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There’s a credibility issue in the air

Ivan Foley by Ivan Foley
March 4, 2020
in Between the Lines
Keep calm and wash your hands
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Coronavirus.

There I said it. Just putting the word out there because it seems to be a media obligation this week.

RelatedNews

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Fireworks, fireworks shows, foul tasting water

Hot dogs, postage hikes, character references


You scared?

Everybody calm down. I’m no scientist or mathematician but Facebook says you’re more likely to be killed by the Clintons than die from the coronavirus.


Wash your hands. Take your vitamins. Wash your hands. Diffuse essential oils. Wash your hands. Rinse and repeat. Rinse and repeat.

We’re gonna get through this. Let’s show that virus who’s boss.


Thanks to the Missouri Ethics Commission, now it’s official. Somebody at Parkville City Hall has a credibility problem. I don’t want to mention any names but her initials are Nan Johnston.

For some of us, this is not breaking news. We’ve noticed the lack of transparency, the lack of sincerity in her words, over-the-top temper tantrums, her use of public resources in attempts at retribution against those who don’t fall in line with her way of thinking.

But for others, this revelation is a new thing, and that’s ok. Welcome to the party. There’s no punishment for being late. No judging. You don’t even have to accept the news into your heart.

Just keep in mind how the Missouri Ethics Commission-a group that isn’t exactly known for having a killer instinct in these matters–came down on the issue.


By the way, it appeared to me the consent order Johnston signed with the Missouri Ethics Commission reads very much like a plea agreement. “That’s exactly what it is,” an attorney who has perused the document commented to me this week.

Johnston’s campaign initially accepted corporate contributions, which is a big no-no. The two parties eventually signed the consent order in which the acceptance of corporate contributions is not listed among the four counts of violations of state ethics/campaign finance laws.


You’ve even noticed some Kansas City media outlets reporting on the ethics commission’s ruling. This is a big step and a sign that Nan’s attempted stronghold on controlling the message is slipping away.

A couple of media outlets–like KSHB Channel 41 and the Kansas City Star–had previously been convinced by Nan that ‘there is nothing to see here.’ Now those two outlets are looking at this and other goings-on at Parkville City Hall with a more discerning eye.

For the public and taxpayers, that’s a good thing.


Wash your hands. Take your vitamins. Read The Landmark.


Fox 4 still seems to be gun shy about taking an objective look at Parkville City Hall. Sadly, this is probably not a coincidence as a couple of on-air Fox 4 personalities reside in Parkville.

Anybody want to wager whether some Fox 4 folks have been given the ‘there’s nothing to see here’ speech from Nan?

I can tell you for a fact KSHB-Channel 41 was given that speech. I’ve seen the video. Nan spent considerable time talking negatively about The Landmark and trying paint herself as some type of victim in that interview, which never made it on air. Channel 41’s “investigation” got cold feet after Nan did her best to convince them it was fake news. Nan’s little talk initially intimidated the KSHB-Channel 41 news folks from moving forward with that story on transparency and ethics concerns they were working on at Parkville last fall.

But to their credit, the newsies at KSHB this week grew a spine and did a piece on the ethics commission ruling.


I’m no doctor but my gut says you’re 1,000 times more likely to be the victim of a Nan Johnston city-funded vendetta than to be stricken with the coronavirus.


Wash your hands and stuff.


Kathy Dusenbery. Beverlee Roper. Dagmar Wood. Nan Johnston.

I don’t know what they’re putting in the wine in southern Platte County, but I like it. It is real and it is glorious.


Since Guy Speckman now cleans The Landmark bathroom I can put Taco Bell back in my lunch rotation.


On Super Tuesday, on one of the biggest nights of his political life, Joe Biden introduced his sister as his wife. So either he has moments of confusion or he’s from Arkansas.

Either way this seems ungood.


Kathy Dusenbery, Beverlee Roper, Dagmar Wood and Nan Johnston are trapped in an Escape Room. How many minutes till the first argument?

(If you can’t find Ivan Foley officiating arguments between volatile personalities you’ll find him washing his hands and ingesting Vitamin C. Email him at ivan@plattecountylandmark.com)

Tags: covid-19dagmar woodethicsKathy DusenberyNan Johnstonparkvilleplatte county
Ivan Foley

Ivan Foley

Ivan Foley, longtime owner/publisher of the Platte County Landmark, is a past winner of the national Gish Award for courage, tenacity and integrity in rural journalism, presented by the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues at the University of Kentucky. He lives in Platte County not far from KCI Airport.

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