• Back in June, 2010, when I sat down to discuss Open Access with the Municipal Utilities Advisory Board, I sat across the table from three Board members of Southern Bank, one executive officer of First Midwest Bank, and one executive officer of Commerce Bank. It made me wonder why this board was dominated by one industry. One friend told me it was because of how much cash flows through MU/City Cable. Another source told me that at least one local bank paid a bonus to their executive officers if appointed to Municipal Utilities Advisory Board (MUAB). Let me make a couple of things extremely clear: I'm not accusing any banks or bankers of wrong-doing I believe banks are extremely important

    Feb 11,
  • I was in the courthouse today for a hearing and after court was adjourned, I walked up to City Attorney Wally Duncan and DAR Reporter David Silverberg. I said, "Hey, Wally, can you tell me when the City will be closing on their sale of City Cable?" Duncan stood still and silent for 20 seconds and then responded, "Nothing I can tell you." The DAR Reporter stated he would look into it as another story. But then, Duncan said "How did you find out about it?"

    Feb 07,
  • The City's 2012 audited financial statements were finally approved earlier this month which allows us to look at how City Cable performed in 2012 without the "subsidizing" of Open Access. The financials show that the city would have made $317,756 more over the past two years had they not closed down Open Access to the citizen owned network. City Cable has lost money four of the last five years. But that really isn't a bad thing. After all, the city loses money on our street department. If run efficiently, I would never oppose the city losing money on (ie, investing in) our telecommunications infrastructure. But let's look at the numbers for City Cable department: 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Total

    Aug 28,
  • The following is the opinion of Brian Becker and does not necessarily reflect the views of SEMO.net or Bluff Technologies, Inc. Dear Mr. Schrieber,In the past two months, you and your Daily American Republic newspaper have, seemingly maliciously, slandered me and my family name on three separate occasions.In the June 14, 2013, edition of the DAR the headline read "JUDGE: BECKER MUST PAY". Other statements within that article, like those below, are at the very least slanderous and reputation-damaging: All of these statements are fabricated and false. They are damaging to me, my reputation and my family. I, Brian Becker, owe the City of Poplar Bluff $0, nada, nothing. And no judgment has been made against me. In the August 7,

    Aug 21,
  • First of all, contrary to what the DAR reported, there was no warrant and "Becker's Assets" are not being seized. In my opinion, the paper's slanderous headline of "BECKER's ASSETS" is seriously appalling. Friends and family have been contacting us to make sure we are okay. I really cannot believe that the DAR would make such a terrible statement directed at me personally. In June, the newspaper also made this about me, personally, and not the company. Isn't this covered in Journalism 101? As for the photo on the front page of the newspaper, I have it on good authority that the City Attorney has NEVER before asked to go out with the Sheriff's department to deliver papers until today.

    Aug 07,

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