We all know the saying which deals with the word assume, and while I will not repeat it, we seem to be, more and more, looking like the first three letters of that word when we come to discussions about the topics of the day.
Just because we all have access to all the information in the world in our pockets doesn’t make us members of MENSA, and far too many of us are showing the nefarious people who are trying to flood our lives with misinformation are winning.
We are becoming paranoid to the point that everyone around us is trying to get the better of us. That they have ulterior motives, and that we should only trust our gut.
Sometimes our guts lie - have you seen what we are putting into them lately - and assuming everything you have been fed will only lead to our current state of national heartburn.
How many times have I had to check in with school officials to make them pinkie swear that there are not litter boxes for students to use? I can tell you it has been more than two times, as I have people just tell me they are so convinced that the woke school is letting students act like pets.
It fits the narrative of these DEI institutions, so of course people believe this crazy idea.
This is nothing new - years ago I had a person submit a letter claiming the county board had some different motives on why they did replace the flag on the top of the dome. The truth was that, as it was designed, the practice of having a person climb out of the cupola at the top of the dome and lift themselves on top to replace the flag was unsafe, and a liability risk, and either you would have a tattered flag, as they should be replaced at least twice a year, or you stop the practice until you come up with a different design.
Which, through the help of donations from the public, the design was changed so the flag could be switched from within the dome.
This person was convinced that was not it.
While these were here or there, we have a whole cottage industry of conspiracies taking place.
This really hurts our country, because, as corny as it may be, the whole ‘United We Stand, Divided We Fall” motto is very true, and when we are so divided that we dispute facts, we cannot solve the challenges we face together.
During Sunday’s data center presentation, there was a lot of good information about data centers, and what us, as a public, and also our local governments, should be thinking about when it comes data centers.
Overall, a good meeting.
What makes me cringe, however, is some misinformation that was alleged or stated as fact at the meeting. Now, in the case of the one man who seems to know the motivations of the whole Grant County Board and the Economic Development Director, that is one thing - he is just one man giving his opinion, which we should all take with a grain of salt.
Its another thing when presenters, who are there claiming to have the information, do it.
There was one point during the question and answer session when a person wondered about the rumors of a nuclear power plant coming to Cassville. Now I worked on a story on the inner workings of this rumor, which dates back to leadership in Cassville actively looking for a new type of power plant to replace Nelson Dewey Power Station.
We covered the lengths to which they pursued a natural gas plant, which is obvious since natural gas plants, and their efficiency, was one of the reasons the PSC gave for not approving the more costly hybrid coal/biomass Nelson Dewey III generator back in November 2008. We didn’t see much talk about the nuclear idea, which they did pursue, because at that time no new nuclear plants were being considered, especially on a new site without an existing reactor already in place.
Things about that idea have been renewed with the exploration of mini and micro reactors, but again, this is all theoretical.
Nuclear exploration has been a bipartisan thing, actually, as both the Trump Administration and Gov. Evers have shown openness.
Cassville’s interest only has been increased, which is why they passed a resolution last fall being in favor of nuclear, and looking to explore it further.
These simultaneous events, however, were taken as a cabal by one of the presenters at Sunday’s meeting, who felt the Cassville Village Board were somehow swayed by the Democratic Governor.
“I have to believe that was something that came from the governor,” when this presenter talked about Cassville’s recent resolution.
You know who that would be news to? Cassville’s Village President, Jared Kasten, who I contacted after the meeting.
Like most local officials, Kasten promptly replied and set me straight.
“It is disappointing to learn that misinformation regarding the Village of Cassville’s nuclear support resolution was shared as part of the meeting in Potosi,” Kasten sent me in an email reply. “Gov. Evers, nor his administration, was not part of the Board’s discussion in adopting the resolution in support of exploring Cassville as a viable option for potentially building a nuclear power plant.”
The only role Evers played in the resolution was that his interest in nuclear was mentioned to Kasten by a resident, who used to work at the power plant.
“After further discussion and some research, I presented the idea of nuclear power to the Village Board to gauge interest and after positive discussion we agreed to add the resolution adoption to the following meeting,” Kasten continued.
The village then contacted State Sen/. Marklein’s office, as well as State Rep. Tranel’s to “throw our name into the hat” as Kasten put it, for future projects.
Kasten explained why they would look at such an idea. “The potential of a nuclear power plant will provide great job opportunities for the community as well as increase the Village’s diminishing tax revenue which will help with replacing and rehabilitating our aging infrastructure.”
Not some strong-arm, or payoff from the governor’s office, just a longstanding affiliation with power generation that Cassville has, and wanting to get back in the game, and provide good paying jobs.
When I looked back at the Nelson Dewey III decision, one of the things the PSC noted was the enthusiasm and interest Cassville had for being a power plant community, which in the world of Not-In-My-Back-Yard mentality, was, and continues to be special.
So when someone claims they had ulterior motives, or were pushed by someone else, it negates their own values and reason on the topic.
There were more claims that have been made about some of our local officials during this debate. I get the lashing out - between Cardinal-Hickory Creek and recent renewable energy projects, things a lot of people did not want to see, one feels powerless, like people are not being listened to.
Charlie Berens made such remarks about being powerless on Sunday.
Yes, money and greater interests have diminished the voice of the individual. We, like Charlie said, are the product.
At the same time, many of our local officials, and I am talking about our county boards, city councils, village and town boards - they’re just as much like us, because they are not looking to move up to another position, not looking for power.
They are just looking to have the roads cleared in the winter, and potholes filled in the summer.
When I saw a comment made as someone posted my story about Cassville Township looking for ‘village powers’ and tried to claim Town Chair Doug Schauff ‘knew more’ than what he told me, my first thought is ‘what is your proof?’
I don’t know Doug, I may have dealt with him in the past at some point, most likely on Smart Growth plan meetings, but I certainly do not know him. When I called, he promptly picked up, and answered every question I asked him.
I have been at this long enough that when someone looks to not answer a question yet answer, I can tell, and that didn’t happen.
He genuinely sounded to me like someone who wanted answers about this proposal, because he, like everyone else, is largely in the dark on this.
He talked about urging the developers to release more information, so he and his constituents, his neighbors, had answers.
So when someone claims he likely knows more, I would ask what evidence is there? Look, if he does, then give it to me, or if you heard directly from him, then tell me.
If it’s your gut telling you that is the case, I would say you should change your diet.
Look, in my job, I cannot print assumptions - if I think there is something going on, I ask questions to confirm. Sometimes I am right, sometimes, I am not, but I want to make sure I tell what actually happened, not what I think happened.
I hope, that as we move forward in looking at data centers, we find out more details. We get answers on the size and scope of such a project.
Just because we all have access to all the information in the world in our pockets doesn’t make us members of MENSA, and far too many of us are showing the nefarious people who are trying to flood our lives with misinformation are winning.
We are becoming paranoid to the point that everyone around us is trying to get the better of us. That they have ulterior motives, and that we should only trust our gut.
Sometimes our guts lie - have you seen what we are putting into them lately - and assuming everything you have been fed will only lead to our current state of national heartburn.
How many times have I had to check in with school officials to make them pinkie swear that there are not litter boxes for students to use? I can tell you it has been more than two times, as I have people just tell me they are so convinced that the woke school is letting students act like pets.
It fits the narrative of these DEI institutions, so of course people believe this crazy idea.
This is nothing new - years ago I had a person submit a letter claiming the county board had some different motives on why they did replace the flag on the top of the dome. The truth was that, as it was designed, the practice of having a person climb out of the cupola at the top of the dome and lift themselves on top to replace the flag was unsafe, and a liability risk, and either you would have a tattered flag, as they should be replaced at least twice a year, or you stop the practice until you come up with a different design.
Which, through the help of donations from the public, the design was changed so the flag could be switched from within the dome.
This person was convinced that was not it.
While these were here or there, we have a whole cottage industry of conspiracies taking place.
This really hurts our country, because, as corny as it may be, the whole ‘United We Stand, Divided We Fall” motto is very true, and when we are so divided that we dispute facts, we cannot solve the challenges we face together.
During Sunday’s data center presentation, there was a lot of good information about data centers, and what us, as a public, and also our local governments, should be thinking about when it comes data centers.
Overall, a good meeting.
What makes me cringe, however, is some misinformation that was alleged or stated as fact at the meeting. Now, in the case of the one man who seems to know the motivations of the whole Grant County Board and the Economic Development Director, that is one thing - he is just one man giving his opinion, which we should all take with a grain of salt.
Its another thing when presenters, who are there claiming to have the information, do it.
There was one point during the question and answer session when a person wondered about the rumors of a nuclear power plant coming to Cassville. Now I worked on a story on the inner workings of this rumor, which dates back to leadership in Cassville actively looking for a new type of power plant to replace Nelson Dewey Power Station.
We covered the lengths to which they pursued a natural gas plant, which is obvious since natural gas plants, and their efficiency, was one of the reasons the PSC gave for not approving the more costly hybrid coal/biomass Nelson Dewey III generator back in November 2008. We didn’t see much talk about the nuclear idea, which they did pursue, because at that time no new nuclear plants were being considered, especially on a new site without an existing reactor already in place.
Things about that idea have been renewed with the exploration of mini and micro reactors, but again, this is all theoretical.
Nuclear exploration has been a bipartisan thing, actually, as both the Trump Administration and Gov. Evers have shown openness.
Cassville’s interest only has been increased, which is why they passed a resolution last fall being in favor of nuclear, and looking to explore it further.
These simultaneous events, however, were taken as a cabal by one of the presenters at Sunday’s meeting, who felt the Cassville Village Board were somehow swayed by the Democratic Governor.
“I have to believe that was something that came from the governor,” when this presenter talked about Cassville’s recent resolution.
You know who that would be news to? Cassville’s Village President, Jared Kasten, who I contacted after the meeting.
Like most local officials, Kasten promptly replied and set me straight.
“It is disappointing to learn that misinformation regarding the Village of Cassville’s nuclear support resolution was shared as part of the meeting in Potosi,” Kasten sent me in an email reply. “Gov. Evers, nor his administration, was not part of the Board’s discussion in adopting the resolution in support of exploring Cassville as a viable option for potentially building a nuclear power plant.”
The only role Evers played in the resolution was that his interest in nuclear was mentioned to Kasten by a resident, who used to work at the power plant.
“After further discussion and some research, I presented the idea of nuclear power to the Village Board to gauge interest and after positive discussion we agreed to add the resolution adoption to the following meeting,” Kasten continued.
The village then contacted State Sen/. Marklein’s office, as well as State Rep. Tranel’s to “throw our name into the hat” as Kasten put it, for future projects.
Kasten explained why they would look at such an idea. “The potential of a nuclear power plant will provide great job opportunities for the community as well as increase the Village’s diminishing tax revenue which will help with replacing and rehabilitating our aging infrastructure.”
Not some strong-arm, or payoff from the governor’s office, just a longstanding affiliation with power generation that Cassville has, and wanting to get back in the game, and provide good paying jobs.
When I looked back at the Nelson Dewey III decision, one of the things the PSC noted was the enthusiasm and interest Cassville had for being a power plant community, which in the world of Not-In-My-Back-Yard mentality, was, and continues to be special.
So when someone claims they had ulterior motives, or were pushed by someone else, it negates their own values and reason on the topic.
There were more claims that have been made about some of our local officials during this debate. I get the lashing out - between Cardinal-Hickory Creek and recent renewable energy projects, things a lot of people did not want to see, one feels powerless, like people are not being listened to.
Charlie Berens made such remarks about being powerless on Sunday.
Yes, money and greater interests have diminished the voice of the individual. We, like Charlie said, are the product.
At the same time, many of our local officials, and I am talking about our county boards, city councils, village and town boards - they’re just as much like us, because they are not looking to move up to another position, not looking for power.
They are just looking to have the roads cleared in the winter, and potholes filled in the summer.
When I saw a comment made as someone posted my story about Cassville Township looking for ‘village powers’ and tried to claim Town Chair Doug Schauff ‘knew more’ than what he told me, my first thought is ‘what is your proof?’
I don’t know Doug, I may have dealt with him in the past at some point, most likely on Smart Growth plan meetings, but I certainly do not know him. When I called, he promptly picked up, and answered every question I asked him.
I have been at this long enough that when someone looks to not answer a question yet answer, I can tell, and that didn’t happen.
He genuinely sounded to me like someone who wanted answers about this proposal, because he, like everyone else, is largely in the dark on this.
He talked about urging the developers to release more information, so he and his constituents, his neighbors, had answers.
So when someone claims he likely knows more, I would ask what evidence is there? Look, if he does, then give it to me, or if you heard directly from him, then tell me.
If it’s your gut telling you that is the case, I would say you should change your diet.
Look, in my job, I cannot print assumptions - if I think there is something going on, I ask questions to confirm. Sometimes I am right, sometimes, I am not, but I want to make sure I tell what actually happened, not what I think happened.
I hope, that as we move forward in looking at data centers, we find out more details. We get answers on the size and scope of such a project.
I also hope that we ‘trust but verify’ with our local officials. If anyone has worked for their own selfish goals, lets expose it, but if they, like us, have simply been sideswiped by this, then lets also see that as well, and realize they are just trying to do the best they can.
