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Because I Felt Like It, Criminal Masterminds | Rich Horton December 10, 2008 | Comments Off

There’s No Place Like Home?

There are just some things you shouldn’t do outside of Oz: Bel-Nor chief resigns amid questions about Munchkin’s money

The police chief in Bel-Nor has resigned amid questions into what he did with money from a Munchkin.

The former is Matthew Lauer, 38, longtime top cop in the north St. Louis County village, who says he’s simply moving on to something else. He stepped down Oct. 10.

The latter is Mickey Carroll, 89, one of a handful of the surviving diminutive denizens of Munchkinland from the 1939 MGM classic “The Wizard of Oz.” His caretaker says the chief took advantage of him.

Carroll has lived in Bel-Nor for nearly seven decades. Carroll’s caretaker, Linda Dodge, said the actor often gave Lauer money at the chief’s request, believing he was supporting the police by buying gear.

Dodge said that earlier this year she looked at Carroll’s financial records — including at least one check made out to Lauer — and questioned where the money was going.

Dodge took her concerns to Village Chairman Kevin Buchek, who referred the case to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The case remains under investigation, said a patrol spokeswoman.

In June, Carroll sought a restraining order against Lauer, claiming the chief had pocketed a $2,000 donation intended for the village. Carroll claimed Lauer then threatened him, in phone calls and visits to his home, to change his story to make it appear as if the donation had been a gift. Lauer returned the money.

I grew up in Bel-Nor, and Mickey Carroll has always been a treasure in the village. Bel-Nor even had a celebration a number of years ago where a “yellow brick road” (actually a line of yellow paint) led to Mickey’s front door. So, it is sad for me to see that good relationship tarnished.

I’m also sad to see the Bel-Nor police department tarnished. Yes, they could be a terror if you went six miles or more over the speed limit on Natural Bridge Road, but they were mostly approachable and friendly guys. The full sized Hershey bars with almonds they used to hand out every Halloween were legendary. (If you played your cards right, and had a costume that wasn’t too distinctive, it was possible to snag four or five of the things over the course of the night. Sweet!)

Mostly, I’m amazed at the chutzpah of the police chief. Lord knows, I wouldn’t want to cross the Lollipop Guild.

Because I Felt Like It | Rich Horton October 21, 2008 | Comments Off

Hallowed Ground

I rousted the family out early, ignoring their grumbling. The weather report promised highs in the upper 80s, but without too much humidity. Still, I thought it would be good to arrive early and beat both the crowds and the heat. So I prodded them along, fed them breakfast and arrived at the new Gettysburg Visitor Center shortly after it opened at 8am.

We had heard that hiring on of the tour guides available at the center was well worth the money. So, we made arrangements to book one. This turned out to be a good move, since he knew his way around the battlefield and its history. Even better, he drove so we were all free to look around.

We set out to tour the site in chronological order, starting with the stand by Buford’s cavalry northwest of the town of Gettysburg that precipitated the general battle that followed.

The guide asked where we were from and made sure he pointed out markers from any units from Rochester, New York (our original point of origin). One artillery battery that hailed from Rochester fought there astride the Chambersburg Pike. This is the marker for Battery L, 1st New York Light Artillery.

We traveled south along an access road and saw where Longstreet’s Corps had massed for the attacks of the second day. These are the North Carolina and Virginia markers.

We saw the Peach Orchard, all replanted recently with new trees.

We saw the Wheat Field. Then we reached Plum Run and the Devil’s Den. Tourists scrambled over the boulders where men once fought and died. Up and into the woods to where the far left flank of Meade’s fishhook was anchored on Little Round Top by a few men from Maine.

We saw the spot where the 20th Maine stood, fought and finally charged into the men from the 15th Alabama, driving them back and holding the flank. On up the hill we saw where the 140th New York, from Rochester, New York plugged the hole when the Confederates breeched the lines. Their colonel, Patrick O’Rourke fell there, leading his men from the front.

We stood on the rocky little hill and saw the vast battlefield spread out all around us. The Devil’s Den was taken by the Confederates, but the little hill remained the anchor for Meade’s line.

Onward then to the place that marked the high water mark of the Confederacy on Cemetery Ridge. We stood on the spot where the few men from Pickett’s charge that survived the bloody advance across almost a mile of naked ground briefly broke the Union line.

Pickett’s men and the reserves Lee was able to muster charged into the artillery hell and rifle crossfire that the Union had waiting for them. It is a wonder any of them made it to the top of the hill. More than half of the 12,000 who made that advance did not return from it.

I would like to go back when I can spend more time.

Because I Felt Like It, Personal Thoughts | Gaius July 13, 2008 | Comments (8)

Pix

Brown Bess demonstration (A .75 caliber musket.) Fort George, Ontario

American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls from The Maid of the Mist, Niagara Falls, Ontario

Under the Horseshoe Falls, Niagara Falls, Ontario

The Whirlpool (MUCH more impressive when in a small boat inside it!) Niagara Falls, Ontario

Because I Felt Like It | Gaius July 8, 2008 | Comments (5)

Storms On Storms

This is either the storm that knocked out power to the Crabitat two nights ago or part of the same system:

And this is the sudden storm that popped up last night. It didn't knock out power, but it delivered yet another gully washer and ruined any chance of taking a swim.

Sigh. This weather pattern is getting very old.

Because I Felt Like It | Gaius June 21, 2008 | Comments (5)

Storm

Because I Felt Like It | Gaius June 4, 2008 | Comments (3)

What’s Wrong With This Picture?

Answer: I just took this an hour or so ago. It is May 6th and the tulips are just blooming. These are at the front of the house and get morning sun. (This is very, very late in this area, trust me.)

As for Rich's earlier post about Schiller's missing skull (and pretty much all of the rest of his remains), we here at Blue Crab Boulevard swear we have no knowledge of the whereabouts of the poet. Honest.