Rose's Blog

Sen. Kit Bond (R-Mo) says he will not seek reelection in 2010.  Bond left Washington and returned to Missouri to make the announcement this morning before the state General Assembly. 

Bond has served for more than four decades to elected offices, on the state and federal level.  He was elected as Missouri's youngest Governor in 1972, after two years as State Auditor.

In his speech to the state legislature today, Bond said; "In a world today where enemies are real - the kind who behead others based on their religion - it is important to remember there is a lot of real estate between a political opponent and a true enemy," said Bond. "Our cause is bigger than ourselves. Events in the world and threats will continue to challenge us in significant ways."

Bond called on Republicans and Democrats to work together for the common good.
Bond said that free from the political demands of another election he hopes to make the next two years the best of his career of service.

(Kansas City, MO) -- Charges are pending against the parents of an infant who died from starvation in Kansas City.

According to authorities, the four-month-old was taken to a Kansas City hospital in November and died shortly after arriving.

At first, the coroner ruled the cause of death to be a medical condition.

But further investigation showed the infant suffered from chronic malnutrition and dehydration.

The boy's death marks the first homicide investigation of the year for Kansas City.

An Ozark native makes it to the big time as she gains some national attention. Ozark High grad Emily Hobbs is cooking her way to the top and she hasn't even been to culinary school yet.

In this small kitchen, a big dream was born. "I was one of four finalists chosen out of 12,000 people," says Emily Hobbs, a contestant in the Ultimate Recipe Showdown. Emily Hobbs loves cooking and baking. So much so, she recently made it to a popular show on The Food Network.

"Ultimate Recipe Showdown is a competition of home cooks, and we compete against each other cooking different dishes," says Hobbs. She cooked a dish to tempt your taste-buds. "My signature dish is a baked butternut 4-cheese farfalle with sage, and my speed-round it's called a pumpernickel pastrami panini with rosemary eljue," says Hobbs.

This one-day chef started her training at a young age. "And started coming up with her own recipes when she was 12 years old, where she made a crust using tortilla chips," says Linda Hobbs, Emily's mother.

The creativity flowed as she got older. She would check out cookbooks from the library. Now, she thrives on using that creativity to make new recipes. "I'm inventing a recipe for chai snickerdoodle cookies," says Emily Hobbs.

"She just has this creative mind where she can pick out different things and put it together," says Linda Hobbs.

However, it does take practice. "I don't always get it right the first time," says Emily Hobbs.

"For someone this age to have made it on The Food Network is pretty amazing," says Linda Hobbs.

This 23 year-old is not stopping, and will continue pursuing her cooking dreams. "I'll get to New York it soon, to culinary school and then work for the Food Network, eventually," says Emily Hobbs.

If you want to catch up with her recipes and cooking, you can check out her website at http://www.visionsofsugarplum.com/http://www.vision
sofsugarplum.com/ p://www.visionsofsugarplum.com/

How interesting

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Those eager to put 2008 behind them will have to hold their good-byes for just a moment this New Year's Eve.

The world's official timekeepers have added a "leap second" to the last day of the year on Wednesday, to help match clocks to the Earth's slowing spin on its axis, which takes place at ever-changing rates affected by tides and other factors.

The U.S. Naval Observatory, keeper of the Pentagon's master clock, said it would add the extra second on Wednesday in coordination with the world's atomic clocks at 23 hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds Coordinated Universal Time, or UTC.

That corresponds to 6:59:59 p.m. EST (23:59:59 GMT), when an extra second will tick by -- the 24th to be added to UTC since 1972, when the practice began.

UTC is the time scale kept by highly precise atomic clocks around the world, accurate to about a billionth of a second per day, the Naval Observatory says. For those with a need for precision timing, it has replaced Greenwich Mean Time, or GMT.

The decision to add or remove a second is the responsibility of the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service, based on its monitoring of the Earth's rotation.

The goal is to make sure clocks vary from the Earth's rotational time by no more than 0.9 seconds before an adjustment. That keeps UTC in sync with the position of the sun above the Earth.

Mechanisms such as the Internet-based Network Time Protocol and the satellite-based Global Positioning System depend on precision timing.

The first leap second was introduced into UTC on June 30, 1972. The last was added on December 31, 2005.

They have been added at intervals ranging from six months to seven years, Daniel Gambis, head of the IERS Earth Orientation Center at the Observatoire de Paris, wrote in an explanatory piece this month (http://hpiers.obspm.fr/eop-pc/).

Among the reasons for Earth's slowing whirl on its axis are the braking action of tides, snow or the lack of it at the polar ice caps, solar wind, space dust and magnetic storms, according to the U.S. Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology, another timekeeper.

By contrast, a leap day, February 29, occurs once every four years because a complete turn around the sun -- our year with all its seasons -- takes about 365 days and six hours.

In 1970, an international agreement established two time scales: one based on the Earth's rotation and another on highly accurate atomic clocks.

The U.S. Naval Observatory's master clock is based on a system that now includes 50 atomic clocks, 36 based on the element cesium and 14 known as hydrogen masers.

With the Earth's rotation gradually slowing, the periodic insertion of a leap second into the atomic time scale is needed to keep the two systems within a second of each other.

TRUMANN, Ark.  - December 30, 2008 -- An Arkansas man accused of spending several days in the attic of a Pennsylvania family's home, eating their food and stealing other items, is also wanted for offenses in his home state.
Police said Monday that 21-year-old Stanley Carter, of Trumann, is wanted on alleged hot check violations and for nonpayment of fines, which are misdemeanor offenses. Trumann police Detective Jerry Foster says he does not expect to extradite Carter to Arkansas.
Carter was arrested Friday near Wilkes-Barre, Pa. He surrendered after a police dog indicated he was in the attic of the home. Officials say Carter had been staying with people living in an attached home that shared attic space with the family he allegedly burglarized. He apparently moved into the attic after his hosts asked him to leave.
Plains Township, Pa., police Sgt. Ron Dombroski says Carter set up a makeshift toilet in the attic and that officer found food among the items there.

Dombroski said Carter cut a hole in the roof so he could see the home's residents come and go. He said Carter, who admitted to the offenses, logged the items he took in a diary under the heading, "Stanley's Christmas List."

(Lebanon, MO) -- A Lebanon family lost their home in a fire just days before Christmas. The Dyal family survived through their sheer will to live.

The fire last Monday morning happened just hours before a member of the Dyal family would be honored with a day of prayer in her hometown.

But prayer soon turned to nightmare, and once again, a community is praying for one of its own.

"We had minutes," Colleen Dyal says.

The Dyal family used to call this their home, but flames turned the cozy country house into a charred skeleton.

"It was all over. The house was engulfed," Colleen says.

Colleen says she woke to the faint sound of a smoke alarm and her son Curt's voice.

"Curt was yelling at me to get the kids out -- the house was on fire," she says.

Curt slept on a couch in a common room, and was able to get up in time because the smoke alarm was right above his head.

"If Curt had slept a little bit longer... he would have been down in the basement and we all would have... we wouldn't have made it out," his brother Bo says.

But mom and seven kids did make it out, and called dad at work with the news.

"On the way home the only thing I was thinking about was my family," Scott says.

The Dyals watched as firefighters fought the burning flames in freezing conditions.

"But the flames -- it was just like a big poof in the back of the house through the roof," Colleen says. "It was like it just broke through."

"It was unbelievable to see our bedroom burst into flames," Haley says. "Like a movie."

"On top of everything else that we've been going through, I just, total disbelief," Scott says.

You may be wondering why a family that lost absolutely everything is so calm.

"Practice," Haley says.

Fifteen-year-old Haley suffers from stage-4 lung cancer, and a recent MRI showed a new tumor in her brain.

"I wouldn't wish it on any other kid, especially someone that doesn't know God because I don't know how I'd get through it without knowing that," she says.

Lebanon had other plans for Haley last Monday: Haley Dyal Day, a day of prayer, when neighbors would ask God for her to recover.

"I'm an inspiration I guess they say," Haley says. "I never thought I would be."

The Dyals now have another inspiration.

"The chances of them surviving the fire I thought were very slim," Colleen says.

An ordinary plastic storage box that protected items the kids' great-grandmother's had passed down.

"That is amazing. They're not even smoke-damaged," Colleen says.

They don't know what caused the fire, or why this box survived, but the Dyals are certain of one thing.

"It's nothing but the hand of God," Colleen says. "I'll never believe it was anything but God watching over us."

Forty-five firefighters from 10 departments responded to the fire but the home was still a total loss. They think the fire began in the basement, but they don't know why.

Scott says everyone was ready to celebrate Haley during the day of prayer, and it was like the whole town got punched in the stomach.

But he says the whole town is pitching in to help. The family found a home to stay in for the next few months, and local businesses and neighbors donated enough food, clothing and even furniture to fill storage units.

With the help of the Heafley Brothers, friends are also organizing a benefit auction on January 24th at the Mills Center in Lebanon. There will be a chili supper at 5 p.m. and the auction will start at 7 p.m.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced the recall of approximately 750 pounds of sausage products sold in Missouri, found contaminated with the deadly Listerosis bacteria.

The firm, T. Piekutowski European Style Sausage, produced the products on Dec. 18, 2008, distributing them in unmarked packages at their retail counter in Saint Louis, Missouri.

None of the packages carry the USDA mark of inspection, though the Listerosis bacteria was discovered through FSIS routine microbiological testing, prompting the sausage recall. The Krakow sausages, wrapped in various sizes were likely purchased by consumers December 18th and 19th. To date, no illnesses have been reported from the sausage recall.

The recalled sausage contains the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes, rare bacteria that can prove deadly, especially for anyone with a compromised immune system. Children, elders, anyone undergoing chemotherapy, and those with HIV may be especially at risk from Listeria infection.

Symptoms of Listeria include stiff neck, high fever, headache, and nausea. Listeria can grow in the refrigerator, spread by improper hand washing, and with contaminated cutting boards. Healthy people are not at high risk for contracting Listerosis from the recalled sausage, but ingesting the contaminated sausage can potentially cause illness.

Consumers who are concerned about purchasing the recalled sausage from Missouri should contact Owner-Operator Ted Piekutowski at (314) 534-6256.

 

Two Osage Beach men are charged with kidnapping an Arkansas man over the weekend.

Authorities in Baxter County, Arkansas say 52-year-old Craig Winchell and 53-year-old George Smith abducted a man Saturday afternoon from the country life mobile home park in the Midway area.

Both men were arrested in Miller County, Missouri, where they allegedly dropped off the victim, 40-year-old Warren Willette.

The Sheriff's Department in Miller County says the men claimed Willette owed them money.

They then found weapons, rope and duct tape in their vehicle, which led them to believe they'd held taken Willette against his will.

Both men are held in Miller County in lieu of $500,000 each while they wait for extradition.

Willette was uninjured.

 

If you get horrible migraines that basically bring your life to a halt, there's a method of treatment you might not have considered.

Botox! The drug most commonly used to treat wrinkles is being used to reduce the occurrence of migraine attacks.

Treatment is being administered right here in Springfield. at The Headache Care Center.

While Botox is approved to treat a variety of disorders it is not yet approved for migraines, that's why a number of studies are looking at it's effects and so far some doctors say the results are promising.

Sheila McMillan knows what it's like to suffer through with pain and severe migraines. "Most of the time when I would have them I would go into the bedroom a cold dark quite place, no movement no family just complete withdraw," says McMillan.

But now she doesn't have to hide, that's because an unlikely treatment presented itself.

For the last 3 years doctors have treated McMillan's headaches with Botox injections. "I couldn't believe it was working," says McMillan.

A study done at the Headache Care Center, which was recently published, found that patients who were unsuccessful with more traditional treatments were given back their quality of life, with Botox.

"What we found is that there was a decrease in the frequency of headaches not all the months, but for some of the months," says Dr. Roger Cady, Director of the Headache Care Center.

Patients like McMillan get multiple injections at specific points in their forehead, neck and other muscles.

Doctors say the results typically last 3 to 4 months, unlike other medications taken on a daily basis.

"Taking drugs sometimes have adverse effects and again there is a lot of issue around compliance the ability to remember to take that drug, so in that sense Botox has a lot of promise," says Cady.

Promise which comes with a price. Since the FDA hasn't approved Botox for treatment of Migraines insurance won't cover it for most patients and each session of injection costs about $1,000.

But for Sheila McMillan her outcome far outweighs the cost. " Because I have a life now when your withdrawing from social events family events church events because your in so much pain and then you get a relief you can actually participate, it's worth it," says McMillan.

McMillan says she does some mission work in third world countries and couldn't go until she started getting better.

Dr. Cady says while his study was recently published in a medical journal another major study is going on right now and its results should go to the FDA in hopes of getting this treatment approved.

For more information log-on to www.headachecare.com

(Jefferson City, MO) -- Several servicemen with the Missouri National Guard claim they were discriminated against based on their race and gender.
  
More than a dozen high-ranking officials and soldiers claim General King Sidwell discriminates against women and blacks.
  
Thirteen soldiers have gone to the NAACP and two officers have filed complaints with Army administration.

(Laurie, MO) -- A man tracking a deer was killed this weekend in Camden County at Lake of the Ozarks.

The Missouri State Water Patrol says Robert Parker of Sedalia went missing Saturday while deer hunting.  Parker had shot a deer and was trying to track it when he fell from a bluff.
   
Mid-county divers recovered Parker's body around 2:45 p.m. Saturday afternoon at Laurie, Missouri in about four feet of water.

As you well know, we are getting closer to my birthday. Every year there is a celebration in my honor and I think that this year the celebration will be repeated.
During this time there are many people shopping for gifts, there are many radio announcements, TV commercials, and in every part of the world everyone is talking that my birthday is getting closer and closer.
It is really very nice to know, that at least once a year, some people think of me.
As you know, the celebration of my birthday began many years ago.
At first people seemed to understand and be thankful of all that I did for them, but in these times, no one seems to know the reason for the celebration.
Family and friends get together and have a lot of fun, but they don't know the meaning of the celebration. I remember that last
year there was a great feast in my honor. The dinner table was full of delicious foods, pastries, fruits, assorted nuts and
chocolates. The decorations were exquisite and there were many, many beautifully wrapped gifts.
But, do you want to know something? I wasn't invited.
I was the guest of honor and they didn't remember to send me an invitation.
The party was for me, but when that great day came, I was left outside, they closed the door in my face .. and I wanted to be
with them and share their table.
In truth, that didn't surprise me because in the last few years all close their doors to me. Since I wasn't invited, I decided to
enter the party without making any noise. I went in and stood in a corner.
They were all drinking; there were some who were drunk and telling jokes and laughing at everything. They were having a grand time.
To top it all, this big fat man all dressed in red wearing a long white
beard entered the room yelling BOOGEDY-BOOGEDY-BOOGEDY! He seemed drunk. He sat on the sofa and all the children ran to him, saying: "Santa Claus, Santa Claus" as if the party were in his honor!
At midnight all the people began to hug each other; I extended my arms waiting for someone to hug me and do you know no-one hugged me.
Suddenly they all began to share gifts. They opened them one by one with great expectation. When all had been opened, I looked to see if, maybe, there was one for me. What would you feel if on your birthday everybody shared gifts and you did not get one?
I then understood that I was unwanted at that party and quietly left.
Every year it gets worse. People only remember the gifts, the parties, to eat and drink, and nobody remembers me.
I would like this Christmas that you allow me to enter into your life.
I would like that you recognize the fact that almost two thousand years ago I came to this world to give my life for you, on the cross, to save you.
Today, I only want that you believe this with all your heart.
I want to share something with you. As many didn't invite me to their party, I will have my own celebration, a grandiose party
that no one has ever imagined, a spectacular party. I'm still making the final arrangements..
Today I am sending out many invitations and there is an invitation for you. I want to know if you wish to attend and I will make a reservation for you and write your name with golden letters in my great guest book. Only those on the guest list will be invited to the party. Those who don't answer the invite, will be left outside. Be prepared because when all is ready you will be part of my great party.

See you soon. I Love you!
Jesus

Why would someone do this to this poor woman?

‘Life goes on’ for grandma after abduction and beating ‘I have to stay positive’ says 75-year-old left bound in car trunk for 26 hours

 

 

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28250704/

What a nice story

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Billie Watts says she was tempted but couldn’t bring herself to keep $97,000 she said she found in a Cracker Barrel restroom.

The 75-year-old Murfreesboro woman told The Daily News Journal that she discovered the money inside a tapestry bag hanging from a hook on a stall door last Thursday.

But five days later, the money and its anonymous owner remain something of a mystery in the community, where police say they have no report of the find.

While digging through the bag to figure out its owner, Watts says she found a bundle of neatly stacked $1,000 bills.

Watts said she and her husband took the money home, but later called the restaurant back and asked if there was a lost-and-found department. She was told yes, and left her number.

A woman called about 15 minutes later and verified she was the owner by identifying pictures left in the bag. Watts returned the bag to the owner, whom she described as an elderly woman, but said she does not have the woman’s last name or phone number.

Watts said the woman told her that the money came from selling her home and her belongings and that she was going to start a new life in Florida with her son. Watts says the woman offered to pay her $1,000, but Watts refused it.

A manager of the Cracker Barrel restaurant, Bill Shupp, said no employees actually saw the money or the elderly owner.

 Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is in federal custody on corruption charges, a law enforcement official said Tuesday.

Rod Blagojevich is currently serving his second term as governor of Illinois.

Blagojevich and his chief of staff, John Harris, are charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and solicitation of bribery, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's office for the Northern District of Illinois.

Both men are expected in U.S. District Court in Chicago later Tuesday.

A news conference is expected at noon ET.

Federal prosecutors say Blagojevich, Harris and others conspired to gain financial benefits in appointing President-elect Barack Obama's Senate replacement, according to the statement.

"The breadth of corruption laid out in these charges is staggering," U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said in a statement. "They allege that Blagojevich put a 'for sale' sign on the naming of a United States Senator; involved himself personally in pay-to-play schemes with the urgency of a salesman meeting his annual sales target; and corruptly used his office in an effort to trample editorial voices of criticism."

According to the statement, Blagojevich is alleged to have discussed obtaining:

 

a substantial salary for himself at either a non-profit foundation or an organization affiliated with labor unions;

 

 

a spot for his wife on paid corporate boards, where he speculated she might garner as much as $150,000 a year;

 

 

promises of campaign funds -- including cash up front;

 

 

a Cabinet post or ambassadorship for himself.

 

The Obama transition team is aware that Blagojevich is in federal custody, but has no comment, according to a senior Democratic source.

The statement also alleges that Blagojevich and others tried to illegally obtain campaign contributions.

Blagojevich, Harris and others are also alleged to have withheld state assistance to the Tribune Company in connection with the sale of Wrigley Field. The statement says this was done to induce the firing of Chicago Tribune editorial board members who were critical of Blagojevich.

Blagojevich, who turns 52 on Wednesday, is in his second four-year term as Illinois governor. His term ends in January 2011.

Before being elected governor, he served as a U.S. congressman for Illinois' 5th district from 1997 until 2003, according to his online biography. He and his wife, Patti, have two daughters.

Blagojevich announced last month that he was forming a panel to review candidates to fill Obama's Senate seat.

Several Illinois Democrats -- including Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. and Iraq war veteran Tammy Duckworth, a former congressional candidate who now serves in Blagojevich's administration -- have been mentioned as possible Senate replacements for Obama.