| Today's Feature Randolph Anticipates Duties As County
Coroner.
Coroner Elect Mike Randolph
plans on being sworn in when his term begins on
January 1, 1999.
Rule 33.17 of the Missouri
Supreme Court Rules of Criminal Procedure
prohibits elected officials from being accepted
as a surety on any bail bond. This initially
seemed to place Randolph, who works as an agent
for the A&M Swinson Bail Bonding company, in
a vulnerable position. County Counselor Jim
Spradling thinks he cannot do both.
Following yesterday's regular
County Commission meeting, current County Coroner
Ron Mosbaugh mentioned the dilemma and inquired
about its resolution.
In an exclusive interview with
the Mornin' Mail, Randolph said he has
agonized over the question since his election in
November, but now is certain that there is no
conflict. He says he is an agent for a surety,
but he does not qualify as a surety himself. He
comes to this conclusion after obtaining legal
advice as to the definition of a surety.
According to Randolph, a surety is an individual
that has assets at risk for a bond that is
executed. As an agent, Randolph says he simply
receives a commission for bonds that he arranges
for the surety, A&M Swinson.
The Coroner position pays
$16,600 and is considered by most as a part time
position.
"I'm just trying to make a
living," said Randolph.
The rule also excludes those
convicted of a felony and lawyers from being a
surety.
County Counselor Jim Spradling
doesn't think there is a distinction between any
principal and an agent of that principal. The
opinion of the County Counselor's office is that
Randolph cannot be Coroner and work as a bail
bondsman. The County Prosecutor would be
responsible for determining any action if they
feel Randolph is acting outside Rule 33.17
according to Spradling.
County Clerk Margie Bull says
she will administer the oath to Randolph, being
legally elected, and it will be up to others to
decide if Randolph can continue to serve.
Randolph says he is confident
he will be allowed to serve his two year term and
continue his employment with the bonding company.
The only apparent action that
could be taken is the revocation of his State
issued Bonding license.
Rules of Criminal Procedure
RULE 33.17 MISDEMEANORS OR
FELONIES--BONDS--SURETY,
INDIVIDUAL---QUALIFICATIONS
A person shall not be accepted
as a surety on any bail bond unless the person:
(a) Is reputable and at least
twenty-one years of age:
(b) Has net assets with a value
in excess of exemptions at least equal to the
amount of the bond that are subject to execution
in the state of Missouri;
(c) Has not been convicted of
any felony under the laws of any state or of the
United States;
(d) Is not a lawyer, except
that this disqualification shall not apply if the
principal is the spouse, child or family member
of the surety;
(e) Is not an elected or
appointed official or employee of the State of
Missouri or any county or other political
subdivision thereof, except that this
disqualification shall not apply if the principal
is the spouse, child or family member of the
surety; and
(f) Has no outstanding
forfeiture or unsatisfied judgment thereon
entered upon any bail bond in any court of this
state or of the United States.
If there is more than one
surety, the aggregate net worth of the sureties
in excess of exemptions shall be at least equal
to the amount of the bond.
letter from ma.
I got a
telephone call from a salesman the other day who
asked to talk with the "decision-maker"
of the home.
Well, now, that depends. Does
he want the one who decides when to change the
oil in the car? When to mow the grass? The one
who decides what to have for dinner?
I brazenly told him I am the
decision-maker in our house. That's
true-well-part of the time.
Do you think using expressions
like "decision-maker" is getting just a
tad out of hand? It's partly politically
correctness, which is carried too far, in my
opinion (chairperson, for one.) Sometimes,
though, the language appears snobbish or
deceiving.
Take that sign in front of a
bunch of cars all lined up on a gravelled space
that says "pre-owned cars." Now you
know and I know that what we have here is a
used-car lot.
A school board is considering a
policy of "standardized dress" for the
students. I say they say they want the kids to
wear uniforms.
Law enforcement is doing it,
too. An officer speaking on television said a
"chemical agent was introduced" into a
building where a man was shooting at random. That
translates into "he slammed a tear gas bomb
inside the house."
A person who can't see is no
longer blind. He's "visually impaired."
Deaf people are "hearing impaired."
And if this arthritis pain in
my right hip doesn't get better, I'm going to be
"ambulatorily impaired."
1999 Calender Booked With Great
Artists
by Robin Putnam, artCentral
Brrrr. Welcome to winter. Sure
makes getting out and about a bit uncomfortable.
However...with all the beautiful Christmas lights
around town cold and frosty weather seems to
fit!! After all...it is about time for it. We've
just been soooo lucky this year!!
Braving the chill last Monday
night was worth it. We attended a Planing and
Zoning committee meeting and we're glad we did!!
They ok'd our request for a special use permit
meaning we will now ask the City Council for
approval. The first reading will be on December
22 with the final reading and vote happening at
the City Council meeting the second Tuesday of
January. We're on our way!!
We again want to say thanks to
the P&Z committee for all their help and
support!! Especially our wonderful city engineer
for all his help! We really, really appreciate
it!!
Our Planning Committee has had
wonderful artist response...our 1999 calender is
about full!! Is that not the coolest!! We are
going to be bringing you some more excellent
artists!! Here's a quick run down...some of these
dates may change a hair here and there but for
the most part this is what we have so far......
1999 Calender of
Events
January-February- Moving
and painting (providing all goes well at the
January City Council meeting!)
March 1- April 9- Linda
Simpson and 3-4 other artists will do a group
showing of paintings, jewelry, sculpture and ??
They will come up with a name and hope to make
this an annual show.
April 23- May 28- Jane Kleindl
will show her oil paintings.
June 11- July 23- Annual
Membership Show.
August- Children's Art Camp
(hopefully!)
September 10- October 15-
Jack and Lee Ann Sours. He will show his
wheel-thrown pottery and she will show her
hand-made woven articles.
November 5- December 23-
We hope to put together a Christmas Gift show
featuring lots of artists showing smaller, more
affordable artwork suitable for giving gifts!!
Doesn't that sound great!! We think so!!
Well....that's the plan so
far...we have a lot of work cut out for us but we
think we have a great group who can accomplish
great things. That's not to say we couldn't use
more helping hands!! We are always looking for
volunteers...right now we are desperate for
someone to handle the August Kid's Art Camp. We
want very much to have a great summer program for
YOUR kids!! If you know of anyone send them our
way!!
Our Wednesday Life Drawing
sessions are still going strong...call Mary for
more info on that!
More.....next week.
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