May 17—Bob Parker Town Hall Meeting 7:00 p.m
Hayloft Restaurant—Mountain Grove—Please park   in the back parking lot. Come early if you care to eat.

May 21—Constitutional Sheriff Brad Rogers 7:00 p.m. at the YMCA in Mountain Grove. For info contact:
Dirk Shea 808-489-2764; Wayne Griswold 417-554-1194

May 24—Ozarks Property Rights Meeting 7:00 p.m.
Hayloft Restaurant. Come early if you care to eat.
Meeting topics: 1) Status of important bills in the final days of the legislative session in Jeff City. 2) Constitutional Sheriff Project News 3) Other current topics

Mark your calendars for June 14 in Gainesville  and June 28 in Mountain Grove candidate forums. More details later.

Sheriff Brad Rogers from Elkhart, Indiana will present “What is a Constitutional Sheriff?” on May 21, 2012 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the YMCA in Mountain Grove, Missouri. Admission is free and open to the public. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Sheriff Rogers’ visit to Mountain Grove is sponsored by the Douglas County Citizens for Liberty in conjunction with the Ozarks Property Rights Congress.

In his presentation, Sheriff Rogers will define “Constitutional Sheriff” and tell what a County Sheriff can and should do to protect the rights of the citizens of his county.

Sheriff Rogers received the “2011 Interposer of the Year” award from the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association (CSPOA). He courageously intervened to protect the constitutional rights of an Amish dairy farmer besieged by the FDA and the Department of Justice.

In an interview at his office, Rogers said the feds are limited in what they can do by provisions in the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. He alluded to the Fourth Amendment, which guards against unreasonable searches and seizures, and the 10th Amendment, which grants states powers not reserved for the federal government.

“The arrogance of thinking federal law trumps everything flies in the face of the 10th Amendment,” Rogers said. “If we think the federal government trumps everything, we’re destined for big trouble in the freedoms here in our country.”

A special workshop session open only to members of law enforcement and candidates for Sheriff will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Call your County Sheriff and encourage him to attend. All of the 8th District and surrounding counties are welcome.

For more information contact: Wayne & Susie Griswold at 417-554-1194, email: dcc4liberty@gmail.com or Dirk Shea at 808-489-2764, email: info@ozarksprc.com

Directions to Mtn. Grove YMCA: E. 9th & YMCA Drive - On Highway 95 in Mountain Grove, turn east on E. 9th, Between Casey’s & Town & Country Bank, Go to YMCA Dr. - YMCA on right

Ozarks Property Rights Congress Meeting

Thursday—May 10—7:00 p.m.

Gainesville, Missouri – Vaught’s Family Restaurant

On meeting nights, food is served from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thank the Vaughts for all of their support.

Discussion topics

Executive Order—National Defense Resources Preparedness
How does this executive order differ from others?

Wendell Bailey “divorces” himself from Ozarks Rural University? Really? - - A board of directors has been gathered and Wendell’s name is still associated with the group.
Stand by, we are looking into this NEW development. Sustainable communities are still included in the plan.

Constitutional Sheriffs Project Report—We have received several positive responses from our surveys mailed to sheriffs, sheriff candidates, & prosecuting attorney’s across the 8th district.

Legislators in Jefferson City are in the chaotic final weeks of the session. We are hoping that some of the good bills are not mixed into an Omnibus soup with bad ones that will hurt us if they pass. We will check in with some specifics on a few of the bills we have been keeping an eagle eye on.

Upcoming events in May

Bob Parker will hold a Town Hall meeting at the Hayloft Restaurant Mtn. Grove at 7 p.m. on May 17. Bob is seeking the Representative seat for the 8th Congressional seat long held by JoAnn Emerson.

Constitutional Sheriff Brad Rogers from Elkhart, Indiana will speak at the YMCA in Mountain Grove at 7:00 p.m. on May 21. For more info contact Wayne and Susie Griswold at 417-554-1194 or Dirk Shea at 808-489-2764.

OPRC Meeting  May 24, 7:00 p.m., Hayloft Restaurant, Mountain Grove, Missouri

Ozarks Property Rights Congress Meeting

Thursday—April 19 -7:00 p.m.

Hayloft Restaurant – Mountain Grove

Come early if you care to eat, as no food is allowed in the meeting room.

April 19th Discussion topics

Executive Order—National Defense Resources Preparedness

Wendell Bailey “divorces” himself from Ozarks Rural University

Constitutional Sheriffs Project Report by Dirk Shea and Gary Filley.

Legislation update– These bills are moving along & urgently need your comments against: SB710 & HB1193 will create a statewide data base where MO bureaucrats & law enforcement can track your prescription history (sponsored by Sen. Kevin Engler). Not Good!

SB566 requires that all dogs & cats (including your wild barn cats) you feed or shelter for 4 or more days must be vaccinated by a vet. Penalty of $300 or 15 days in jail. Sponsored by Sen. Dan Brown (who is a veterinarian).

Ozarks Property Rights Congress Meeting

Thursday—March 8—7:00 p.m.

Gainesville – Vaught’s Family Restaurant

On meeting nights, food is served from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

A “Constitutional Sheriffs Project” Committee, within OPRC, is actively working on educating our County Sheriffs on their constitutional rights & duties to protect the citizens in their counties. Dirk Shea and Gary Filley are the project coordinators and are scheduled to be at the meeting to explain the plan.

The Hellbender’s inclusion on the “Endangered” list is opening the door for more control of our water. The North Fork is in focused crosshairs by MDC partnering with The Nature Conservancy, hand in hand with the DNR’s stream reclassification.

Some of the legislation both good & bad you heard about in February has changed. Bad bills have turned “good” and additional really bad ones have been introduced. Immediate & forceful attention is needed on these bills.

Thanks  to all of those folks who have answered the call to keep us posted on things to look into that they run across in their readings and listenings. We need for citizens to be vigilant.  We appreciate each one who attends and then spreads the word. We need more actively involved folks to do the daily work of guarding against losing the freedoms we all love.

As always, the meeting is “Weather permitting!” If in doubt, call Vaught’s at 417-679-1080, before 2:00 p.m. on meeting day.

Thursday—February 23 -7:00 p.m.
Hayloft Restaurant – Mountain Grove, Missouri
Come early if you care to eat, as no food is allowed in the meeting room.

If you were at January’s meeting you heard about legislation both good & bad that is being considered in Jefferson City by your elected Senators & Representatives. Since then some of the so-called bad ones have turned “good” and additional really bad ones have been introduced. Please, attend and find out how you can help keep our rights from further erosion. The folks who would take them away are working overtime.

Since the January meeting, a “Constitutional Sheriffs” Committee within OPRC has been formed. It is actively working on educating County Sheriff’s about their constitutional rights and duties to protect the citizens in their counties. They are beginning with Sheriffs in nearby counties. They have already contacted Sheriff Mack for his assistance. Sheriff Mack was the keynote speaker at the OPRC Conference in August 2011.

Doreen Hannes is asking for folks to help search through bills in the Missouri General Assembly for issues that can hurt us or help us. She is willing to teach what to watch for.

We appreciate each one who attends and we hope you will become more actively involved in the daily work of guarding against losing the freedoms we all love.

Meeting is “Weather Permitting.” If in doubt, call the Hayloft at 417-926-6200 before 3 p.m. on meeting day.

Doreen Hannes will go through some of the state legislation —  good and bad. Prepare to contact your State Senators and Representatives
Good: HB1444, SB600, SB547 —
Bad: SB490, HB1324 and House Joint Resolution 61

Other Topics:
Consent of the Governed Rally Jan. 4th, Jeff City (report)
DNR Stream Re-classification is back plus other water issues
I-70 toll road proposal
Rural Ozark University

The meeting is “Weather permitting!” If in doubt, call Vaught’s at 679-1080, before 3:00 p.m. on meeting day.

OPRC research specialist, Doreen Hannes, represented OPRC as part of 18 concerned citizen groups whose members delivered a beautifully framed Declaration of Duty to each State Representative and Senator on January 4th in Jefferson City as part of the Consent of the Governed Rally. They greeted the legislators, “We’re the people and we’re here to help.” “It was a very, very positive thing,” Hannes said.

Hannes said that though it is still early in session, it is obvious that concerned citizens will need to go up to Jefferson City often to make their voices heard this year. She exhorted everyone to get involved with the legislative process. “It is our job, as citizens, to be vigilant, to be aware, to know what’s happening, to stand in the gap, and require the right action from our elected officials.”

“You don’t have memorize every word of a bill or know all of the State’s Revised Statutes to be effective, but you do have to know the bill’s ramifications for freedom,” she added. “In several cases we have been able to bring about a right action from our state legislators. They just have to know that we get it, that we understand the process, and that we’re not going to sit back and take whatever they want to do anymore. It’s up to us, also, to inform out friends and neighbors what is happening.”

Hannes reviewed some bills currently proposed in the Missouri General Assembly. “The Right to Raise Livestock is a returning bill. It sounds good until you carefully look at the wording. Basically, it gives Missouri citizens the right to raise livestock in a “humane manner.” That is humane manner as defined by the University of Missouri. The University of Missouri does whatever the USDA tells it to. The USDA has hired a former Humane Society of the US litigator to run the USDA Animal Welfare Division in the west half of the country. Knowing the beliefs of the HSUS, that sends up a big red flag on this bill. It opens the door to regulate animal owners with the USUS desired animal welfare practices.
“I’m for animal welfare.  I raise animals I want my animals to be as happy and healthy as possible, but I do not believe they have more rights than people. Animal cruelty is against the law already.”

Issues in Senator Brian Munslinger’s nuisance law suit bill SB490 are already covered by the Farm Freedom Act. Land use issues handled on a state wide level is zoning, pure and simple. We already have the capacity for redress. It is a local control issue and is best handled on the local level. This bill effectively gives Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) extra rights while pretending to protect farmers.”

Two bills that I feel we can support  is HB1444 which would prohibit the sterilizing, adopting out or euthanizing seized animals before the case has thoroughly decided.

SB547 the Right to Work Bill. Representative Wells commented, “This bill will bring companies with jobs to Missouri. Presently, companies are taking their jobs to “right to work” states.” Wells encouraged citizens to begin a letter writing campaign to the Missouri House Speaker Steve Tilley to make their feelings know that Missouri needs this right to work legislation.

Attendees also heard a report from Carolin Burch who attended the Mountain Grove Lion’s club noon meeting. At the meeting, former State Treasurer Wendell Bailey presented his 15 Point priority list for a Ten County Plan designed to increase the income and educational levels in South Central Missouri. There will be more information on this as it develops.

Bob Parker took time off from the campaign trail to touch base with the home folks.  Speaking of being a fiscal conservative, Parker said, “We need to defund the non-elected, job killing regulatory agencies who place unreasonable, costly burdens on businesses and citizens. We have to cut off the money. Even if there is good in a bill, if it funds these agencies, a Congressman has to vote no, then explain to folks back home why the no vote was necessary.” In the August primary, Parker is facing JoAnn Emerson for the 8th Congressional District seat.

The next OPRC Meeting will be in Gainesville on February 9 and in Mountain Grove on February 23.

Doreen Hannes attended the Consent of the Governed Rally in Jefferson City on January 4th and will report on what was accomplished by the citizen advocates.

Also, on the agenda is a discussion of some of the legislation issues being considered by the Missouri General Assembly.