Extreme Makeover: Home Edition On Way Back To Ozarks

You might recall when Ty Pennington and crew came to Camp Barnabas for an episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Now the show is heading back to the Ozarks. According to KSPR, the show will be here in mid-July and they are needing volunteers. For complete details on the project, including video and how you can help, please click here.

Turner Report Takes Joplin Globe To Task

It is obvious that the media is on Michael Jackson overkill. Local media outlets have handled the coverage fairly well for the most part. The one exception appears to be The Joplin Globe and Randy Turner of the Turner Report takes the paper to task:

"And then there's the Joplin Globe. As I noted in an earlier post, the Globe devoted the entire top of page one to Michael Jackson's death. Joe Hadsall's budget cut story did not even make it to page one, a ppor decision by Globe editors It appears everything was in the packaging and not the content. The Globe had a nice, pretty looking, but ultimately boring package on whether the sales of firecrackers would be affected by the economy. Of course, it had some of the items that Globe editors love, useless man-on-the-street comments and a nice-looking photo. All Hadsall had was a cut of a $25 million forgivable loan to Eagle Picher that could mean actual jobs for the Joplin area."

I think Mr. Turner has a valid point. While I wouldn't "flunk" the Globe, I would give them a D-. You can read his full article here and decide for yourself.

7th Congressional District Elections

I realize it is early, but I took some time out this afternoon to find candidate websites for those who are running for the US 7th Congressional District. I didn't find very much even on the sites that are up and running. I do hope this improves in the near future. Until then, here are the sites for you to explore.

Jack Goodman

Darrell Moore

Jeff Wisdom

No websites for: Gary Nodler or Billy Long

Dylan Ratigan's New Show Debuts on MSNBC

Below is the opening of the new show. It wasn't too bad, but there are some kinks to be worked out.

Links Worth Reading: Ugh, It's Monday Edition

A little light reading on this last Monday in June 2009:

Madoff Sentenced to 150 Years in Prison (Fox News)

Missouri DWI Law Takes Effect July 1 (KSDK)

It's Now Legal To Catch A Raindrop In Colorado (New York Times)

Retired Teacher Dies In Crash (Neosho Daily News)

The State of the Ozarks Blogosphere

I have been pondering on this subject for a while now. I have been debating putting up this post because I don't know if I have enough authority to make this point. Let me just lay out it out right up front: I am concerned about the Ozarks blogosphere. Before you go calling me names like Al Gore or something, hear me out.

I began my initial blog The News2K back in August 2007 after being introduced to the blogosphere through several links. It was about this same time that Life of Jason began his second tour of duty and became a mainstay in the area. Simple Thoughts of a Complex Mind really had me thinking about things. The Turner Report was a daily stop for me. And finally, Chatter was chatting away. These four blogs, in my mind, were driving the area's blogosphere. I doubt I was the only one inspired by these writers. They made me believe that even my opinions were valuable. Thus, I decided to join forces with Donna (who has since gone invisible for multiple reasons that I will let her explain to you at some point) and away this blog has blossomed.

Fast forward to today... Life of Jason is gone, Chatter is averaging a post every three and a half weeks, and Simple Thoughts has only posted three times since early May. Only The Turner Report is still firing away.

Now, I realize that things change and that life is busy. I am not criticizing the lack of blog posts by some of these individuals. I do, however, feel some pangs of concern. Am I overreacting? I went down the list of blogs on Chatter's blogroll this afternoon. Numerous blogs listed haven't posted in months and a couple have even been deleted altogether. That isn't a good sign.

What are your thoughts about the future of the area blogosphere? Have some good local blogs I am not aware to cheer my spirits? I sure hope so! Sound off... I need some reassurance.

Fan Falls From Balcony At Busch Stadium

Blame it on the heat. Maybe there was alcohol involved, too. Either way, 34 year old Chris Hoffman of O'Fallon, Illinois is likely extremely sore this morning after falling from the upper deck of the Cardinal's Busch Stadium on Friday.

According to Fox 2, witnesses reported that the man fainted before he fell headfirst into the next level. It is amazing that he wasn't hurt any more than he was. The manager of the ballpark says that the individual "was being treated for an injury to his left shoulder, a gash to his face and assorted bumps and bruises."

I would say that Hoffman is extremely lucky. He may not have walked out of the ballpark with an Albert Pujols home run ball, but he did leave the ballpark with a story hopefully no one else will match any time soon.

Turnpike Victims Identified

KJRH has the report identifying the victims of the Will Rogers Turnpike Accident yesterday.

"OHP Lt. George Brown said traffic was stopped because of an earlier crash when the big rig slammed into at least three cars, which then crashed into more vehicles.

The truck driver, 76-year-old Donald Creed of Willard, Missouri, was taken to the hospital in good condition.

OHP said the following individuals died in Friday's accident:
39-year-old Ricardo Reyes of Phoenix, AZ
Ernestina Reyes of Phoenix, AZ
38-year-old Randall Hayes of Frisco, TX
7-year-old Ethen Hayes of Frisco, TX
55-year-old Cynthia Olson of Crossroads, TX
69-year-old Oral Hooks of Oklahoma City
63-year-old Earlene Hooks of Oklahoma City
42-year-old Antonio Hooks of Oklahoma City
41-year-old Dione Hooks of Oklahoma City"

For complete details, please click this link.

MSNBC goes HD on Monday

Cable news channel MSNBC will go HD starting on Monday. Additionally, the network will launch a couple of new dayside programs. "Morning Meeting" will air from 8-10 a.m. local time and will be anchored by Dylan Ratigan, former CNBC host. "Dr. Nancy" will air from 11-12 p.m. local time. It will anchored by NBC Chief Medical Coorespondent Dr. Nancy Snyderman.

Will Rogers Turnpike Pileup

{UPDATE (Saturday AM): All lanes of traffic are now back open on the turnpike, per KTUL-TV in Tulsa.}

News has come this evening that nine people have been killed and several (the number varies based on the news site you are looking at) have been injured in a pileup on I-44, the Will Rogers Turnpike, near Miami, OK. Even at this hour only lane of the interstate is open in the eastbound direction, although the state police believe the other lane will reopen soon.

The accident apparently happened when a semi slammed into a line of cars that had stopped for a previous accident on the interstate. KOAM-TV sent a videographer to the scene and has video of the crash site. You may click here to access it.

Meanwhile, you might also check out this link from Tulsa station KOTV for details as they develop over the weekend.