St. Louis Post-Dispatch from St. Louis, Missouri • Page 71

MONDAY, JULY 26, 1993 bl. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH 5N RIVERVIEW Anonymous Letter Criticizes Trustees, Sparks Discussion Allegations Of Misconduct Prompt Debate, Rancor They'll crack you i. up! Peanuts-Daily! By Sheri Gassaway Post-Dispatch Special Correspondent Riverview Board of Trustees members are upset over an anonymous letter being circulated in the village that criticizes officials' performance. The letter accuses trustees of ordinance violations, frivolous and improper spending habits and poor decision making. Board Chair Elizabeth Morris discussed the letter before a recent meeting.

"It's a shame. This board is really working together do well for the community," she said. "For a handful of people to make these statements is really sad." The letter closed by stating: "Four of the five trustees are attempting to build a dynasty. Don't let this happen! Voice your opinion! Isn't it time the Village reaped some of the benefits of their tax Before the meeting, Trustee Jean Wolford read the entire letter and addressed each accusation about the board and its actions. "There's a destructive force that's trying to disrupt everything we've worked for," Wolford said.

For home delivery, call 3 14-340-! or ton-tree i-8UU-ati5-uzu By Sheri Gassaway Post-Dispatch Special Correspondent Heated discussion marked a recent Riverview Board of Trustees meeting, where allegations of misconduct were made against village officials. Much of the discussion centered over allegations that a village police commissioner had flashed his badge while in another municipality. That prompted Board Chair Elizabeth Morris to call in the badges while investigating the report. "If we can't prove anything, I will apologize," she said. Morris added that the Board of Trustees has decided that police commissioners do not need badges, because they have village identification cards.

During the meeting, former police commissioner Lyn Cowick demanded an answer from Morris on the whereabouts of the investigation. "It's close to a month and a half, and I still don't have an answer," she said. "I want my name cleared, or I want charges brought against me." Mortimer Reilly, another former police commissioner, alleged that Morris had accused commission members of abusing the use of the badge during a previous meeting. "It was intimidating," he said. "We were insulted at that meeting, and I expect a public apology." In July, the board appointed new members to the commission something the board does annually, Morris said.

Three of the commission's members were reinstated. Cowick and Reilly were not. Morris said the failure to reinstate the two had nothing to do with the badge matter. In an interview after the meeting, Morris said the monthly board meetings have been the scene of acrimonious public debate since she took office in April. "This meeting was mild compared to others," she said.

"The first meeting was really something." The intense debates during the most recent meeting were between the board and the audience, with the most vocal participants being former village officials. About 25 people at tended the meeting last week. During that meeting, Cowick accused Morris of trying to cash a village check in a Belief ontaine Neighbors store. Cowick said that when a clerk refused to cash the check because it was from Riverview, that Morris told the clerk that she was the village's board chairman. "I know the clerk," Cowick said.

Morris repeatedly denied Cowick's charge. Other matters that sparked intense questioning and comments from the audience included: An anonymous letter distributed to some residents criticizing board members and some of their recent actions. A bill passed by the board raising the pay of the health and building commissioners and the electrical inspector to $100 a month, from $50 per month. A bill passed by the board at the meeting raising the expense pay for board members to $100, from $50 a month. ST.

LOUS POST-DISPATCH Santa ler father's family We Own And Offer Southwestern Bell Telephone Debentures $00 PER COUPLE PER NIGHT SUN. THRU THURS. came to Missouri from Germany. Jones developed an interest in Christmas decorations from that country. She lifted a hunched St.

Nicholas in a gray coat. Jones used rabbit fur for his beard. She calls the figure a Bels-nickel, a derivation of Pelze-Nicol, the German name for Nicholas dressed in fur. Most Santa figures are patterned after St. Nicholas, the legendary bishop and patron saint of children.

The figures also reflect the darker side of Christmas traditions in which good children got gifts and naughty children got switches or coal. Jones' Belsnickel carries a feather tree and doll in a back sack. He also carries a string bag of coal and a hand full of switches. After collectors at national conventions and catalog companies found Jones' work, the hobby became a more than full-time job. During the year, Jones works several days a week on the figures.

After Thanksgiving, she often works from 7:15 in the morning until 2 the next morning, her husband said. She does her own Christmas shopping the day before Christmas. Despite the long hours, Jones says she enjoys her work. "I always liked the spirit of Christmas and getting friends and family together," she said. "I have this vision of making a Santa with Christ standing behind working through him." From page one antiques.

About 12 years ago she married Gary Jones, who owns a video production company. They have two children, Gavin, 11, and Alyson, 4. Six years ago, Jones began making Christmas figures after she found it difficult to find the antique figures she wanted to collect. She learned the craft by visiting libraries, art stores and examining photographs of old figures. "I played around for several years and finally found a formula," Jones said.

Jones builds the figures from old cloth, rabbit fur, sheepskin and plastic clay or papier-mache. Recently, she showed off some of her favorites. On a low chest, homemade doll and angej ornaments lay in rows like freshly baked cookies. An original Santa, sleigh and reindeer pull-toy sat among several dozen Christmas figures on shelves in a corner cupboard. The toy sells for about $4,500.

Jones reached in and removed the top of the sleigh. Like most of the antique Christmas Santas, reindeer and trees, this one once held Christmas candy. Jones reunited the pieces and stepped to a chest that held 21 figures and toys she has made. It is hard to tell the figures Jones has made from those she has adopted. With a motherly pat, she touched a sleigh made from material that resembles lichen.

She cradled a 19-inch St. Nicholas in a floor-length purple cape. The figure sports a sheepskin beard and carries a yoimg boy on his shoulders. 7J2 INCLUDES: DELUXE ROOM $6.00 BREAKFAST CREDIT FOR EACH ADULT 3 POOLS PLAYGROUND VIDEO GAMES' SHUFFLEBOARD MINI laULl- UU I UUUH UINING ENTERTAINMENT HEALTH CLUB TOLL FREE 1-800-Holiday -k- Tvouaau )nnr RESORT CONFERENCE CENTER 1-314-365-2334 P.O. Box 1930 Lake Ozark, MO 65049 ON THE LAKE OF THE OZARKS Due 071525 Call or stop by today.

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