Paul Dixon

He is a waste of space and Eddie Malone is a much better player.  Ladies and Gentlemen, introducing Paul Dixon.

That is not my opinion of course, that was along the lines of what some Dundee fans chose to utter when they found out he had signed for us.

So last summer Dixon decided to call it a day with his former employees and sign for his boyhood hero’s.

His contract had run down at Dundee and Craig Levein offered him terms and that was that, £25k went to Dundee and we signed a player who, after his first year in Tangerine, went on to become our young player of the year.

It was a sad end to the youngsters Dundee career the way he ended up leaving.  After playing his very early years at Monifieth Athletic, Aberdonian Dixon was picked up by the scouts at Dundee and was promptly signed for the club at the tender age of 12.

After coming through the ranks at the Dens Park club, left back Dixon finally made his debut for the club back in 2005 under manager Jim Duffy.

Dixon became a first team regular and managed to pitch in with two goals  for his team.  After his first season, he was awarded a contract extension that was to take him up to the summer of 2008.

The players talents did not go unnoticed and in the summer of 2007 Dixon was subject of a bid from Norwich City for his services.  Norwich, who had Dixon’s former manager Duffy as the assistant manager, were turned down in their bid to lure Dixon down south.

During the 07/08 season Dixon fell out of favour with then manager Alex Rae and it became clear that he would leave the club at the end of the season.  It was in the Janaury of 2008 that Kilmarnock decided to tempt Dixon away from Dens but that move also failed to materialise.

Rumours were not long in circulating about where the youngsters future would lie and Dundee United became surprise favourites to capture Dixon’s signature.

Neither club nor the player would comment on the rumours but it was thought that Dixon had signed a pre contract with his clubs rivals.

As the season came to an end at Dundee, the final game at Hamilton was to see Dixon explode at manager Alex Rae and make their feud public. Dixon was substituted shortly after half time, in a move that he felt was set to make him look like a fool by his manager and had to be escorted down the tunnel by opposing manager Billy Reid.

On June 23 2008 Dixon was added to the squad by Craig Levein in a move that seen United pay just £25k due to the players age.

It was not long before the player made his 1st team début, in a League Cup match with Airdrie and his league début followed the following weekend against Hearts.

Dixon was somewhat of a lucky charm that seen United concede only one goal in the first 6 games he played.

Since breaking into the team, Dixon became an almost ever present forming a fantastic partnership with Craig Conway down the left, a partnership that caused opposing defences many problems and racked Dixon up a number of assists.

In his first season at the club, the left back has managed 32 appearances scoring 1 goal, a free kick at Celtic Park.

His good form seen Dixon on the verge of an International call up for the Scotland B game versus Northern Ireland, only for his hopes to be dashed as United were to play Aberdeen in a crunch post split tie, scheduled for the day after the International tie.

The season was not without honours for Paul Dixon though, as he was awarded the Dundee United Young Player of the Year award.

So for a player who was such a waste of space he has certainly managed to shine for us and has managed the step up to SPL football admirably. Lets hope he can keep up the good work and continue to improve next season.

Football, it a game of opinion in that everyone has one on every aspect of the game.  As fans, we sit in the stands everyweek or watch from the arm chair and we pick holes in our team managers decisions.

We sit there thinking the formation is wrong.  We wouldn’t have started with striker A up front.  Defender B should never be in the squad.  We all do it, it’s part and parcel of the game.

The thing about that is, it is all to easy to criticise.  When things are going good the manager gets the adulation of the fans.  When things start to go down the pan a bit, we sit there thinking along the lines of “for f*ck sake you idiot, even I could have done a better job”.

So, with out the criticism I am about to go for my attempt at being a football manager, well not the whole hog, and I am having my view on what positions Craig Levein should be looking to fill over the summer.

As we all know, Danny Cadamarteri  is in, it’s a done deal.  The former Everton player can fill in on the flanks or upfront.  The versatility is a good thing, I think he really needs to prove himself first.

We all know we need two ‘keepers and we look to have at least a back up in in the form of Steve Banks.  We need another one but that is on the cards so no point in going there.

So what else do we need?  Well transfer budget allowing, I would like to see us try for the following.  I’m not going to list players because I’m sure Levein will come up with some gems we have never heard of so, there is little point in listing the obvious.  I will just look at positions.

We need a centre half.  The problem we have is that we have 3 very decent centre halves in Wilkie, Dods and Kenneth but they are too similar.  In them we have 3 big guys who are good when the ball is coming over the top.  One of the short falls in this area is that we lack pace.

It is all to easy for teams to get the ball down and run at them and if the midfield don’t cover up, we can be worryingly exposed.

If we could inject a bit of pace in there, I think we would be much more comfortable.

The fact that none of our three centre halves are particularly comfortable on the ball is also a bit hindering.  All to often one of them tries to play football and for me, the heart jumps to the mouth in the fear they will give gift posession to the opposition.

If we could get a pacey centre half who is relativley comfortable on the ball, that would be a major improvement in that area.

We need a central midfielder. And one with some dig.  There is likely to be a deal set up to bring James Wesolowski on a permanent basis so that could be what we need.  He was looking good before his injury and never shirked a tackle.

We have too many players in midfield who are good on the ball and can play a good passing game but we lack some dig.  If we can get a bit of a mean streak in there, it maybe help to stop teams breaking through us too easily.

We need a winger. One who plays on the right please.  It’s possible that this could be where Levein say Cadamarteri spending most of his time, if so, we have it covered.  If not, we need someone in, again, rumour has it that there is someone on the radar.

I hope so because too many times this season we focussed our attacking play down the left.  Don’t get more wrong, when Conway and Dixon were on form it has worked well and caused defences problems.  The problem it causes us though is that once teams get wise to it, they shut it down and we struggle to find a way forward.

Bringing in a player capable of playing to that effect down the right would make us more balanced and give us more options.

So there you have it, if I was in charge, that is what I would be looking to bring in.

Do you agree?  Do you think we need players in other positions before those listed above?

Let us know, leave a comment.

Hubris can be defined as blatant arrogance; the misuse of one’s position to commit violence against the knowledgeable and well-informed.

In Cherokee County, that translates into elected officials shaming others for the sole purpose of increasing their own standing within the community. That is why businesses and school teachers are leaving by the droves. Those who have made a living framing innocent people and those who propagate the district attorney’s disregard of the Texas Penal Code are the most dangerous individuals in greater East Texas. Cherokee County district attorney Elmer Beckworth has lied to State legislators, has lied to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and lies just as often in quotes from the Jacksonville Daily Progress.

The highest legal authority in Cherokee County has told the Texas District and County Attorney’s Association that the felony bond of one Michael Harris of Jacksonville, TX could not be revoked for repeated violations of protective orders. Beckworth’s office has filed briefs with the highest criminal court in Austin stating that he and his investigator did not seek to have an incarcerated felon’s parole dismissed in exchange for the parole’s testimony against death row inmates Richard Cobb and Buenka Adams. And when questioned on how an infant molester can be offered probation, the District Attorney’s asinine answer is ”because the victim wouldn’t testify.” 

Jacksonville, TX:
Not reported by the Jacksonville Daily Progress – Local mother and son arrested during the investigation of sex assaults on two infants, 1 and 2-years old. Dickie P.Bellanger, 21 and his mother Candi Bellanger, 36 were arrested in Jacksonville, TX on Friday May 22, 2009 after forensics obtained at the East Texas Medical Center showed evidence of ongoing sexual abuse of the two infants in their care. The one-year old showed signs of bruising and rape. After both infants were retrieved from the household by CPS, medical examinations showed evidence of sexual trauma on the two-year old sibling. Dickie Bellangerwas charged with two counts each of aggravated sexual assault and injury to a child; his bond was set at $2 million. His mother Candi Bellanger was charged with child endangerment for not reporting the alleged crimes. They both are in custody waiting for their court-appointed attorneys to flip a coin.

 
Mother and son, Candi and Dickie Bellanger arraigned

The report of the arrest appears out of region in the Tyler TX newspaper. Actually reported by the Jacksonville Daily Progress in 2008: Dickie P. Bellanger was arrested in March 2008 on burglary of a building charges; his felony bond was set at $3500. After throwing himself at the mercy of Cherokee County prosecutors, his burglary charges were dropped.

Now one year later, it takes a newspaper 50 miles away to report the ongoing sexual abuse arrests of more Cherokee County residents. Will district attorney Elmer Beckworth wait until the injured children are old enough to speak before convening a grand jury? Will Cherokee County prosecutors instead have the Jacksonville Daily Progress print yet another conjured account on how the victims’ unwillingness to testify would therefore justify probation at sentencing? Or as current district attorney Elmer Beckworth puts it “because the victim isn’t able to participate in the trial.” (Source Jacksonville Daily Progress)

This is why the Jacksonville Daily Progress refuses to report on the alleged sex assault of two hometown Jacksonville, TX infants. Because the Tyler Paper mentioned the CPS report and medical forensics of the injured children. And local Cherokee County newspapers are programmed to print every lie fed to them by the supporters of the current political structure. Let’s face it folks, their livelihoods depend solely on covering their assets, so actual free and independent press they are not. Last month registered sex offender Kenneth Dexter Folmar, given eight years probation for the aggravated sex assault of a one-year baby girl, was rounded up three years into his deferred adjudication. Folmar was caught with beer cans and sentenced to 50 years in TDCJ by the same District Judge who gave him 8 years probation for raping a one-year old.

The District Attorney’s office continued the lie when word of the Kenneth Folmar probation violation (initially reported as a repeat sex offense) made it to print.

Kenneth Folmar

Cherokee County’s district attorney Elmer Beckworth told the Jacksonville Daily Progress that he did in fact speak to the victim before the trial. He spoke to a toddler who couldn’t get her story straight. Therefore the district attorney’s office had no choice but to offer 8 years probation for the sex assault of a 12-month old.

“I remember this case well. In talking with her myself, she was not able to talk about it at all, and when the case came to grand jury she was able to talk about it only minimally,” Beckworth said. (Source: Jacksonville Daily Progress April 26, 2009)
 

No mention of any medical exams conducted at the ETMC or any CPS investigation leading to the arrest of Kenneth Folmar. Just blatant lies by another Cherokee County elected official claiming to have interviewed a toddler, while ignoring forensics.

They obviously believe they have so much authority because of their hubris, that they can say and do whatever they want. The Rusk Cherokeean Herald and Jacksonville Daily Progress each divvy up the lies and print the story best suited for their supporters. Take for example the May 3, 2009 conflicting reports of the ongoing Robert Fox prosecution. On one hand the Daily Progress reports the City of Jacksonville mayor, chief of police and detectives are somehow at odds with the Cherokee County District Attorney (Source: Jacksonville Daily Progress “Local fringe group has city and prosecutor squaring off”)

The article states that the mayor of Jacksonville Robert Haberle and Police Chief Reece Daniel petitioned the Attorney General to seat a special prosecutor to take criminal legal action against the House of Israel. They cited a lack of confidence with district attorney Elmer Beckworth’s handling of the Robert Fox case, alluding to Fox’s alleged intimidation tactics of filing multiple federal complaints against the county.

A sharp contrast to the same update on the upcoming Robert Fox plea bargain in the Cherokeean Herald. The Herald reports the mayor of Jacksonville simply “requested that the cases [against Robert Fox] be prosecuted more aggressively.” (Source: March 6, 2009 Cherokean Herald  “Anti-government group leader is indicted… ”) No mention of the Attorney General.

Before the headline is completed, the lie begins “similar cases have been fielded by district attorneys in Collin, Williamson counties.” Again, this is all smoke and mirrors coming from a corrupt legal system creating fictitious charges in order to justify its own ongoing unethical activity. The charges and indictments of “tampering with a government record and simulating a legal process” against Robert Fox is another penal statute created out of thin air to prevent federal lawsuits from being filed against out of control police departments.

Robert Fox

Despite Robert Fox’s failings as leader of the House of Israel prison ministry and as Jacksonville’s chief of police put it, his “voluminous frivolous legal findings and lawsuits in an attempt to intimidate the police, prosecutors and judges” (Source: Jacksonville Daily Progress ),  Robert Fox did hit a raw nerve when he challenged the Jacksonville Police Department’s illegal raid on the House of Israel. In a well-articulated (and hard to find) petition for a Franks Hearing submitted by Fox, he clearly points out Cherokee County’s habit of generating a SEARCH WARRANT, prior to establishing genuine probable cause. Fox contends there was no reasonable reason for entry because there wasn’t an existing ARREST WARRANT on file.

The Jacksonville PD was given carte blanche to conduct an open-ended search to find whatever so-called incriminating items they may need within the House of Israel. Without stating verbatim per a bona fide legal SEARCH WARRANT the singularly specific items they were after. The search warrant itself would not stand up in an incorrupt courtroom.

The doors of the House of Israel were knocked down prior to any COMPLAINT being filed with the Cherokee County Clerk. The fact is that in Cherokee County and other small agencies, the district attorney himself composes the SEARCH WARRANT with investigating officers. And Cherokee County’s district attorney makes sure the Municipal Judges signing the Warrant allow for an open-ended search and therefore illegal seizure. Investigators tout confiscating Robert Fox’s legal writings during the multiple raids, claiming the Fox tirades to be pro-Taliban, though nonetheless NOT illegal and NOT part of the scope of the SEARCH WARRANT.

Cherokee County prosecutors realize the legal mess of having the Attorney General’s office scrutinizing an open-ended search, so they must attempt to criminalize Robert Fox’s cantankerous federal motions. Therefore, they and the local newspapers continue to attempt to brand Robert Fox as a dangerous terrorist sympathizer, in order to contaminate the jury pool.

Robert Fox was no-billed on the initial charge of barratry, written in the original arrest by district attorney Elmer Beckworth. Now Beckworth is taking the high road for not prosecuting all the charges against Robert Fox, levied by Beckworth himself? We’re supposed to feel good that the Jacksonville, TX police department stormed the House of Israel without probable cause? To arrest House of Israel members who had earlier been in Cherokee County custody?

Robert Fox’s lawsuits and thus his “records tampering” would have never come to fruition without the increasing unconstitutional harassment of Cherokee County law enforcement. They went after him to make themselves look better. In the Daily Progress, district attorney Elmer Beckworth lays the onus of the bogus charges on the over-zealous Jacksonville police department. The current focus on Robert Fox are his “dangerous” and highly argumentative (though often credible) legal briefs. Fox’s Civil Rights requests must be quelled by the District Attorney and labeled as “tampering with government records” in order for Project Got to Fool ‘Em to succeed.

The corrupt judicial hubris operating for decades in Cherokee County, Texas is itself anti-constitutional, illegal and un-American. It operates in a cohesive little unit of the same group of elected officials, who often as a diversionary tactic pretend to denunciate each other. Don’t be fooled.

If the District Court bailiff has been arrested in McAllen, TX for selling drugs to an undercover federal agent, then both the district judge and district attorney are notified by the Department of Justice. Wouldn’t want the Feds looking at the timecards of rapist cop Larry Pugh or mileage reports of Cherokee County Constable Randy Thompson busted for selling methamphetamines…

You know because Cherokee County has what they call a “lightning rod” for terrorism sitting in the Rusk, Texas jail, unable to post bail or hire an untethered out-of-district attorney. Which is ironic considering the 369th District Court can concoct government records to indicate Constable Randy Thompson as Missing In Action, one day before his federal drug trafficking indictment. Yet the same District Court can put Robert Fox on trial  for “tampering with government records” to censor his legal diatribe.  And to make sure to get at least one misinformed Texas trial jury to finally criminalize the filing of complaints and legal briefs by American citizens. Without the help of drunken and sycophantic lawyers in the District Attorney’s pocket.

In similar corruption news in neighboring counties where the law is applied appropriately—

Tyler, TX:
TCDJ prison guard Rudolph Regalado was arrested for allegedly hiring a hit man to murder the husband of his girlfriend. Cathryn Lake, the wife of the intended victim was also charged with solicitation for murder. “She was in the process of raising the husband’s life insurance, and we believe that was the main motive behind the plot,” according to investigators. (Source: Tyler Paper May 22, 2009)

In Cherokee County, the murder for remuneration would have resulted in an innocent outside the conspiracy being charged and the district attorney’s office dividing the insurance payouts with state witnesses, the widow and her lover. Similarly, former Cherokee County district attorney Charles Holcomb used the life insurance monies to pay State witnesses in State vs. Terry Watkins.  (Source: Cherokeean Herald June 3, 1993)

Palestine, TX:
State licensed firearm instructor Ronnie Cook was charged with the murder of his wife after a May 13, 2009 standoff with police that lasted three hours. Palestine police had responded to a 911 call that indicated Cook may have shot his 62-year old wife.

Upshur County, TX:
Upshur County school teacher and coach John Cotcha Tiger, 40, of Longview, was sentenced by 115th District Court Judge Lauren Parish on charges of improper relationship between educator and student, and on-line solicitation of a minor, according to news releases. The victim was a 15-year old girl; Tiger was sentenced to two concurrent fifteen year prison terms. Sex assault of a minor charges were dropped, as part of the plea bargain.

Alto, TX:
Alto ISD PE coach Paul Dixon was indicted earlier this month for having an improper teacher/student relationship. His father, John Paul Dixon was also placed on administrative leave for allegedly interfering with witnesses and the investigation. (Source: Tyler Paper)

Bullard, TX:
City Secretary Patty McMillian Cooper , 63 of Troup, TX was fined and placed on probation for theft of city funds on March 27, 2007.  She stole over $84,000 over a four year period. On Sunday, April 12, 2009 she was rearrested for theft of funds from another previous employer, Tyler, TX based Williams Law Firm. She is out of Smith County Jail on a $100,000 bond. Theft of city funds is pretty common in the Piney Woods. (Source: Tyler Paper April 13, 2009)

Shelby County, TX:
Shelby County Sheriff Deputy Lana Sue “Susie” Calhoun , 49 of Timpson, was arrested for DWI by the DPS after a wreck in Garrison, TX. Sources indicate she had previously worked as a Nacogdoches County jailer and campus police for Stephen F. Austin State University. (Source: Longview News-Journal May 8, 2009)

Gregg County:
Two female Gregg County jailers have been arrested for assisting in the jail break of two inmates last week. Gracie Carrillo, 20 and Yvonne Oliver, 25 both from Longview, were charged with facilitating the escape of convicted murderer Desmond Jackson and murder suspect Bruce Kelly last Tuesday from the Gregg County jail. Carrillo and Oliver each face second and third degree felony charges. (Source: Tyler Paper May 23, 2009)

Yeah, it’s the first Tannadice Times player of the Year awards.  It works by us picking the player,  young player and most improved player we think have shone through out the season.  For the players, well unfortunately they don’t win anything but the do get the honour and respect that goes with the titles on offer.

In short, everyone is happy.

It’s been another decent season for us, better than last year in the way of point total and I think we have been more consistent.  Fair enough we looked rotten at the start of the year but we look to be finishing strong which is good as a rather poor run in cost us Europe last year.

A lot of this is down to so fantastic effort from the players.  Even when we have had our off days, and there has been a few, they have still put in the effort.  Even if at the end of it all we don’t make Europe, I think we should still be proud that such a young team has done so well.

We are still in the hunt with 3 games to go and we were on the brink of a second consecutive League Cup final.  Fair enough the trophy cabinet is bare again but if we can keep a hold of most of the squad, we will continue to improve and I have no doubt that silverware will come.

And so onto the players.

Tannadice Times Player of the Year

Lukasz Zaluska

Lukasz has been superb for us this season and it really will be a shame when he goes.  Whatever his motive is for leaving I think it says a lot when, even though he knew he was going, he still put in 100% effort in each and every match.

It would have been easy for him to give up on us and play his days out going through the motions but has has remained impressive and no doubt secured us some vital points along the way.

The big Pole had been some what unfortunate at the start of his United career but this season showed why Levein brought him to Tannadice.

Even when he decided to sign a pre contract agreement with Celtic, many fans called for Levein to drop him but the Gaffer kept the faith and Zaluska proved he was right to do so.

It says a lot that the fans still chant his name everytime he takes to the pitch.

So well done Lukasz Zaluska you are the Tannadice Times Player of the Year.

Tannadice Times Young Player of the Year

Paul Dixon

It was hard to justify picking anyone else for this award, there was only one player I can think that truly deserves it and that is Paul Dixon.

He was a shrewd purchase from Craig Levein as we paid out only £25k for his services.

Dundee fans claimed he was rank and Eddie Malone was better.  In that case, Malone must be some player.

Paul has taken the step up a division in his stride and this season struck up an impressive left had side pairing with winger Craig Conway.  His attack minded play he seen him set up a few goals this season and his delivery into the box is fantastic.

That said the boys not a bad defender at the same time.

It’s heartening to so the passion the boy plays with as well, you can tell that it means so much to him to pull on the shirt of his boyhood heroes every week.

It must be remembered that Paul is only a young lad so to give the fantastic level of consistency in his performance  that he has, is impressive.  If he keeps improving as he does, I’m sure this lad will have a big future ahead of him.

Well done Paul Dixon, Tannadice Times Young Player of the Year.

Tannadice Times Most Improved Player

David Goodwillie

This was a tough one to pick and maybe in my choice I have been blinded by recent performance but for the most improved player I have had to go for David Goowillie.

It’s been clear to see from his play this season that he has matured so much as a player in the past year.

He has been on the scene for ages and sometimes it’s hard to believe he is only 20 years old but performances this year have show how much he has improved.

He is always willing to chase a defender down, he has the ability to take a man on, he knows where the net is and he give 100%

He looks to have cut out the silly rash challenges he was sometimes guilty of making and at the same time, his off field antics look to have calmed down.

It’s fair to say that, until not long ago I though it would maybe be best for the lad to move on as he was failing to live up to the promise he once showed but clever management from Levein in putting him out on loan and trying to calm him down off field have obviously worked and I have been proven wrong.

He has showed this year he has what it takes to be a first choice striker for us and I look forward to Davis playing a big part in the rest of our season and beyond.

Well done David Goodwillie, Tannadice Times Most Improved Player.

And there you have it, the awards have been dished out and no doubt the lads will be off to celebrate (or not, most likely they will never come across this).

So what do you think of our choices, have we handed out an award to somebody undeserving of it?  Who would you have chose?

Let us know by leaving a comment.

Our Young Player of the Year

Paul Dixon was clearly delighted to find out he had picked up the Dundee United Young Player of the Year award this season, and plans to repay the faith the fans have shown in him by helping the team into Europe.

Dixon has been immense for us this season, maybe better than some had expected.  He has linked up superbly with Craig Conway at times, causing full backs all over the country problems.

And the former Dundee player, who moved to his boyhood heros last summer to further his career, admits it couldn’t have gone any better for him.

“It was a huge honour to be voted young player of the year,” he Dixon.

“I’ve been a United fan all my life so playing for the club is something I always dreamed of and I’d like to thank the fans for recognising me.

“The last year has been amazing. I made the decision to leave Dundee because I wanted to progress and play at a higher level. Craig Levein showed a lot of faith in me and there’s no doubt I’ve become a better player here.

“If I’m honest, I’ve probably played more than I thought I would have this season.

“I knew that we had another quality left-back in Danny Grainger so I would have to be patient, but I think I took my chance when it came along.

As much as it appeared to be a massive blow for us to lose Christian Kalvenes at the end of last season, Craig Levein made a shrewd move to pick up the out of contract full back, paying only £25k in compensation due to his age.

Dixon has repaid the faith Levein had in him by turning out impressive performances week in week out for us and that has lead to this award.

And I’m sure there will be more to come from Dixon, the lad is only young and is bound to improve his game.

So well done Paul on picking up the award.

And to think, I had countless Dundee fans thell me he was rubbish and that Eddie Malone was a better player…

Do you agree with the United YPOTY award?  Let us know, leave a comment.

Illinois Funeral Directors have had a 59 Million Dollar Funeral scandal.

Anyone speaking excellently on a disaster should always be welcome. In the case of the Illinois Funeral Directors Association Preneed Funeral Mess both Funeral Directors and the public have been hurt.  Any time people misappropriate  funeral funds some one has to pay. MarsellusM710 offers a unique perspective. Let me say he is not one of the IFDA bad Guys.

Funeral Guy and Friends,

I would like to direct your attention to a press release that I found on the Illinois Comptrollers website trying to find the SB1682 in its entirety as it has not been posted on the IL legislative site over the weekend.  Funeral Guy, you need to link this to your blog, please. www.comptroller.state.il.us/newsrelease

Anyway, I read the news release from his (Hynes) office dated 4/30/09, and I owe an apology to Nancy Nelson of AARP. she states and I quote “Pre-paying for a funeral in Illinois shouldn’t mean buyer beware” she further states “AARP strongly supports efforts to improve consumer protections and put an end to fraudulent and abusive practices in the pre-pay funeral industry”.  I tip my hat to her for still having confidence in the majority of us who do our jobs. I made an error in judging her on her comments.

Funeral Directors lost trust in their Association and the public lst trust in Funeral Directors.

Had her comments in this release been in the Springfield State Journal-Register as such,  I probably would not have reacted like I did to her comments as quoted in the SJ-R, nothing against Mr. Rushton, who has been very fair to us in funeral service in his articles and has done a great job in covering the issues.

I hope all of the consumer groups understand that it was  the failure of a the Cemetery Care and Burial Trust Div. of Hynes’ office who oversees the funeral and burial funds act , to act properly and swiftly against the third party / Corporate fiduciary under its watch when its auditors knew it was tanking and allowing more time for the financial catastrophe. If they would have called it when they saw it, It could have been dealt with better because the write down would have been less, and we could have had a housecleaning at IFDA sooner.

The Comptroller wants to punish us who have $500,000.00 in trust under a trustee license from his office and managed those funds well. ( and kept those funds from the IFDA Services, Inc’s. portfolio), are being penalized and not allowed to have any in house control of any funds.  No skin off my hide really, someone else gets to compile the report for me come next March 15 to turn in to Mr. Hynes’ office.  The good business people loose another rein in having direct control of the investment of funds due to the actions of a few.

IFDA Defrauded 59 million then came up on the wrong side of funeral legislation in Illinois istockphoto picture of IL Statehouse

IL Rep. Lisa Dugan (D) of Bradley, IL wants to “act quickly to to put these important consumer protections in place”.  I say not so fast, sister!
If the opportunity to overhaul the whole Funeral and Burial Funds Act  is before us, I say lets take line by line and truly overhaul and fix it. It still lacks some protections and teeth on the front end of the act, where most infractions occur, as Mr. Wm. McNary of the Citizen Action/Illinois points out. Mr. Hynes states in the release that “his office will push for additional reforms….”.  there are some other loopholes that need addressing.
There is a newly formed House Funeral and Burial Pre-Arrangement Investigation Task Force that needs to be heard from.  My biggest concern as a funeral home owner is that there will be a piling on of unnecessary regulation.

Rushing this legislation through is nothing short of having Mr. Hynes look good for his potential run at the Governors office or U.S. Senator. I really wish someone would take him to task on the actions of his people not to respond to the crisis sooner. Can you say ACCOUNTABILITY?  As I have said before, had any one funeral home entity done harm to its’ Trust accounts, his office would have been on it like flies on stink and placed in receivership, no questions asked.

It sounds like I’m taking a verbal swing at the Comptroller. Not really, I just would like to know why he and his people in the CCBT Div. didn’t respond to their discovery sooner. In the IOC’s defense though,  I’m sure the former Attorney for the IFDA Board, Mr. Cullen and  former Ex.Dir. Mr. Dixon kept them at bay along with the others in the IFDA hierarchy. (Cook’n the Books ENRON Style)

I can live with the proposed changes. We all knew this would be coming.  It is still a hindsight, knee jerk reaction.

Respectfully,
MarsellusM710

This post contains the opinions of MarsellusM710, not Your Funeral Guy( Funeral Director IL &VA.)

Funeral Industry|Funeral- blog byYour Funeral Guy

Was conway to get a 'B' cap?

It has been suggested that two United players were set to be called up to the Scotland B squad for the friendly versus Northern Ireland next week but have unfortunately missed out due to the re-arranged league fixture versus Aberdeen the following night.

George Burley has been seen a couple of times at Tannadice in recent times and it is thought that winger Craig Conway and left back Paul Dixon were set to be called up, only to miss out due to league duty.

Also set to miss out are numerous players from SPL teams, due to the important upcoming fixtures which will involve Championship, European and Relegation scraps.

It’s a pity for Conway and Dixon if they were to be called up as it would have been a good chance to show the Scotland camp if they were capable enough of being brought into the full squad.

The question has to be asked though, why has the SFA decided to arrange an International for the midweek before important league fixtures?

Fair enough, if it was a qualifying game for the Euros, it would be a different story and league fixtures would have been worked around the game but to schedule a somewhat meaningless friendly for this time of the season seems a bit bizarre.

As for Conway and Dixon, I’m sure their time will come when they get to impress the International manager.  They are both young and improving week on week and if they continue to progress, a manager may will find it tough to leave them out.

Either that they could always move to either of the Old Firm to guarentee an International future…

But I’m sure the players are not too downhearted.  At the end of the day, their main focus should be on helping United qualify for Europe, which in turn would raise their stock.

In other news, midfielder Scott Robertson was today back in full training following a pelvic injury.  The former Dundee player had been in sensational form for United, which resulted in a Scotland cap until injury forced him out of the team.

Although he is still expected to miss the next few games, there is still a chance he may feature before the end of the season.

So hopefully the lad is now clear of injury and could get his way back into the team.  Whilst it’s important not to rush the lad back, I’m sure he s raring to get back into the first team.  He was having a fantastic season before he picked up the injury and his time out seemed to coincide with our dip in form.

But all in all, if  we have him back and ready to play by the start of next season, I don’t think we could ask for more.

Alan Parkin will be showing his project at the MA illustration & Design preview at Sunderland on the 8th July at The Design Centre, University of Sunderland, Chester Road, Sunderland, SR1 3SD.

Alan has developed a beautiful and effective tool to help children on the autism spectrum recognise and talk about expressions and emotions in a class environment. Alan developed based on his experience working in Autism units in London and the North East and then through discussion with specialist staff at Jarrow, Paul Dixon (EBD guru!) and some super young people who were happy guinea pigs!