....Two men who have impacted many lives.....

            In the fall of 1862 and 1864, blood was shed near Newtonia, Mo. by Patriots of a Nation trying to find themselves and establish the direction of America.  The Civil War raged and changed our Country forever.  Many of you are aware of the Battles which took place in our own back yard and how these battles continue to affect us today.  I am sure there were heroes in each of the Newtonia Battles and I wish I knew more about their individual stories, but today I want to point out some modern day heroes.  These modern day heroes walk the same grounds as our ancestors did all those years ago.  They have even shed their own sweat and blood into the very same dirt, as those from the Civil War.  These two men have volunteered countless hours to preserve the Battlefield and assist its progress into the National Park System.

            As a young man, I attended school in Neosho and I had many wonderful talented teachers.  I was blessed, but being a dumb young kid I did not know it.  I took many things for granted, including the efforts put into making me more knowledgeable and a better person.  Two of these teachers became heroes for me, as they changed my life – each in their own unique way – by giving me tools I needed to later take care of my family.  So, it is no surprise to me to witness these same two men working as hard, maybe even harder, in their retirement than they did in their teaching days.

            If you have not been to the Newtonia Battlefield or the Ritchey Mansion lately, you should drive by and see how great it all looks.  The area has drawn National attention by being featured in a documentary on Public Television and by being considered for inclusion as a National Park.  These accomplishments do not “just” happen.  There has to be hard working advocates pushing these things along.  There are many worthy geographical sites and philosophical causes, all across the country, screaming to be recognized and grabbing for available Federal Dollars.

            If not for many worthy volunteers, including my two Heroes – Don Jessen and Russell Hively – this much sought after attention would have easily passed over Newtonia and like the soldiers who fought there 148 years ago, been forgotten.  I can not tell you the number of times I have come across these two men as they either worked in Newtonia or were preparing to leave Neosho, with supplies, to accomplish whatever task was at hand for the day.  They have given their time, their own money, and their hearts to make this area better for future generations.

            Both Mr. Jessen and Mr. Hively were accomplished and well respected classroom teachers.  They affected so many lives in so many positive ways.  I can not imagine the number of students who must have walked in and out of their lives over the years.  They each left a piece of themselves with all of these young people, in an effort to better our society and teach someone to be even smarter than they are.  My only regret is not realizing their greatness as men, when I was with them every day in a “captive” environment. 

            I have often heard people make the statement, “If I can affect one person in a positive way during my life, then my life will have been a success”.  Here we have two men, who not only affected many lives during the course of their professional lives, but now in “retirement” they continue to affect more.  Not only is it the living they wish to affect, but also the dead.  They honor the sacrifices made by so many of our ancestors, nearly a sesquicentennial ago.  It is time we honor these two men and recognize what they have done for us. 

            The next time you drive by the Newtonia area, near the old Battlefields or the Ritchey Mansion, look for some “old” guys in pickups.  They will be the ones with dirt on their hands and sweat on their brows.  Don’t just drive by and wave – stop and say, “Thank you.”

....Should America Have the Death Penalty???....

I hope to stir some debate on this issue, because more than anything else I want to help myself understand how I really feel on this issue.  I have found myself struggling with the Death Penalty, over the course of the past couple of years.  Now, before my Conservative Friends flip out on me here, I have some "off the wall reasons" why and they are not what you hear in the mainstream.

For my Liberal Friends, let me be clear - I have no compassion for anyone who murders or rapes another person.  If they are guilty, they need to suffer - just like their victims did!  If it were up to me and not the Constitution, I would say anyone who is proven to have killed another person should die by the same method used on their victim.  For example, you use a chain saw to cut up some poor person, we get a chain saw and.........well you get the idea!

Ok, now for this issue.  I feel doubt about the application of the Death Penalty, for three reasons. First, it is terribly expensive to carry out the long process of putting someone to death and it takes many years.  MSNBC had a decent article titled, "To execute or not: A question of Cost?", which was published in March of 2009.  It details stories from many states and its clear - it costs way more to have an inmate put to death than house them for life!

Second, I am concerned about the Judicial System making a mistake.  As remote as it may be, one mistake is way to many here on an act you can not undo.  The system is not full proof and as much as I will upset some of you, I do believe there are different forms of "Justice" based on your economic standing in society and this is a moral wrong.  Defendants with money to hire the best lawyers, in my opinion, get a better defence than those who must use Public Defenders.  I welcome arguments to this point, but this is my experience and it concerns me!  Along this line, Justice John Paul Stevens (whom I rarely ever agreed with), had a great article in the New York Times recently on this very topic.

Third, and the strongest reason I am struggling with this is the mere desire in my soul for punishment and yes, I will be honest - revenge.  I believe a person who commits the absolute worst crimes against society should face the worst punishment.  I have spent much time speaking to inmates, who have been housed in prisons, and employees of Correctional Institutions.  Both of these classes of individuals affirm to me, it is worse to be in the General Population of any Medium to Maximum Security Prison, than it is to be in solitary confinement - like most all Death Row Inmates.

I say put the meanest with the meanest and if they kill each other in Jail, then so be it.  Maybe not politically correct, but again, if they have been proven guilty - so be it!

As always, I welcome your thoughts........If we can't agree - Let's at least be civil!!!!!!!!!

..In Memory of J.W. Harryman......

Constable J.W. Harryman and Detective Harry McGinnis of the Joplin Police Department were killed in a gun battle with the notorious outlaw gang led by Bonnie and Clyde. Detective McGinnis, Constable Haryman and several other area officers had gone to their hideout to investigate what they thought were bootleggers. Instead, they had stumbled upon Bonnie and Clyde. Both Detective McGinnis and Constable Harryman were shot and killed.

The Bonnie and Clyde Gang was responsible for the murder of law enforcement officers in four states - Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas - between 1932 and 1934. Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow started their criminal career by robbing banks and quickly became notorious murderers wanted for the murders of nine law enforcement officers.

The two criminals were finally shot and killed in Louisiana when they were ambushed by a task force of Texas and Louisiana officers.

A friend of mine, Mike Frazier, recently provided me with a copy of the original Missouri Highway Patrol Crime report, from this incident.  I found it interesting and decided to share it with you.  I apologize for the poor quality, but hey it's nearly 80 years old!!!