See The True Story In Today's Post Dispatch

Oct 23, 2013

The drama of Poplar Bluff politics and business have made it into the headlines of the St Louis Post Dispatch with “Political novice draws scorn and lawsuit for questioning business as usual”. The long article, over 40 paragraphs in length, is an intriguing outsider’s view of the last five months of accusations, innuendos and lawsuits.

Once again, Doug Bagby drags me into the story and refers to me as a “disgruntled small-business owner” but most of the strangest quotes come from Sammy Schalk of Gamblin Lumber and Charles Moffit of MHJ Insurance.

Schalk is quoted as saying:

 “You don’t want dunderheads on welfare on the bank board.”

And Moffitt is quoted a few paragraphs later inferring that Poplar Bluff doesn’t have very many desirable places to live:

“You’ve been here in Poplar Bluff,” said Moffett, 69, an owner of Morse, Harwell, and Jiles Insurance. “How many areas are desirable to live in?”

Check out the full story at St Louis Post Dispatch and leave your comments below.

  1. Jeannine

    I have lived here for many years… The story has always been the same. The community is ruled by the people who have OLD money…meaning they come from a family considered the upper crust.

    I don’t think there can be a contextual issue with Schalk’s opinion: He said what he said, and I, too, will no longer buy my building materials from him. As for the City Attorney and the City Prosecutor… not new, either. We have smoking in the BOB because Wallace helped them massage the law… He bragged about having to measure every square inch of the building to meet the space standard.

    I HOPE ALL OF THE PEOPLE IN POPLAR BLUFF CITY AND COUNTY WHO ARE PAYING THE BILLS, WILL TALE A LONG LOOK AT THE UPCOMING LEVY FOR SCHOOL IMPROVEMENTS. WE HAVE A SCHOOL SYSTEM SO FOCUSED ON SPORTS THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY ONLY eligible FOR PROVISIONAL ACCREDITATION. SEVERAL BOARD MEMBERS ARE PUSHING THE LEVY AND PROMISING A NEW STADIUM. THAT WILL NOT GARNER OUR VOTE.

    SMALL HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE AREA PUT US TO SHAME. IF IT WERE NOT FOR SCHOOLS LIKE SACRED HEART, EVEN MORE OF OUR KIDS WOULD BE LOST. LET’S HOLD THEIR FEET TO THE FIRE AND DEMAND CHANGES IN CLASSROOM TEACHING APPROACHES, NEW TEXT BOOKS (MY SON HAD ONE PUBLISHED IN THE 80’S FOR SCIENCE). THE RULE “GO ALONG TO GET ALONG” IS THE BOTTOM LINE HERE. Why does one of the physicians on the board fight drug testing for specific sports like golf…?

    I am very proud to know Angela…She has more courage and integrity in her little finger than all of the good old boys she serves with….the nurse who holds a council seat is in there kissing up and trying to get ahead…she shows little concern for individual problems if it means she has to take a stand against one of her buddies. I realize I have been off message, but it is all a part of the same corrupt culture.

    We were hoodwinked by the new hospital….that now stands with a low occupancy rate because patients go to Cape and Memphis. A new building staffed with the same people, including nurses who prefer to sit at the desk and talk that give patient care, offers no change to patients. I nearly lose it when I see the WE ARE ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF MEDICINE. We have and good doctors, but the local boys soon run them off. We had a fabulous surgeon who had moved to Tennessee because policies and poor nursing care made it impossible to practice here. Citizens are to blame to an extent…We all remain quiet instead of doing what Angela did. She pulled the lid off of the City septic tank and found it is really full of a lot of P….p. Those floating around in there and living off the backs of our citizens are lashing out just to get even. I hope and believe that as this moves forward, they will all be exposed.
    Hang in there Angela; We are praying for you.

  2. Dennis Wisdom

    I am not disagreeing with the allagations of wrong doing in P.B. But I have known Sam since I arrived in Poplar Bluff in 1973. He has been a good friend to all. Unless proved otherwise, I feel his words were taken out of context. I do agree with how the school system works first hand by favoring sports of the so called important people. Being in business for the last 40 years, I have heard these so called important people comment to others, these words. ” Do you know who I am” Well frankly, I don’t give a damn!

    1. jerry

      {“You don’t want dunderheads on welfare on the bank board.”} he sounds like a professional business man–how can these words be taken out of context.. so is he saying you must have money to be on the board?

  3. Ruthie

    I was opposed to Menards because of the effect it might have on our local lumberyard businesses like Gamblins and Packs, but after finding out about Schalk, I’m not so opposed anymore. I’m still concerned about Packs and our other small local companies, but Schalk can take his “dunderhoods” and go do something anatomically impossible with them. No more shopping at Gamblins for me.

  4. scripto

    Gamblins just got crosed out of my phone book,if I keep doing this I will have a book full of black lines in no time at all

  5. out-of-towner

    I grew up in Poplar Bluff and couldn’t wait to get away. Even as a child, I remember my relatives talking about how corrupt the city government was–and this goes way back to 1940s – 1960s. And, yes, if you want to get ahead in that town, it depends on having the right last name and who you know. The good-ol’-boy network is alive and flourishing in PB. Hold your head up, Angela! Kudos to you!

  6. jerry mcdowell

    “dunderheads on welfare–i wonder what he considers a dunderhead? {A person with no intelligence Idiot,Plonker,Pillock,Klutz Dunce,Numskull, Blockhead, Bonehead, Lunkhead, Hammerhead, Knucklehead,Muttonhead, Shithe… ] so would it be fair to say anybody on welfare is a dunderhead….or is it any body who does not have the $$$$$$ to play poplar bluff monopoly is a dunderhead .. when is the citizens in the city limits gonna wake up and see the politics thats being played ..you scratch my back i will cover your backside . heck i live in Ripley county and can see it

  7. Steve

    I am stunned that people just simply do not have a real clue as to what goes on this town. I am even more shocked that when things are brought into the light they are ignored and people settle for staus quo. Sure, things have happening in PB, but WHO is profitting?? Whose and is selling, whose business is profitting, whose career is being advanced, who is being elected to “serve”, whether in city government or on local boards?? Well, it surely isn’t the average Joe from down the gravel road. Nope, its the same old people, with the same old business connections, the same old friends in high places. In other words, the same old same old. You don’t make it in this town if you don’t know “somebody”, and THAT is from experience. And trust me, it trickles all the way down…the same miserable attitude…I’m better than everybody else so let me to the head of the line. Kids get ahead on sports teams because of WHO THEIR DADDY IS. It doesn’t matter that they can’t play the game, just put them in or else “daddy” (or maybe even mommy) will get upset. Small businesses start up and fail because they were not “connected” to the right people and therefore got no real support. And then you see the meanness in the thinking of business owners in this town!!! “Dunderheads”….really Mr Sammy….really!!!! But yes, that is the mentality of people in this town…if you aren’t a member of my “circle” (business, church, social) then you aren’t worth my time or my effort…you are nothing, and I will let you know that every chance I get. Well, Mr. Sammy, that metal roofing we were planning on purchasing from you, no more. We will make the drive to Cape and purchase it from Menards.

  8. Mary Jane

    I don’t live in P.B., but I shop there. I am scheduled to have some home construction done in the near future. My builder had planned to purchase the building materials from Gamblin Lumber, but after reading Sammy’s comment about not wanting “dunderheads on welfare on the band board”, Gamblin will no longer get ANY of my business. Oh, and Sammy, it’s too late, there are already dunderheads on the bank board. The citizens of P.B. should demand an investigation of Doug Bagby and his cronies after reading this article.

  9. James

    It sounds like Sammy ate a big ol bowl of Slander and is now upchucking it on people! Dunderhead indeed!

  10. Sam

    I see you are making news in Wayne Country. Can you even drive through Greenville anymore. Your Parents must be proud.. Spread the Wealth I always say!

    1. Brian Becker

      Sure, I drive thru every day when I take my boys to school. And my parents love me, as do my wife and children.

  11. Trudy Hibler

    Wow. We moved here from California just over 9 years ago and love it here. Some question why we moved here and why we stay and all we can say is we were drawn here and we stay because it’s become home. Our house is on the market but we plan to remain in the area and have looked at several gorgeous homes in fabulous areas. A lot of people are moving here from out of state. I’ve met several from the same region from which I grew up. We all agree: PB offers a lot more than many locals realize.

    1. Brian Becker

      I totally agree, Trudy. I lived on Spring street from 1987-1990, then on Fox Drive from 1998-2006, and out on M Hwy from 2007-2010. Poplar Bluff is a beautiful place and the people are wonderful.