West Newsmagazine 5-1-24
Local news, local politics and community events for West St. Louis County Missouri. Local news, local politics and community events for West St. Louis County Missouri.
4 I OPINION I May 1, 2024 WEST NEWSMAGAZINE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR @WESTNEWSMAG WESTNEWSMAGAZINE.COM Simplistic thinking Star Parker, in her “Americans are not seeking out middle ground,” asserted there’s no middle road in the divisiveness we see. Rather, it is a fight to the death between conservatives “who want to recapture our founding values and principles” and liberals who “want to destroy them.” To support this, she seemed to equate slavery with such issues as education and climate change. This is a false comparison. In reality, it is this type of black-or-white, simplistic thinking that will fracture America. Trying to find common ground means having the courage to listen to opposing viewpoints without becoming defensive or angry. It means refusing to label others while asking questions, engaging in honest dialogue and seeing a picture broader than partisanship. Inviting people of differing viewpoints to walk together down a middle road is at the core of America’s “founding values and principles,” as she called them. Greg Weeks Set the record straight I have faithfully read your magazine since Thomas Sowell was your editorial commentator. I have continued reading the various commentators since then, especially Star Parker. Although I generally agree with her on most subjects, I must take exception to her repeated references to God and the “evil” secular humanists. She constantly equates godlessness to socialism and any other form of malfeasance that she sees taking place in our country. As a lifelong atheist, I can assure her that I am not a socialist, communist nor any other anti-American “ist.” I am a patriot (I served four years in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War). I have always been proud to be an American and will debate anyone who would denigrate this country, (while recognizing that we Americans are not perfect and have made our share of mistakes). Also, my wife and three children are atheists and all of us are law-abiding, hardworking citizens. It is, of course, Ms. Parker’s right to express her opinions on any topic, but her constant denigration of nonbelievers is just simply wrong. Although there are not many of us, all of the atheists I know are law-abiding, patriotic, American citizens. I just wanted to set the record straight. Frank Klos Ballot Candy Missouri voters, beware of “Ballot Candy.” Ballot Candy refers to the effort by legislators to dupe voters into approving a ballot measure citizens would otherwise oppose by inserting unrelated popular provisions in ballot language to hide the real purpose of the legislation. Case in point – the Missouri House recently passed legislation aimed at making it harder to amend the state constitution through the citizeninitiative petition process. This legislation still needs to be approved by Missouri voters before it becomes law, so the House added it to the ballot as its first bullet a provision that has nothing to do with initiative petitions at all: it asks Missourians whether the constitution should be amended to “allow only citizens of the United States to qualify as legal voters.” This additional ballot language is pure subterfuge because the state constitution is already clear that only citizens are allowed to vote in Missouri. Article VIII, Section 2 of the Missouri Constitution limits the right to vote to U.S. citizens, period. Why would the House add something to the ballot that is already law if it is not intended to mislead and trick the voters? This practice of polluting ballot measures with non-issues or unrelated popular “Ballot Candy” is both cynical and shameful. Legislators should represent their constituents, not deceive them. Cary Steinmetz ON THE COVER: Madison Pyatt and her father, Travis, in Augusta. (Mackenzie Myers/Gateway PGA photo) Founder Publisher Emeritus Publisher Managing Editor Associate Editor Associate Editor Staff Writer Features Editor Business Manager Graphic Designer Graphic Designer Graphic Layout Reporters Doug Huber Sharon Huber Tim Weber Dan Fox Kate Uptergrove Tracey Bruce Laura Brown Lisa Russell Erica Myers Donna Deck Aly Doty Emily Rothermich Advertising Account Executives Nancy Anderson Vicky Czapla Ellen Hartbeck Suzanne Corbett Jeffry Greenberg DeAnne LeBlanc Linda Joyce Joe Ritter Sheila Roberts Cathy Lenny Warren Mayes Shwetha Sundarrajan ATTENTION READERS: Make sure you are signed up for your FREE subscription today! 1. 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YES, I want West Newsmagazine, Please deliver to: Name: Address: City: State: Zip: Phone: E-mail: Signature x Date: / / Mail to: 754 Spirit 40 Park Drive • Chesterfield, MO 63005 754 Spirit 40 Park Dr. Chesterfield, MO 63005 (636) 591-0010 westnewsmagazine.com Please send Comments, Letters and Press Releases to: editor@newsmagazinenetwork.com West Newsmagazine is published 24 times per year by West Media Inc. 40,000 distribution (direct mailed and newsstands) in West St. Louis County. Products and services advertised are not necessarily endorsed by West Newsmagazine and views expressed in editorial copy are not necessarily those of West Newsmagazine. No part of West Newsmagazine may be reproduced in any form without prior written consent from West Newsmagazine. All letters addressed to West Newsmagazine or its editor are assumed to be intended for publication and are subject to editing for content and length. 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FACEBOOK.COM/WESTNEWSMAGAZINE WESTNEWSMAGAZINE.COM All of the Sudden ... Law Matters I met Mike at a wedding in Illinois. We were both outsiders standing off to the side. Although it embarrasses my family, I'll often just strike up a conversation with strangers under those kinds of circumstances. It turns out Mike was a lawyer from Chicago. When I mentioned I was a lawyer in Saint Louis, he became interested. Their firm was trying to establish a foothold in Saint Louis, and he asked if we'd be interested in talking to them. I naively said yes. Our senior partner eventually identified them as a “merge-and-purge” firm. They would merge with a firm, dump the younger attorneys, and eventually steal the clients. I would have been one of the first ones to go. Fortunately, we dodged that bullet. But I digress. After that initial encounter, our firms struck up a conversation. Mike was our main contact. He was pretty slick. He made it all sound so wonderful. We had a lot of discussions trying to figure out if there was a fit. And then all of the sudden, Mike went silent. We tried to follow up with him, but we heard nothing, and no one else in the firm told us anything. After some time, we heard from another of their partners who asked if he could come down and talk to us. So next thing we know, we are meeting with this burly attorney. He was not at all as smooth as Mike had been, but he told us that Mike had died. Evidently, Mike had been a workaholic. His partners forced him to take some time off. The stress was apparently too much. While “relaxing” on a beach in Florida, Mike had a heart attack and died. I don't understand how laying on a beach in Florida could stress anyone out, but there are all kinds of people on this earth. The point of my story is that things can happen when we least expect it … even on vacation. Life is fine one minute, and then, all of the sudden …. Without planning, things can go badly awry. If you don't plan your estate, the state has written a will for you. Depending on how assets are held, a surviving spouse could end up with only a little more than half of the deceased spouse’s assets. It is a good idea to plan. Give me a call if you want to talk. Everyone’s experience with estate planning is unique and you don’t always know what to expect. Fred has gathered some of the most interesting examples he knows into an entertaining and educational book. You Can’t Take It With You is available to order online at www.law-matters.net Fred L. Vilbig is an attorney with over 30 years of experience in the areas of wills and trusts, small businesses, and real estate. This column is for informational purposes only. Nothing herein should be treated as legal advice or as creating an attorney-client relationship. The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements. May 1, 2024 WEST NEWSMAGAZINE NEW & REPAIR WORK FOUNDATION & FLAT WORK 636-297-4111 concreteologist.com COMMON SENSE AND LOGIC FOR SALE SATURDAY MAY 11, 2024 GET YOUR GAMES FACE ON! SCHROEDER PARK, MANCHESTER, MO TICKETS ON SALE NOW stlouis-scottishgames.com I 5 SPORTSIFOOD & DRINKIMUSICIDANCING PRESENTED BY (636) 537-7884 | fvilbig@lawmatters.llc | www.lawmatters.llc
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FACEBOOK.COM/WESTNEWSMAGAZINE<br />
WESTNEWSMAGAZINE.COM<br />
All of the Sudden ...<br />
Law Matters<br />
I met Mike<br />
at a wedding in<br />
Illinois. We<br />
were both outsiders<br />
standing<br />
off to the side.<br />
Although it<br />
embarrasses<br />
my family, I'll<br />
often just strike up a conversation<br />
with strangers under those kinds of<br />
circumstances. It turns out Mike<br />
was a lawyer from Chicago. When I<br />
mentioned I was a lawyer in Saint<br />
Louis, he became interested.<br />
Their firm was trying to establish<br />
a foothold in Saint Louis, and he<br />
asked if we'd be interested in talking<br />
to them. I naively said yes. Our<br />
senior partner eventually identified<br />
them as a “merge-and-purge” firm.<br />
They would merge with a firm,<br />
dump the younger attorneys, and<br />
eventually steal the clients. I would<br />
have been one of the first ones to<br />
go. Fortunately, we dodged that<br />
bullet. But I digress.<br />
After that initial encounter, our<br />
firms struck up a conversation.<br />
Mike was our main contact. He was<br />
pretty slick. He made it all sound so<br />
wonderful. We had a lot of<br />
discussions trying to figure out if<br />
there was a fit.<br />
And then all of the sudden, Mike<br />
went silent. We tried to follow up<br />
with him, but we heard nothing, and<br />
no one else in the firm told us<br />
anything.<br />
After some time, we heard from<br />
another of their partners who asked<br />
if he could come down and talk to<br />
us. So next thing we know, we are<br />
meeting with this burly attorney.<br />
He was not at all as smooth as<br />
Mike had been, but he told us that<br />
Mike had died.<br />
Evidently, Mike had been a<br />
workaholic. His partners forced<br />
him to take some time off. The<br />
stress was apparently too much.<br />
While “relaxing” on a beach in<br />
Florida, Mike had a heart attack<br />
and died. I don't understand how<br />
laying on a beach in Florida could<br />
stress anyone out, but there are all<br />
kinds of people on this earth.<br />
The point of my story is that<br />
things can happen when we least<br />
expect it … even on vacation. Life<br />
is fine one minute, and then, all of<br />
the sudden …. Without planning,<br />
things can go badly awry. If you<br />
don't plan your estate, the state has<br />
written a will for you. Depending<br />
on how assets are held, a surviving<br />
spouse could end up with only a<br />
little more than half of the<br />
deceased spouse’s assets.<br />
It is a good idea to plan. Give<br />
me a call if you want to talk.<br />
Everyone’s experience<br />
with estate planning is<br />
unique and you don’t<br />
always know what to<br />
expect. Fred has gathered<br />
some of the most<br />
interesting examples he<br />
knows into an entertaining<br />
and educational book.<br />
You Can’t Take It With You is available<br />
to order online at www.law-matters.net<br />
Fred L. Vilbig is an attorney with over 30<br />
years of experience in the areas of wills<br />
and trusts, small businesses, and real<br />
estate. This column is for informational<br />
purposes only. Nothing herein should be<br />
treated as legal advice or as creating an<br />
attorney-client relationship. The choice<br />
of a lawyer is an important decision<br />
and should not be based solely upon<br />
advertisements.<br />
May 1, 20<strong>24</strong><br />
WEST NEWSMAGAZINE<br />
NEW & REPAIR WORK<br />
FOUNDATION & FLAT WORK<br />
636-297-4111<br />
concreteologist.com<br />
COMMON SENSE<br />
AND LOGIC FOR SALE<br />
SATURDAY MAY 11, 20<strong>24</strong><br />
GET YOUR GAMES FACE ON!<br />
SCHROEDER PARK, MANCHESTER, MO<br />
TICKETS ON SALE NOW<br />
stlouis-scottishgames.com<br />
I 5<br />
SPORTSIFOOD & DRINKIMUSICIDANCING<br />
PRESENTED BY<br />
(636) 537-7884 | fvilbig@lawmatters.llc | www.lawmatters.llc
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