hire someone for that!!!!

No really, I actually sorta like shoveling the the one lane of our driveway directly behind my wife's garage bay -- that makes her happy-ish (she wants it all done) and, pun intended, keeps me out of the doghouse.

Oh, and as an aside; how come when you get through the light display at Rotary Park the attendants don't say, "hey, if you'd like to turn around and go again it's only $3 instead of $8"?

New Wentzvillian Seeks Information Regarding Rick Stokes and Other Wentzville Alderpersons

The New Wentzvillian will be following all of the Wentzville Alderpersons' activities on a continuing basis.  Our editor recently requested interviews with each and every one of the Wentzville Aldermen.  So far Alderpersons Kross and Shryock have met for discussions and the New Wentzvillian is very thankful.

Forest Gossett and Michael Hays have agreed to meet soon.  However, Chris Gard and Rick Stokes, so far, have ignored New Wentzvillian requests to meet.  We hope Aldermen Stokes and Gard will quickly set up appointments with our editors.

In the mean time the New Wentzvillian would like to hear from any Wentzville citizens (or others) who have information to share about Alderman Rick Stokes.  We are very keen to hear ANYTHING relative to Mr. Stokes since Alderman Stokes has recently told the New Wentzvillian that it is not allowed to communicate with him at his work email address.

The New Wentzvillian filmed Alderman Stokes at a candidate event last year; here is the video in case you do not know who he is:

Frankly, the New Wentzvillian's objective is to draw down a spotlight on each of the alderpersons in Wentzville that seem to be giving Wentzville's mayor a difficult time with his agenda.  This past year, Mayor Guccione won his election with a very convincing margin and has A LOT of political capital relative to the voters of Wentzville. 

It seems that many of the current alderpersons pushed heavily for another mayoral candidate in that election -- even collectively riding on his float during a parade -- however, their efforts evidently did not bring about their desired outcome.  Apparently this did not set well with many of them and they either consciously or subconsciously want to punish the winner of the election -- Mayor Guccione.

This is no witch hunt; rather, it is an attempt to correct what the New Wentzvillian sees as shameful inequities.  Inequities that stem from some of the aforementioned aggrieved aldermen shamelessly ascribing to the malicious and reckless musings contained in another local Wentzville blog.  A blog that cares nothing about fair and balanced journalism, and instead focuses on rumor, hatred, libel and wanton disregard for any attempt at objectivity or truth.

Please assist the New Wentzvillian in formulating fair and balanced coverage of each of Wentzville's fine alderpersons.  Please email us at carter@NewWentzvillian.com or Call us at 636-916-4040. 

We will focus on Alderman Chris Gard in the coming days.

Mayor of Wentzville Exercises Free Speech -- Open Comment

The following is an open comment regarding Wentzville citizen and blogger Larry Marshall's frivolous, malicious and misguided claim that Wentzville's mayor cannot endorse candidates during an election cycle whereby the mayor lends his name to the efforts of a political candidate:

The New Wentzvillian knows Mr. Marshall's assertions about the mayor's free speech rights are beyond non-sensical. The New Wentzvillian's Editor taught communications law for years at Mizzou -- still can -- and still teaches at University of Missouri St. Louis.

The Mayor's First Amendment Right of Free Speech cannot be abridged for the ludicrous reasons mentioned by anyone who has called question to the Alderman-Hays political flyer (pictured below) wherein Wentzville's current mayor supported him.  The mayor is not giving up military secrets, yelling fire in a theater, or any of the classic reasons that Constitutional Scholars (and Supreme Court Justices) agree rise to the level of possibly abridging Poiltical Free Speech.   

Just the same as Senator John McCain, President Obama, and city Mayors across the United States endorse candidates EVERY ELECTION CYCLE; Mayor Guccione can do the same without concern. Again, Political Speech is THE MOST PROTECTED form of speech in the United States -- Just ask the ghost of President Adams what his BIGGEST REGRET WAS:  Alien and Sedition Acts that attempted to abridge political speech.

Sore-Citizen/Bloger Larry Marshall

Constitutionally Protected Speech

The New Wentzvillian is QUITE CERTAIN THE CITY'S ATTORNEY -- PAUL ROST -- WILL SET ALL OF THOSE INVOLVED STRAIGHT VERY SOON!!!  If anything, Larry Marshall's (resident mentioned in Wentzville Patch article) blog has many instances of untrue statements that show MALICE and very likely WANTON & RECKLESS Disregard for the truth. 

As a holder of a Master of Journalism from Mizzou, the New Wentzvillian's editor would like to think muckraking is fine/tolerated in the blog world (since many many readers don't believe the B.S. in them) and should be left alone, but given that the New Wentzvillian takes a very real interest in Wentzville ongoings, we are keen to track Larry Marshall's journalistic pursuits.

Carter Seeks Second Term As Wentzville Judge

Michael "Mike" E. Carter was the first to declare candidacy for Wentzville's municipal judge.

Carter's opponent did not sign up on the first day to file for the office. This means Carter is first on the April 2, 2013 ballot. (see insert picture)

Carter only said of his opponent that he hopes Mr. Martin is "re-thinking his campaigning approach of 2011. I (carter) never bought into Martin 's type of negative campaigning, but, such is local politics I guess."

Carter says his campaign focus is on three main issues:

1) Carter's having spear-headed the cancellation of Wentzville's red-light camera program;
2) Carter ensuring Wentzville's court focuses on justice and not revenue; AND
3) Carter wants to get every Wentzville voter a copy of the U.S. Constitution. It is the foundation of every court room.

Carter Seeks Former Job As Wentzville's Municipal Judge

December 12, 2012 -- Michael "Mike" E. Carter was the first to declare candidacy for Wentzville's municipal judge today at city hall.

In a strange twist, the incumbent judge Martin did not file yesterday, which was actually the first day to file for the office. This means Carter will be placed first on the ballot.

Carter only said of Martin that he hopes the current judge is "re-thinking his campaigning approach of 2011. I (carter) never bought into negative campaigning."

Carter says his campaign will focus on three main issues:

1) Carter's helping rid Wentzville of red-light cameras;
2) His ensuring the court focuses on justice before revenue; AND
3) Carter wants to get every Wentzville voter a copy of the U.S. Constitution -- he says it worked for him and he'll make sure it works for everyone before his bench.

Former Wentzville Judge Helps Rid Community of Red-Light Cameras

Wentzville MO Rejects Red-Light Cameras, Former Judge and Lt. Gov. Candidate Carter Plays Role

Voting against renewal, Wentzville aldermen cited the necessity of officer discretion at traditional in-person red-light traffic stops and referenced the inconclusive nature of Wentzville Police Chief's red-light camera accident prevention data

Wentzville, MO , March 15, 2012- Wentzville Aldermen last night voted unanimously against renewing the city's red-light camera contract. In spite of the fact that city staff indicated the contract didn't end until the middle of 2013, the city's police chief recommended renewal and the mayor moved to table the discussion, the aldermen; nonetheless, after little discussion, made their intentions clear.

"Politicians take credit for whatever they can, right? I was at last night's meeting for this vote specifically with my daughter -- she gets good marks in civics class. Wentzville's mayor routinely criticized me about red-light cameras when I was the city's judge. I recall Mayor Lambi telling reporters that the only reason I was elected judge was because I sent out a mailer sensitive to red-light cameras. I really never understood his take. I won that election with two-thirds of the vote; so, given the mayor's reasoning, wouldn't that mean the citizens didn't want them? I am proud to have kept the issue at the forefront in Wentzville -- ask around, there's no doubt my name is synonymous with red-light-camera concern."

Carter has done millions of robo calls across Missouri asking Missouri voters about their thoughts on red-light cameras. He says he is always surprised that those for and against red-light cameras appear to split nearly right down the middle. However, "the citizens against traffic camera technology are far more vocal and irritated than their counterparts," notes Carter.

The Missouri Lieutenant Governor candidate has made no secret of his disdain for red-light cameras. He seeks a statewide ban against them much like the State of Mississippi currently has and that Iowa & Colorado are very close to passing. Carter says he feels encouraged that other states like Arizona and many cities on the west coast are moving away from the camera-ticketing technologies.

In voting against renewal, some Wentzville aldermen cited the necessity of officer discretion at traditional in-person red-light traffic stops, while mayoral candidates Tow and Guccione referenced the inconclusive nature of Wentzville Police Chief Harrison's red-light camera accident prevention data.

Carter said it's worth noting that Wentzville city attorney Paul Rost warned the aldermen that voting out the red-light camera service provider, RedFlex, would no doubt result in renewed RedFlex attempts to "woo" the aldermen to change their opinions.