Thursday, January 28, 2010

Attention: P-Town Fans Invited!! (UPDATED 2/2/10)

Conversation with the Mayor A Community Meeting with Mayor Jane Murray Sat., Jan. 30th at 1:00 pm Christ United Methodist Church 5731 Gallia Street, Sciotoville (across from East High School)
How 'bout it fans? Anyone want to attend Jane Murray's "Community Meeting"?
Do any of you P-Towners have any good questions for her honor? Feel free to share by leaving a comment below.
Special note to the Irish Mob. Keep it clean, guys. ;)
UPDATE:
Murray's meeting was a dud. Other than Mayor Murray and her cronies (Councilman Rich Noel and disgraced former councilman Harold Daub) only five people attended, including former Wastewater Director Rick Duncan and his uncle who lives in Sciotoville. Murray and Noel threatened to call the police if Duncan didn't leave. Duncan said he just wanted to see if Murray was going to slander him again. At about 1:10 P.M., Murray said she was going to re-schedule the meeting due to "bad weather."

State of the City of Portsmouth Website

Did you know Dan Saez is still the Community Development Director? Really. Don't take our word for it. Check out the City's official website.

* You may also be interested to know that Richard Duncan is still the Director of Wastewater. http://portsmouthoh.org/index.aspx?nid=130 * Chris Murphy is still the Service Director and Sheri Fischer is still his assistant. http://portsmouthoh.org/index.aspx?nid=119 * And Jane's pet Mingus, who left town weeks ago to get out of the Murray asylum, is still her Chief of Staff. http://portsmouthoh.org/index.aspx?nid=109 * Despite Murray's hiring of two so-called engineers, apparently no one is in charge of the Engineering Department. http://portsmouthoh.org/index.aspx?nid=79 * At least, the Water Department is still right, because it lists Sam Sutherland as Director. Oops, that should be "Assistant Director." * Apparently, the only thing Murray has bothered to update since her election is her own page-to list herself and and her former pet, Mingus. * Finally, did you know that Mayor Murray is a "him"???

We're just sayin'....

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Murray Continues to Give EPA the Finger

Next time you get pulled over by the cops and they tell you were speeding, just say "No, I wasn't" and drive away. See how that works out for you.

Monday, January 25, 2010

City Council Meeting

Tonight's Portsmouth City Council Meeting is likely to be standing-room only, just like it was at Mayor Murray's first Council Meeting. Get there early if you want to get a seat. If you missed the last meeting you can watch on-line at: http://www.watchthezone.com/citycouncilside.html Click on the link above and scroll down to "11 January 2010." It was a very long meeting (almost 4 hours), so we've written a down a few of the high (and low) points of the meeting. After the video of the meeting has down-loaded to your computer, you can use your mouse to move the slider at the bottom of the picture to select any time you want. (All times are approximate.) 9:20 Councilman John Haas requests an executive session to discuss personnel and litigation issues. Murray objects. No executive session takes place. 11:20 Mayor Murray threatens to file misdemeanor charges against Council members. 16:20 Murray states that she has asked of a ruling by the Ohio Ethics Commission regarding her lawsuit against the City. [Remarks by citizens-I] 32:50 Former Mayor Kalb speaks. 36:00 Harold Daub idiotically claims that the multi-million medical center planned for the McKinley school site will just be a pain clinic or "pill mill." 42:00 Chris Neff speaks. 48:00 Jerry OBannion 50:00 Excellent description of the proposed medical center by Maggie Miller. [End remarks by citizens] 61:07 Lengthy discussion about mayor's office improvements. Mayor is told at least three times, not to spend further funds on office without council approval. (117:00, 118:50, and 129:00) 120:00 Mayor invites "everyone to see progress in mayor's office." 131:55 Discussion of Salary Ordinance. Three new positions with higher pay than previous positions. 134:00 Murray claims her re-structuring will save the City $325-350,000 per year. 139:00 Murray claims EPA has full knowledge of City plans and she has "covered all requirements of the EPA." 141:00 When specifically asked if EPA has approved City's plan Murray says the City is "Totally in compliance." "There is no problem." [This was a lie. On Jan. 13 and 14, the Portsmouth Times reported on a letter from EPA telling the city it was in violation, and telling City Council that the Mayor was being uncooperative. Murray had already received that letter.] 148:00 Murray threatens City Council with legal action, if they have "communication" with EPA. (Now we know why.) 150:00 Council explains to Mayor that hiring a Commissioner at a higher salary without Council approval is getting "the cart before the horse." 167:00 Murray promises to have job descriptions for all new positions to council by end of the week. 170:00 Auditor suggests Murray pay newly hired personnel according to existing salary ordinance. 174:00 President of Council suggests that Mr. Peck be paid no more than the Mayor's approved salary, $59,000. 176:00 Peck shakes head, "no." 179:00 Mayor claims she has a mandate. Blames her problems on "disgruntled former employees." 180:00 Murray says that this is the first time in years that the City "has people qualified for the jobs" they do. [Statements by citizens-II] 187:00 Statement by former Wastewater Director Rick Duncan. (Mayor leaves Council chambers as Duncan is speaking and does not return until after he is done.) 198:00 Former Councilman Maty Mohr speaks. 200:00 Chris Neff speaks again. 203:00 Former County Commissioner Dee Penix speaks. 207:00 Harold Daub makes an ass of himself as usual. [Meeting adjourns.]

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Eleventh Day of Grinchmas

On the Eleventh Day of Grinchmas, the Grinches want to see...
Eleven Days of Uncertified Water...
Ten Months of Murray...
Nine Forrey FAILS...
Eight empty theaters...
Seven Abominations...
Six Grinches on Council...
No golden rings...
Fourth Ward Foolishness...
Three Evil Websites...
Two-Faced Bloggers...
And the Portsmouth Times in bankruptcy.
DAY ONE: On Monday, January 4, 2010. Jane Murray fired three City department heads on her first day as mayor. She told the Portsmouth Daily Times and WSAZ-TV that all three were guilty of "gross negligence and mismanagement," especially Water Works Director Sam Sutherland. She told WSAZ she was going to have Sutherland "investigated" for improperly terminating Roy Payton, who was convicted of stealing city property when he was a city worker. Payton's behind-the-scenes support for Murray was instrumental in obtaining a fraudulent endorsement for her by a city union. You can read the story at WSAZ's website. (We reported on Murray's dirty deal with Payton earlier.)
WSAZ specifically asked Murray about rumors that the city would be out of compliance with EPA regulations because of the firings. Murray denied this and said she had already made arrangements the EPA. This was a lie. (Murray and Peck's lies appear in red.)
DAY TWO: Tuesday, Jan. 5. The Ohio EPA wrote to inform Murray that the City is in fact out of compliance at the water and sewer plants due to the firing of Mr. Sutherland and Mr. Duncan who had qualifying licenses. Murray did NOT forward this letter to Council, even though it is addressed to "Mayor and City Council."
DAY THREE: Wednesday, Jan. 6. City Solicitor Mike Jones warned Murray that her actions "may expose the city of Portsmouth to potential liability," due to potential EPA fines.
DAY FOUR: Thursday, Jan. 7. The Portsmouth Daily Times (1/7/10) featured this headline:
Mayor: City Meets EPA Guidelines Contingency Plan Implemented to Comply
Referring to her newly hired engineer, Jeff Peck, she tells the Times: "We knew these requirements all along. Mr. Peck has 30 years experience as a civil engineer...At the same time, we also knew the requirements for the wastewater department, and we have made arrangements-all of that is covered." The Times accepted Murray's lies and reported "The city of Portsmouth may have dodged a $10,000-a-day bullet," referring to possible EPA fines.
DAY FIVE: Friday, Jan. 8. Murray and Peck send a contingency plan to Ohio EPA. Peck tells the Times "the city has covered the need by contracting with a firm that has a Class IV operator for both the water...and sewage facility." He said "They have full knowledge of our plans."
DAY SIX: Sat., Jan. 9. The Times reports "Operations Normal At Plant" quoting statements from Mayor Murray and Engineer Peck, claiming EPA's acceptance of a "contingency plan."
DAY SEVEN: Sunday, Jan. 10. The Community Common headline: "Mayor Says City In Compliance With EPA Guidelines."
DAY EIGHT: Monday, Jan. 11. Mayor Murray continues lying to the city of Portsmouth at her first City Council Meeting, where she introduces Peck to Council as the Commissioner of Engineering and Public Service. In the Council meeting (which may be viewed here, scroll down to 11 January 2010). Murray repeatedly tells City Council that the City was in compliance with EPA regulations. She makes multiple statements such as the following:
"What we are doing is in compliance." "We have covered all the requirements of the EPA." "There is no problem."
After several council members question these lies by the Mayor, she threatens to file misdemeanor charges against them to have them removed from office.
"No member of City Council has authority to communicate with Ohio EPA about administrative or regulatory issues. I must remind City Council that under the charter, you are stepping into what are absolute prerogatives of the Mayor."
DAY NINE. Tues. Jan. 12. Several member of City Council receive direct email correspondence from the OhioEPA. The email informs City Council that the EPA believed they had no choice but to contact City Council since Murray and Peck had been non-responsive to repeated warnings about compliance issues resulting for the termination of Duncan and Sutherland. EPA wanted to make sure City Council understood the serious consequences of the Mayor's actions and the possibility of $10,000-per-day fines.
The EPA communication came the very next day after Murray threatened to charge City Council with misdemeanors, if they had any contact with EPA.
DAY TEN. Wed. Jan 13. The Portsmouth Times reports on the memo to Council from EPA: "Portsmouth In Violation of EPA Rules." The Times article finally exposes Murray's lies to City Council and the public.
Despite her unproven, accusations of "gross mismanagement and incompetence," and her previous claims that Mr. Peck was qualified to operate both the water and sewer plants, and that the City was in full compliance, Mayor Murphy offered, Duncan and Sutherland their jobs back on Wednesday, the day of the Portsmouth Times headline.
DAY ELEVEN. Thursday, Jan 14. Director Sutherland returns to his position at the Water Works, and the City was finally back in compliance with EPA requirements for the water system. Mayor Murray has yet to apologize for her accusations against Mr. Sutherland.
The City remains out of compliance at the Sewage Plant. Duncan refused to return to his former position, and Murray is still trying to find a qualified person for the job to avoid being fined by EPA.
Mayor Murray has been exposed as a liar by the Portsmouth Times, by the Ohio EPA and by her own actions in rehiring Mr. Sutherland after her outrageous accusations.

Friday, January 22, 2010

Memo to Mr. Peck

TO: Mr. P, Engineering and Public Service Czar of Portsmouth FROM: P-Town Underground DATE: 1/22/2010 SUBJECT: The N-Word Dear Mr. P, We have heard from multiple City employees regarding your use of the "N-word" several times in your recent visit to one of the City's treatment plants. All the City workers are talking about it. JM has probably told you that City employees are backwards, racist hicks. Perhaps that is why you felt it was appropriate to use the n-word in describing African Americans. That type of language may be acceptable back in Lexington. However up here in the North, it is definitely frowned upon. You should use the words African American or Black, if you insist on describing your experiences with people of color. We also recommend that when you describe shoddy workmanship, you should use a phrase such as "jerry-rigged," instead of the term you used in the presence of City employees. Keep in mind that the President of Council and many City Employees are African American. If you hope to continue as a City employee, you should try to avoid using this word, out of respect for your fellow employees.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

University Chronicle (SSU) Gets It (Updated 1/22/10)

An excellent article, called "P-Town Politics" appears in the latest issue of the (Shawnee State) University Chronicle. (Click here to read it.)
Written by student journalists, Adam Sheets and Stephanie Phillips, the article provides an excellent overview of the mess that Mayor Jane Murray has created in her first two weeks in office. Please read it. Perhaps you could take a moment to comment on line to encourage Sheets and Phillips in their efforts.
Mayor Murray had previously agreed to an interview with the student journalists but later declined and sent Peter Mingus, her Chief of Staff who has since resigned, instead. What happened to Murray's promise of openness and working closely with SSU students that she made repeatedly in the campaign? Murray should keep her promise and let the students interview her.
The same issue features an opinion piece by Phillips that is bit more sympathetic to Mayor Murray but still calls her on the carpet and calls for the mayor and council to work together.
UPDATE 1/22/2010: Sheets and Phillips articles have generated a lot of interesting comments. (Click here and here to read.)

Saturday, January 16, 2010

On the Tenth Day of Grinchmas

On the Tenth Day of Grinchmas, the Grinches want to see... Ten Months of Murray... Nine Forrey FAILS... Eight empty theaters... Seven Abominations... Six Grinches on Council... No golden rings... Fourth Ward Foolishness... Three Evil Websites... Two-Faced Bloggers... And the Portsmouth Times in bankruptcy.
Immediately following the November 2009 election of Jane Murray to be the Mayor of Portsmouth, we wished her and her administration the best of luck and success. On Nov. 4, 2009, we wrote:
We would like to congratulate all of the winners in yesterday's election. All of them, especially Ms. Murray, had impressive victories, and we sincerely wish them all the success in the world. The Mayor-elect and the new City Councilmen certainly have their work cut out for them. We wish them nothing but success.

After that time, we did not criticize Murray. Instead, we focused on informing our readers about the CAVE People of Portsmouth and their hateful and damaging influence on City government, hoping against hope, that Murray had somehow learned from her past legacy of failure and that she would be an effective mayor.

Unfortunately, Murray's narcissism and monomaniacal tendencies are just too strong. We feared she was a train wreck waiting to happen, but her first week is worse than even we imagined. Incredibly, even before taking office, as mayor-elect (!), she became a mouthpiece for a wacky group of anti-nuclear activists whose stated goal is to close down the US Enrichment Corp. at Piketon. Murray called for actions that would cost literally 1000s of jobs that might otherwise come to our area. She said that land which is planned to be used for industrial development should used for an Indian cultural heritage park!?!
We told you about the embarrassing failure of her inept political career in Kentucky, which left behind a series of bankrupt so-called cultural projects, including among many others the failed UK Basketball Museum. (Click on highlighted text for more information.)

So now the biggest question around the City of Portsmouth is

"HOW CAN WE GET RID OF THIS CRAZY WOMAN???"

Recall is the most obvious answer. Unfortunately, according to the City Charter, the recall process will take many months.

Jan . 4: Murray took office. The charter states that recalls of elected officials must be initiated by petitions passed and signed by registered voters of Portsmouth. The recall petitions must be gotten from the City Clerk. The Clerk is not authorized to release until the elected official has been in office for six months.

July 6: Six months from Murray's first day in office would be July 4, Independence Day. But the Fourth is a Sunday. The City Building will be closed on Monday to celebrate the holiday. So recall petitions will available on Tuesday, July 6.

July-August: Petitions must be passed, signed, and returned to the City Clerk. After her review and verification of signatures, the signed petitions will be sent to the Scioto Board of Elections for certification.

September-October: Depending on the speed with which the petitions are circulated and the number of signatures to verify, a special election could be scheduled in October, or even September. However, due to the extra cost of a special election, it is likely that the actual recall vote would take place in the Fall General Election.

November 2: The first Tuesday in November. The likely decision point for the voters of Portsmouth to recall Jane Murray. If the election were held today, we believe she would be recalled. After all she only got 46% of the vote in a three-way election, so she started out with the majority of the voters voting against her. We will be surprised if she can un-do the damage she has done among the citizenry in time to save her job, especially if she does not learn from her early mistakes,

Mid-November: The Board of Elections certify the election results. If the recall is successful, Murray's term would end immediately upon the certification of results. The president of Council, currently David Malone (former candidate for mayor, himself) would immediately become mayor, or another person on City Council, if Malone declines.

After ten months and a few days, Murray's disastrous tenure, would be over and her reign of error over our town would end.

What a fitting end to Murray's treacherous political career, which began with Murray organizing a recall effort against former Council President, Howard Baughman.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Reign of Terror: Comedy of Error

THE REST OF THE STORY
January 4, 2010 Jane Murray's first day in office. When the heads rolled.
The following information is compiled from reports we received from several individuals connected to city government or city employees. The times listed are approximate, but the events occurred as described. We believe that the trauma these events help to explain the sudden departure of Mr. Mingus. For "personal reasons" according to Mayor Murray. (Yeah, right.)
TIMELINE OF MURRAY'S "SECOND STREET SLAUGHTER"

8:00 am. Mayor Jane Murray sent two axe men to terminate 5 City employees. Murray's two Chiefs of Staff, Pete Mingus and Alan Barlow left the municipal building armed with 5 sealed letters of termination signed by the new mayor.

8:15 am. The dirty work began. The Chiefs of Staff arrived at the Service Department garage. The men gave Service Director Chris Murphy an order to fire his assistant. Murphy called his assistant into his office, instructed her to pack her personal effects, and gave her the pink slip from Murray. All this occurred as two Chiefs of Staff coolly looked on. 8:30 am. Minutes later, after the deed was done, with the fired assistant still looking for empty boxes to fill, the Chiefs of Staff called Mr. Murphy into his own office. At this point, immediately after making him fire his own assistant, the Chiefs gave Murphy his letter of termination and ordered him to vacate the premises also, effective immediately. [Murphy had met with Murray in November 2009 to ask her about his continued employment. Murray stated that she would not be announcing any personnel changes until after she took office. At least Murray has kept one promise.]

It must have been difficult for Mingus, the paid Chief of Staff, and Barlow, the "volunteer" Chief of Staff, who are both military men, to terminate the employment of Mr. Murphy who also served in the military. But they were just following orders. 9:00 am. Mingus and Barlow, the men in black, leave the Service Department with their mission accomplished. Two heads have rolled. Three to go.

9:30 am. Chiefs of Staff, Mingus and Barlow, arrive at the Water Filtration Plant, with two of the remaining three letters of termination. They hunt down and isolate Sam Sutherland and Crystal Weghorst to begin the termination sequence.

First they give Mr. Sutherland his letter of dismissal. The stunned Water Works Director, with nearly one quarter of a century of faithful service to the City attempts to explain that his removal will leave the City without adequate supervision and subject the City to fines by Ohio EPA. The Chiefs of Staff confidently explain that Mayor Murray is quite familiar with the EPA's trivial concerns, and has a plan to cover the City's requirements. They tell him to never mind, and to pack his personal effects without delay. Her Highness will hear no appeals.

The next victim is Crystal Weghorst, Mayor Kalb's former assistant. Weghorst had been temporarily assigned to the Water Works by Mayor Kalb. Previously, she had been personally promised by Mayor Murray and by Mr. Mingus himself, the paid Chief of Staff, that she would be kept on with the City for two months to help with transition issues, such as budgeting, insurance, payroll, new hire procedures, council agendas, and other crucially important issues. Mr. Mingus could only lamely explain that the Queen had changed her mind and that promises made to Mrs. Weghorst were not going to be kept. [In other words, Murray forced Mingus to break his word on his first day on the job. As a military man, this act of dishonor must have been difficult.] [Ms. Murray's reign, since day one, has been a series of administrative SNAFUs (to use a military term that the Chiefs should be familiar with) and Murray may now regret her termination of Mrs. Weghorst, who would have been a wealth of information after 5 years of running Mayor Kalb's office. On the other hand, firing Weghorst eliminated any knowledgeable individual for objecting to the Mayor's crooked financial dealings, such as the unilateral termination of insurance contracts, which were switched to a son-in-law of one of her cronies, without City Council approval or review by the City Solicitor.] 10:15 am. The Chiefs leave the Filtration Plant. They do not deliver the fifth letter of dismissal because they need to return to the Mayor's office for her noon press conference. 10:30 am. The duo arrive at the Mayor's office and begin to prepare for Murray's press conference, where Mr. Mingus would be introduced to the Portsmouth Times and WSAZ, as Mayor Murray's official Chief of Staff. In the meantime, Alan Barlow, Murray's original Chief of Staff, the unpaid volunteer, who was previously promised a job in the Murray administration, was left to shuffle around in the lobby of the City Building until his boss completed her press conference.

[Apparently, the "girl" was Mingus's.]

[Barlow, who had worked tirelessly for Murray throughout the campaign, was consistently introduced by Ms. Murray as the man who would be "Chief of Staff" in her administration. Barlow kept that title until a new Chief of Staff named Peter Mingus appeared after the November election. At Murray's swearing-in ceremony at the County Court House in December, the new mayor introduced Barlow, without a title, as just another unpaid member of her "volunteer cabinet." (Barlow was also the only minority member of her volunteer cabinet.) Newcomer Mingus was introduced as her actual Chief of Staff and her only paid administrative staff member, relegating Barlow to the back of the bus.] 12:00 noon. At the press conference, Murray introduced three new employees: 1. Jeff Peck, her "Commissioner of Engineering and Public Service" (a title which, like "Chief of Staff," does not exist in the city's payroll ordinance and was not been approved by City Council). Peck, an engineer who is licensed to work in the state of Kentucky, is from Lexington, a city where Murray once worked and left a long legacy of failure. (Click here, here and here for more information about Murray's Lexington failures.) Coincidence??? 2. William Beaumont, her "Assistant Commissioner of Engineering and Public Service" (yet another fictional, unauthorized position). Beaumont is a disgruntled former city employee who had been fired by Murray's predecessor. 3. Pete Mingus, her paid Chief of Staff, who Murray brought into town from Detroit.

At the press conference, Murray announced that she had fired the heads of the Water, Wastewater, and Service Departments (Rick Duncan, Sam Sutherland, and Chris Murphy) for "gross mismanagement" and "neglect of duty." Peck and Beaumont would now be responsible for all three departments AND the Engineering Department. [Mr. Duncan had still not been notified of his termination.] Murray went on to assure reporters that the water and wastewater plants would be operated by qualified operators according to a "contingency plan" which was acceptable to the Ohio EPA. (This fictitious plan was rejected by the EPA.) 1:30 pm. Wastewater Director Rick Duncan, who was unaware of the press conference and Murray's decision, arrived at City Hall for his first meeting with his new boss. This meeting never occurred. After the conclusion of the press conference, Murray remained in her office. As WSAZ reporter Randy Yohe and his cameraman left the Mayor's office, Mr. Yohe informed Mr. Duncan that the Mayor had announced his termination. 2:00 pm. Mr. Duncan returned to his office to pack up his personal effects.

3:00 pm. Chief of Staff Mingus arrived alone at the Wastewater Plant to complete the mission that he and Barlow had been assigned that morning. Mingus handed Duncan his letter of termination and instructed him to give his city vehicle and office keys to a Class 2 Plant Operator, who would be taking over Mr. Duncan's responsibilities.

3:10 pm. With his mission accomplished, Peter Mingus, the white, paid Chief of Staff returned to City Hall after an exciting and satisfying first day on the job!

Chief of Staff Pete Mingus in "Five Heads in a Duffel Bag"

Considering the treacherous duties that Mingus was required to perform on Day One of his job, the lies he has had to participate in, and Murray's displays of incredible ineptness it is no wonder that he left his new job after one week! The only questions is...if Mr. Barlow values his dignity and honor why is he still working for the Mayor.

During the election campaign, Barlow was consistently introduced as the Chief of Staff for her new administration. We believe he was told he would be employed by Murray as Chief of Staff in a paid position, if she won the election. But more likely, Barlow was useful to Murray in attracting black voters in Portsmouth.

Shortly before or after the election Murray decided to make Mr. Mingus her actual Chief of Staff. Barlow had delivered the black vote and was no longer needed.

Barlow was good enough to tag along with Murray throughout the drudgery of a long campaign, but not good enough to be paid? Now that the election is over, Barlow was left to play Mingus's sidekick. Now with resignation of Pete Mingus, Murray has announced that she will be advertising to hire a replacement for Mingus as Chief of Staff. This is yet another slap in the face of Alan Barlow, and we wonder why he agrees to remain associated with this administration.

In other words, Barlow was just a useful token who gave Murray the appearance of being a supporter of diversity and inclusion, and helped deliver black votes.

We wonder who will be smart enough to file their lawsuits first? The slandered ex-department heads or the shafted token Chief of Staff. (Or maybe "Commissioner" Peck who moved to Portsmouth based on a fraudulent promise of a $70,000-plus annual salary, who is likely to receive almost $20,000 less--only to become tangled up in an ongoing freak show of monumental proportions.)

We close with this picture of Mingus and Barlow in Jane Murray's basement.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

BREAKING NEWS: Peck staying at Ramada Inn

Following the abrupt and mysterious departure of Mayor Murray's "so-called" Chief of Staff, Pete Mingus, on Monday, many of us have been wondering if Jeff Peck, the Mayor's "so -called" Commissioner of Engineering and Public Services, would be the next to quit.
Especially after Monday night's disasterous Council Meeting, where Council informed Murray and Peck that he would not be paid the $70,000 that Murray had originally promised, or even the $65,000 salary that she asked council to approve after the fact. Today's Portsmouth Times reported that, "When that suggestion was made [by the president of council], Peck, sitting behind Murray shook his head 'no'."
Several anonymous sources have told us that Peck and his family, who he is the process of moving here from Kentucky, have been staying at the Ramada Inn for over a week, and billing meals to their room, based on Ms. Murray's assurance that these expenses would be covered by the City.
We wonder what Peck's reaction will be when he learns that the he has to pay that bill himself and he will never get the salary Murray promised him.
"Whatchu talkin' 'bout, Murray?!"

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

BREAKING NEWS: EPA to Mayor Murray-"You are BUSTED!"

Apparently the mayor's critics are correct. The following is a portion of an e-mail sent directly to members of Portsmouth City Council yesterday from the Ohio EPA. The EPA official indicates the mayor is not being responsive to the EPA's complaints and is hiding information from City Council and the public. So the EPA official is forced to contact City Council directly. Here is what he said: "I just spoke with Ernie Stickler, who Mayor Murray stated would be Portsmouth's operator of record for the WWTP. He stated that his company has come to an agreement with the Mayor for him to be at the plant 10 hours per week and another employee, Merrill Clay, a Class II operator, to act as operator of record for the remaining 30 hours/week." "As we discussed earlier, Portsmouth operates a Class IV wastewater treatment facility, which must be under the direction of a Class IV operator 40 hours and 5 days/week. The scenario apparently proposed by Mayor Murray does not fulfill this obligation." "Since the Lawson Run facility does not have a Class III operator on staff to act as a temporary operator (for up to 30-days), Portsmouth must have a Class IV operator for the full 40 hours/week. I am bringing this to your attention because compliance with State of Ohio operator requirements ultimately falls on the shoulders of Mayor and Council. I have been working almost exclusively with Mayor Murray... up until this point. It is important that Mayor AND Council find a Class IV wastewater operator to run the Lawson Run WWTP as soon as possible. It appears at this point, Portsmouth is actually in violation of one or more operator requirements." A few important points should be noted from the EPA communication: 1. At Monday's council meeting Mayor Murray castigated and threatened members of council for going "around her" to contact Ohio EPA. She said it was a violation of the City Charter-showing that she has no understanding of the charter. This e-mail holds the "Mayor AND Council" responsible for plant violations. Council now has no choice but to deal with EPA directly for Murray's screw-ups. 2. Murray's so-called contingency plan, that she has claimed existed for a week now is just a figment of her imagination. "The scenario apparently proposed by Mayor Murray does not fulfill this obligation." 3. Mr. Peck, the new engineer, has absolutely no qualifications to run a water or sewer plant. They are trying to have a Class 2 person do a job that is legally required to be done by a Class 4 person. 4. Murray statements at the Monday Council meeting were lies. WE ARE ALSO AWARE THAT OHIO EPA HAS SENT THIS INFORMATION DIRECTLY TO THE PORTSMOUTH DAILY TIMES AND WSAZ IN RESPONSE TO THEIR REPEATED CALLS TO THE EPA OFFICE! (MORE AS THIS STORY DEVELOPS.)

Monday, January 11, 2010

Jane Murray has lost her pet

WSAZ.com reported that Jane Murray held a press conference today to announce that she had lost her pet Mingus. The report does not say if Mingus is a dog or cat. Poor Mingus! If anyone sees Jane's pet Mingus please contact the Mayor's office at 740-354-8808.

One Down-Two to Go

"What the hell have we gotten ourselves into?"
(Left to right: Peck, Beaumont, Mingus, and Murray)

BREAKING NEWS: Mingus resigns

We just received emails from reliable sources that Peter Mingus, Mayor Murray's Chief of Staff that she recruited from Detroit, has just resigned and is in the process of leaving town. This may be related to visits from the Ohio EPA that are planned for this week. We suspect that Mingus may be the first of several resignations to come. Several "volunteer staff" have resigned. At least that make one of Murray's agenda items tonight a moot point. The pay raise for Chief of Staff.
Jane Murray sold her soul in Lexington,
and devil's coming to Portsmouth to collect.

BREAKING NEWS: Tonight's City Council Meeting

Jane Murray has asked for Council to pass two pieces of legislation. First Addition: Creation of titles and amending salary ordinance Mayor-$65,000 (formerly $59,748) Commissioner of Eng. and Services- $65,000 (new position) Assistant Commissioner - $50,000 (new position) Chief of Staff- $49,8000 (new position, replacing Mayor's Assistant, $31,255) Either Johnson or Noel, Murray's allies on Council, will propose passage of new salaries. Second Addition: Repairs to Mayor's office. Work has already started but now she's asking for funding from council. Total so far for repairs: $14,900 plus $2,600 for new carpet. (A previous mayor and his wife stripped wallpaper in the office on the weekend and bought paint with their own money.) With both requested ordinances, Murray is asking City Council to cover her for contracts she made illegally with Peck, Mingus, and a local contractor who supported Murray in the election. [What happened to that $800,000 deficit, Ms, Murray?]

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Roy Payton - Jane Murray's Middle Finger

When you get pulled over for speeding, do you give the officer the finger? Jane Murray does. If the IRS came to your office, would you flip them off? Jane Murray would. That is what we conclude, based on a flood of emails (to ptownu@yahoo.com) we are receiving from inside sources at the City of Portsmouth. (All corrspondence received is kept strictly confidential.)

Convicted felon, Roy Payton, Jr. Jane Murray's Middle Finger to Ohio EPA

On Murray's first day in office she abruptly terminated several department heads, accusing them of gross mismanagement. Two of these department heads were highly qualified experts in their fields who are very highly thought of at the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. This immediately raised the concern of officials in State offices at "very high levels."

Murray's termination of Sam Sutherland, a Class IV operator and her public comments that she was going to have him investigated, on charges the EPA believes are trumped up, are a serious problem. Her public comments that she was going to put Roy Payton, Jr., a Class I operator, who is also a disgruntled former employee and a convicted felon, assigned to the water plant as a volunteer overseer and have him re-hired. This is the biggest middle-finger F.U. to the Ohio EPA we can imagine.

Apparently, Ms. Murray is unaware of the threats Roy Payton made to several witnesses prior to his firing that he was going to make "Mike Layne look like a walk in the park," referring to former city employee and water works employee Mike Layne's deadly shooting spree a few years ago.

Ohio EPA is not unaware of Roy Payton's threats to get revenge against the City of Portsmouth and his role in the Jane Murray Adminstration.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Bubb Payton's Revenge (We Told You So)

This article was originally printed on P-Town Underground on 10/30/2009 THE TRUTH BEHIND JANE MURRAY'S SO-CALLED ENDORSEMENT "BY EVERY CITY WORKER EXCEPT FOR THE POLICE AND FIRE UNIONS"
In March of 2008, Roy "Bubb" Payton, Jr., the long-time President of the AFSCME Local Union 1039 (the Union that represents the utilities, streets, sanitation and other workers of the City) was caught red handed-stealing city property, an electronic camera. He was recorded on the water plant video security system attempting to destroy evidence of his theft. This occurred at the City water plant where he worked at the time, after hours. Payton tried to burn the camera box (which had the serial number on it) and then stuff the box into a drain that led to the Ohio River. Then he threatened and tried, unsuccessfully, to coerce fellow employees (his fellow Union brothers) to cover for him,. The partially burned box was later retrieved by the police and used as evidence, along with plant security footage.
As part of their investigation, the police got a warrant to search Payton's house, where they found lawn mowers, power tools, weed eaters, and more, even a heavy-duty trailer for hauling heavy equipment and pipes--all equipment and supplies purchased by the City and taken by Payton over a period of years. (Payton was also being investigated by the police for drug charges as well.)
Mayor Kalb, after going through the proper procedures, fired Payton. The Union (particularly AFSCME Council 8 in Athens, Ohio, which is over Local 1039) tried every possible tactic and threat to pressure Kalb into letting Payton keep his job. They said Payton had just borrowed these dozens of pieces of equipment. They offered various compromises to the mayor, such as a suspension, a demotion, or a so-called "death letter" (which is basically meant to give an employee "one last chance" before termination.) They also threatened him. That suggested that the Union would endorse him for reelection if he was lenient, but they would make sure he was defeated if Payton was fired.
Despite the veiled threats, Kalb stuck to his guns. He felt that there would be no discipline in the City if Payton were allowed to get away with it. The Union made it difficult for the Mayor. Many current and past city employees are related to Payton (including Keith Nyland, the current Union President, who is Roy Payton's cousin.) Fortunately, the Mayor stood up to the threats and the termination stood.
The Local and Council 8 (Athens) filed grievances to try to get Payton's job back. They paid out thousands of dollars (and made the City pay thousands) to appeal the firing. They fought it every step they could, all the way to an outside arbitrator who, by the City's Contract with the Union, had the authority to force Mayor Kalb to re-hire Payton, based on some technicality or error by the City.
The last of the hearings were held several months ago, but the final binding decision by the arbitrator was only released last month.
The arbitrator ruled that the City had acted properly and the Union (AFSCME Local 1039 and Athens Council 8) had no case. The termination of Roy Payton for theft stood.
Payton was also charged criminally with theft of city property and other crimes, but ultimately pled guilty to 30 counts of tampering with evidence. He was sentenced by Judge Harcha to five years probation and is prohibited from drinking alcohol or taking non-prescribed drugs during that time.
http://www.sciotocountycpcourt.org/ (PAYTON, ROY E., Case No. 08CR000870)
04/24/09 CT. ORDER WAIVER/ENTRY: DEFT. ENTERS PLEA OF GUILTY TO THE CRIME OF TAMPERING WITH EVIDENCE SECTION 2921.12(A)(1) ENTRY: THE PLEA OF GUILTY IS ACCEPTED. 04/24/09 SENTENCING JUDGMENT ENTRY: CHARGE: CT 30 TAMPERING WITH EVIDENCE [F3] SECTION 2921.12(A)(1) THIS SENTENCE IS AN AGREED SENTENCE FOR 5 YRS COMMUNITY CONTROL. COMMUNITY CONTROL SANCTIONS SHALL INCLUDE NOT TO CONSUME ANY ALCOHOL OR NON-PRESCRIBED DRUGS. DEFT IS TO ABIDE BY ALL REGULATIONS OF THE PROBATION DEPT. DEFT IS ORDERED TO PAY ALL COSTS OF PROSECUTION. THE COURT FINDS THERE ARE NOT ITEMS TO BE FORFEITED TO THE STATE. THE COURT OTHERWISE ORDERS THE REMAINING COUNTS OF THE INDICTMENT ARE HEREBY DISMISSED.
But don't feel too bad for Mr. Payton. The State of Ohio awarded him full disability due the debilitating stress of his job (or maybe the stress of being fired), so he has good income. Also, being on disability gives him a lot more free time to do side jobs as an electrician to supplement his disability pay and state employee retirement income.
Plus he has a lot of friends, especially at Council 8. And his cousin, Keith Nyland is his replacement, as president of the Local.
A few months ago, the Local AFSCME group took a vote. They asked the members who they would like to endorse in the upcoming mayor's race. The members decided that they should stay out of the race, despite the fact that some members (remaining relatives and cronies of Payton) pushed hard for them to endorse Murray. But the members felt that Kalb had treated the Union fairly. They were no layoffs. Health benefits had been maintained. They had gotten fair raises. But they did not want to make an enemy of Jane Murray either, in case she won. The decision by the Local stood: no endorsement.
However, an entirely different part of the AFSCME, the Area Political Committee (a political action committee or "PAC") does endorse candidates. It is made up of, not Portsmouth City employees, but other AFSCME members in Southern Ohio, such as health care workers, retirees, etc. No City workers are a part of this political arm of AFSCME. Except one. Of the seven voting members of the AFSCME PAC, one is the president of Local 1039. Keith Nyland. Cousin of Roy Payton. The fired and disgraced former Union president.
This 7-member group, which includes Nyland, is entirely political. They endorse whatever candidates that Council 8 in Athens tells them to. So Jane Murray got AFSCME's endorsement through this PAC, with Nyland as a voting member, despite the true wishes of the AFSCME employees of the City of Portsmouth. And Roy Payton got his revenge.
Or he will if Jane Murray is elected.
Payton still haunts the city. Lately, he has been sneaking onto City property, seeking out his old co-workers. He's been bragging about the Union's endorsement of Murray. He claims that Murray told him she would give him the Service Director's job when she wins. Of course, no one believes she would be stupid enough to bring Payton back (would she?), but no one doubts that department heads will be fired.
Many AFSCME members tell P-Town Underground that the majority of them support Kalb, and are hoping that Murray does not win. This is especially true following the candidates' debate at Shawnee State last week at which Murray said that she "would not have given AFSCME employees raises" and if she is elected she intends to take the AFSCME raises back from the employees.
Some describe confrontations they have had with her about working in the alley behind her home or complaints she has had about City workers and City vehicles driving past her house on Dorman Drive. Many feel betrayed by their union leadership.
A hint of the AFSCME members' frustration can be seen in the following video of Murray's press conference yesterday. Several City workers attended and sat together. At the 8-minute mark of video, after Murray had asked for questions, one of them, who claimed to be an AFSCME member, said the Local was never informed of the endorsement and that they had voted to remain neutral. Unfortunately, Murray rudely cut the gentleman off in mid-sentence and abruptly ended her brief press conference. Untitled from Jane Murray on Vimeo.
It should be noted that the other two unions of the City, the fire and police unions, actually allowed their members to hear the candidates in person. Following personal presentation by each of the candidates, they each held a vote of their full memberships. Each of these unions, in legitimate open forums, voted to endorse Mayor Kalb for re-election .

So on Tuesday, November 3rd, we will all learn if Mr.Payton will indeed get his revenge.

(As Paul Harvey would say: "Now you know THE REST OF THE STORY.")

Saturday, January 2, 2010

On the Ninth Day of Grinchmas

On the Ninth Day of Grinchmas, the Grinches want to see... Nine Forrey FAILS... Eight empty theaters... Seven Abominations... Six Grinches on Council... No golden rings... Fourth Ward Foolishness... Three Evil Websites... Two-Faced Bloggers... And the Portsmouth Times in bankruptcy. The New Year brings both good and bad news, dear reader.
THE GOOD NEWS: The wacky atheist professor, Robert Forrey, announced that he was leaving the area. He's moving away "to prepare a publication for the 300th anniversary of a church [huh?] in my hometown, in Massachusetts." (Thank you, gods of atheism!) THE BAD NEWS: He says it's only for 6 months. Oh well, any break from the deranged blather of his demented little blog is reason to party in P-Town. Here at the Underground, we've come up with a suitable way to celebrate his coming departure. In honor of this wonderful event, we hereby present 9 Epic Forrey Fails!
If you've used the internet very often you're probably familiar with "fails." Fails are funny pictures or videos on the Internet that usually show some poor unfortunate person earnestly trying to accomplish something, failing miserably, and often making a fool of himself in the process. There are entire websites dedicated to chronicling these "Epic Fails," such as failblog.org. Here are a few of examples of "fails" for your enjoyment. We are pleased to announce that we have discovered some excellent and equally funny "fails" much closer to home, courtesy of our own Wacky Professor Robert Forrey. Forrey likes to tells us poor hillbilly hicks in southern Ohio how brilliant he is. Of course, the under-educated CAVE People have fallen for his line of self-serving BS. Forrey, about whom we have shared so much in the past, is the gay, atheist, patron saint of the CAVE People. His followers dutifully report the latest mental droppings from his blog, RiverVices.com, on such local internet rags such as portsmouthcitizens. info, mollette. info, and inbredidiotsofportsmouth .com, as if the pablum that fall from his twisted brain is actually pure gold. 1. ATHEISM FAIL (River Vices, 12/22/09) Forrey's only claim to fame outside the CAVEs of Portsmouth, is a halfway clever poem he wrote shortly after 9/11, called "The Agnostic's Prayer," which was printed on the website "PositiveAtheism. org." His little ditty starts out "Save us, God, who don't believe in you./Save us from the multitudes who do." It goes on to claim that all religions equally bad, referring to belief in God as a collectivized "psychosis," and to compare nativity scenes to Muslim jihads, etc. For example, "Save us from Bin Ladin and Jerry Falwell," as if Christian preachers practicing their faith are terrorists who want to fly airliners into skyscrapers. Here are the poem's last lines:
"Save us from your followers true, But save us, above all, God, from you."
But strangely enough, on December 22, 2009, he announced "I will be taking a sabbatical from River Vices for the first half of 2010 to prepare a publication for the 300th anniversary of a church in my hometown, in Massachusetts." Are we the only ones who think this is odd? What self-respecting 300-year-old church would hire Forrey to write anything for them? For heaven's sake, he's a gay atheist! (Or as we like to call him, a "gatheist." Or maybe he's a "gagnostic.") What are they thinking? Are there no Christians left in Massachusetts? And if Forrey really believes what he says, why would he support any church? How hypocritical is that? And even worse, walking into such a viper's nest of religious lunatics, as he seems to think of them, could be suicidal! What happened to "Save us from every minaret and steeple,/ Save us from every Chosen People"? We guess "every" doesn't really mean "every" in the mind of a gatheist. Sounds like an "ATHEISM FAIL" to us! 2. ARCHITECTURE FAIL (10/27/09) Like many losers, Forrey is always telling other people how smart he is. He frequently uses words and phrases he doesn't really understand just to impress his followers. For example, after criticizing Mayor Kalb for being "Ignorant and uneducated...about the history and culture of his hometown," he went on to display his own ignorance and lack of education of the same subject.
"The Municipal Building is no Taj Mahal, but it is architecturally important, reflecting the Art Nouveau style that had become popular earlier in the twentieth century."
Art Nouveau style?? Sorry, Professor. That's a big FAIL right there.
The Municipal Building is Art Deco. Art Nouveau is an elaborate style of architecture popular in 19th Century Europe. It's not similar to Art Deco, at all. If you're going to denigrate the mayor for not knowing whether the Municipal Building was built under the Works Progress Administration or not, you should do your own homework. At least, Mayor Kalb got the right century! And continent!
As any college freshman would likely know (except perhaps students who had to sit through your dumb classes), you're wrong as usual. But thank you anyway for your amusing attempt to educate us poor hayseeds in hickville. In Architecture, you get an 'F' for FAIL. 3. CRIME FAIL (5/9/07) In 2007, the CAVE People put forth one of their pawns to run for City Council: Wayne Lee Nichols. (His name may sound like a serial killer, but as far as we know he's not.) Now everyone knew that Nichols' home was fire trap, piled high with rags and trash and other junk, inside, in the front and yards, and even in the street, on a junk-piled flat bed truck. After numerous complaints from his neighbors and unsuccessful enforcement attempts, the City Health Department was forced to take Nichols to court. Forrey and Nichols' other enablers of the CAVE persuasion complained that the City's enforcement actions were political. As Forrey stated on his blog:
"Nichols’ most serious offense, I believe, is not his procrastination in cleaning up his premises but rather his attending city council meetings and speaking up in those periods set aside for citizens to address the city council..."

Despite Forrey's attempt at minimizing Nichols' many personal, legal, and financial problems, Nichols already had a criminal record, was a neighborhood menace, and had had a home foreclosed on just a few years prior. (Since then Nichol's has been charged with additional crimes and is now facing serious time in prison.) So, no, "procrastination" was not your candidate's "most serious offense." But the CAVE People were more concerned about their petty agendas than Nichol's own safety and the well-being of his neighbors. On Nov. 4 of this year, Nichols' home finally burned to the ground, heavily damaging Star Dry Cleaners next door and seriously damaging another residence. Star Cleaners had pleaded with the Health and Police Departments for years for help in correcting the Nichols' numerous violations, including flammable debris piled by Nichols up against the Dry Cleaner's building. But thanks to Forrey and Nichol's other enablers, Nichols is homeless and Star Cleaners may never re-open.

But that's just fine with the CAVE People who really care nothing about the man, or the ruined dry cleaners. The burned out, smoked-damaged business stands as yet another monument to the hateful vision of the Forrey followers and their agenda of failure for the City of Portsmouth.

Yet another FAIL by Forrey and the CAVE People. 4. ID FAIL (11/4/2009) Forrey and the CAVE people have been obsessed with our true identity since P-Town Underground first appear. Forrey provided one of their many lame speculations on his website:

"I have little doubt that one of those writing anonymously for the Underground blog is an alcoholic human virus who insinuates himself electronically into the Portsmouth body politic by parasitically taking on the appearance or coloration of his political enemies, of capitalizing on their greater name recognition. A political ally of the Kalb family, this creep started out some years ago by calling himself Look Deeper, mimicking "Doug Deepe," John Welton’s well-known pseudonym. More recently he has adopted the pseudonym River Lices, mimicking River Vices."

An "alcoholic human virus"? I think the professor is trying to hurt our feelings. We have no connection to the gentleman the demented professor is referring to, but if Forrey hates him so much, he must be a fine individual. Chalk up another fail. If you bother to read Forrey's blithering, you will notice that the only attack of P-Town Underground that he can come up with is name-calling. He says we are homophobes, meanies, liars, and any other insult he can find in his nasty little thesaurus. But he has yet to factually dispute anything we have reported. 5. CULTURE AND BIOLOGY FAIL (11/20/09) Forrey shows his lack of knowledge of American culture and biology with the following quote:

"One of the anonymous Portsmouth bloggers [referring to P-Town Underground]posted a photo of the actor Edward Woodward, who starred in The Equalizer, a 1980s TV show about a former secret service agent who uses his gun, “the equalizer,” as a goniff, or law-skirting, free-lance vigilante, the bastard offspring of the same-sex marriage of James Bond and Dirty Harry."
a. The truth is Woodward hardly ever used a gun in his classic TV show. Firearms were always a last resort, but sometimes necessary when protecting his innocent clients against mobsters and murderers in the big city. Also, his gun was not the Equalizer, Woodward himself was. b. The Equalizer was NOT "the bastard offspring of the same-sex marriage of James Bond and Dirty Harry." Maybe no one has explained to the professor that two men cannot have children no matter how many times they try. It is a biological impossibility. Sorry, we know it seems unfair, but reproduction always requires a woman. (Lucky for him. We suspect Forrey would have been pregnant many times over by now.) (Forrey seems to have an obsession with snidely accusing heterosexual males of having homosexual relations, not just James Bond and Dirty Harry, but also city council members and citizens he disagrees with. Apparently it is an attempt at humor, but it is surprisingly common on his blogs. Must be a psychological hang-up.) 6. FINANCE FAIL (3/28/09) Forrey's concern for the fiances of our fine City Solicitor Mike Jones is truly touching as in a recent "expose" about Jones' investment in the Crispie Creme Donut Shop.
Rumors currently circulating about Jones being in dire financial difficulties are just that—rumors, but with the financial meltdown and business recession that have occurred since he acquired Crispie Creme in the summer of 2007, it would not be surprising if Jones was in a financial deep fry, and that he soon may be toast.
Isn't it impressive that the professor can create a rumor, circulate the rumor, deny the rumor, and then repeat the rumor he just denied...ALL IN A SINGLE SENTENCE?! But rumor-mongering is par for the course among the CAVE People. Well, we take comfort in the fact that Jones is a respected attorney and local entrepreneur, with a nice family and a "house on the hill" (as Forrey puts it), while Forrey lives alone in an upstairs apartment on Fourth Street after a lackluster career as a teacher, which he retired from under questionable circumstances. We think we will get our financial advice elsewhere, Professor Fail! 7. SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE FAIL (11/4/09) Some people prefer it when the truth is covered up and hidden for the people who have right to know it. Forrey likes it that way.
"The Underground also homophobically suggested that Mike Mearan’s opponent had AIDS, a dirty trick that was followed up by another supporter of Mearan who produced an incriminating dirty-tricks flyer that purported to be from Mearan’s gay-agenda opponent."

We didn't "suggest" that Kevin Johnson had AIDS. The San Francisco Chronicle stated it as a fact in a newspaper interview with Johnson himself. We even reproduced the article, in its entirety, our website. Before moving to here in 2002, Johnson lived in the San Francisco area (you know, where they separate the men from the boys with a crowbar). He was such a well-known gay activist that, when they learned he was moving away, the newspaper interviewed him to find out what his plans were, mentioning Portsmouth specifically. The Chronicle reported Johnson's HIV status, his gay relationship, his gay rights lawsuits, and his gay activism, including gay partner benefits legislation that he claimed credit for passing in California. We believe that voters of Portsmouth deserved the same information that the citizens of California had, and we did our best to share the information. That doesn't make us "homophobes." Just people who care about the truth. Unlike Forrey.

8. JOURNALISM FAIL (5/29/06) In the wacky professor's mind, THIS is what passes for a historic event in Portsmouth's history:

"That’s why the founding of the Shawnee Sentinel in 1995, at Shawnee State U., was an important event in Portsmouth’s history. The Sentinel is far from perfect, and may not always be diplomatic or grammatical, but it has relentlessly exposed our shadow government and their accomplices and stooges in the city government."

The plague on Portsmouth, known as the Shawnee Sentinel, has been a joke since day one. This so-called newspaper is where we first heard of Doug Deepe (as a pseudonym for a convicted embezzler named John Welton) who used the paper to covertly proclaim his innocence and attempt to subvert his criminal investigation. The line of Sentinistas who spread their lies through this rag is a long one, including Welton, Austin Leedom, Wally Leedom (his son), and Harold (Little Daub'll Do Ya) Daub. For your amusement, we present a scan of a notice from the October 2007 issue of the Shawnee Sentinel.

Yes, he is talking about that Harold Daub! The same Daub that the Leedom's, the Mollette's, Forrey, and all the other CAVE People, Sentinistas, and Grinches, put forth as an icon of their inbred little group, the victim of the evil powers-that-be, and an unsung hero of Portsmouth. The same Daub that Forrey praises over and over on his blog.

The Shawnee Sentinel, the newspaper of record for the CAVE Clan, which Forrey calls "historic" and says "it has relentlessly expose[s] our shadow government and their accomplices and stooges in the city government," officially reported that Harold Daub was a liar. Isn't this the funniest thing you've ever heard? The Shawnee Sentinel reports that for over a year Harold Daub used the pages of the Shawnee Sentinel to:

1. write "lies about people" 2. "hurt people and hurt their feelings" 3. "victimize" people, and 4. "damage [people] by these lies"

So Wally Leedom finally "barred [Daub] from writing for the Shawnee Sentinel." (Hoo, boy! We just can't stop laughing at these fools.) Excuse our language, but what we have in here is a classic, CAVE People, four-man ---------. Wally Leedom, son of Austin Leedom, accuses Harold Daub of lying in the pages of the Shawnee Sentinel under a false identity to conceal his activities from his employer and the Federal Government, in the very "newspaper" paper that debuted Doug Deepe, aka John Welton, who now claims to have rock-solid proof that Wally and Austin Leedom have intentionally evaded paying taxes on out-of-state disaster relief work---the work that Leedom is claiming in this very notice. Are you dizzy yet?

As we keep saying, they are an incestuous little group. Forrey must be concerned about the continued well-being of the Sentinistas. After all, when he leaves for Massachusetts, who will be left to sneak them in to the printing presses of Shawnee State University in the middle of the night so they can print their little yellow rag at the university's expence? Ah, your tax dollars at work! And last but not least.... 9. STATISTIC FAIL (5/9/07) Professor Forrey is a malicious person.

Prior to the 2007 City Council election, the dignified Professor Forrey used his blog to insult the incumbent Fourth Ward Councilman Jerrold Albrecht, calling him "rich white trash," an "old man," "a cat's paw for those who control the city," and a "cockroach." He went on to suggest that Albrecht's death or "incapacitation" would be a good thing for Portsmouth, except that "the powers-that-be will be quite ready with another candidate for the city council to appoint as his replacement." (This passes for compassion among the CAVE People.)

This leads us into the final foolish Forrey Fail from his blog. (At least, it's the last one we have time for today.) On 5/9/2007, he stated:

"Because Albrecht is of advanced age, his chances of finishing a four-year term on council are probably less than fifty-fifty, although health experts say taking naps during the day is a good way to achieve longevity, so maybe the odds of him finishing a term are better than fifty-fifty."

Forrey, Forrey, Forrey. You poor deranged, math-challenged fool. Your life spans predictions are just wishful thinking and as usual for you, just plain wrong. You claimed he had a life expectancy of just two years (50% of a "four-year term").

Life insurance companies and even the federal government produce handy little charts called "actuarial tables" where you can look up such things. Despite your hateful prediction, the honorable councilman (who is around 70 now) is getting along quite well, stays wide awake at all council meetings, and STILL has a life expectancy of at least 13 more years (and many more we hope, Mr. Albrecht). We hope he serves the City for years to come and continues to frustrate the evil schemes of the CAVE Clan.

A word of advice to Professor Fail. We think you should be more concerned about your own health than Mr. Albrecht's. Looking at the pictures below (Albrecht on left, Forrey on right), who do you think is more likely to drop over at any minute?

Good luck in Massachusetts, Professor.

Make it a Happy New Year!

Don't come back!