REMARKS: FIRST CHAMBER BANQUET WAS A MEMORABLE NIGHT FOR ME

Jim Talent, an up-and-coming House Republican and candidate for governor, may think twice before speaking at another Jackson Chamber of Commerce banquet.

While Talent, chairman of the House Committee on Small Business, was "preaching to the choir" in advocating the importance of small businesses at the annual installation banquet, he was upstaged by heartfelt tributes to two long-time Jackson leaders who have done much over the years to advance the cause of their community. While Talent's remarks that "the vitality of Jackson depends on the vitality of small businesses -- not just financially, but in the opportunity to draw young people back and keep the good ones here," fell on friendly ears, the spotlight was on James Nelson and the Rev. Walter Keisker.

I have to admit that, arriving for the second half of social hour, I felt anything but social. My mood was in the "Let's get this done and go home" sphere. The tributes to the two aforementioned honorees, though, and Rev. Keisker's feistiness, helped lift me out of my blase mood. It proved to be a fun and energizing evening. It also gave a reminder of the firm basis on which the community is built. Jackson is rock solid.

On my way home it dawned on me that my NEW old car, formerly belonging to the late Leonard Sander, had probably experienced a homecoming of sorts that night. Upon reflection, I decided that the old girl would probably have fired up and made the drive without me, had I failed to go.

Everyone from the Rev. Keisker to the youngest school child knows the Cardinals need pitching. Of course, who doesn't need more? As a lifelong baseball fan, I have to question whether Major League Baseball may not have overexpanded. The pitching is simply not there to give many of the teams any semblance of a pitching staff. Interestingly, though, the continued expansion doesn't seem to have watered down hitting at all. Personally, I am waiting for the game to right itself and for pitchers to regain a little of their foothold. There's nothing wrong with offense, but when two or three middle infielders bat .360 with 35 home runs every year, statistics tend to lose their meaning.

Scott Lohsee is leaving and I wound up never seeing him this go-around. I knew Scott when we were both in Bonne Terre in 1994. Our schedules never seemed to coincide in Jackson, though, and one telephone conversation has been the extent of our brief reunion in Cape County. I know I join the rest of the community in wishing him well at his new post.