On top of that deal, I know of at least two organizations that promote additional deals for bus riders: the Missouri Rep and the Royals. The Rep promotes public transit on its Web site and in its programs. It mentions some of the ATA routes that serve the Rep, in addition to giving theater patrons a free two-ride bus pass for the trip to the play. The Royals give bus riders $3 off their Royals tickets with a coupon they get on board the Royals Express. Since the Royals Express costs $3 round-trip, I'd say that's a pretty good deal. For more info about the Royals Express, call 816-346-0348.
Maybe next The Kansas City Star could give its employees a free subscription and a free bus pass instead of subsidizing driving even more than it already is in this society (Kansas City Strip, May 16).
Heidi Schallberg
Kansas City, Missouri
Those of us who know and love him and would be willing to put our hands in the fire for him have been devastated enough by these events. It's horrible when just one person is the accuser -- regardless of their reasons why -- but when the media joins in, it's almost too much to bear. I speak for all of Byron's friends and loved ones when I say that we feel deceived by the wolf-in-sheep's-clothing approach used by your reporter.
There is a Turkish saying: "A liar's candle burns until everybody sleeps at night."
Evelyn Case
Kansas City, Missouri
Johnson may want to do just that and see if perhaps what happened to Byron is almost bad as what happened to Anastasia's family. They have both lost their children.
Chris Whedon
Overland Park
Allie Johnson replies: At her son's trial, I asked Evelyn Case for an interview. She declined. Ms. Case later called me, and we had several long phone conversations; she had plenty of opportunities to comment for publication, but I understood these conversations to be off the record because she was concerned that her speaking to the media might hurt her son's appeal. I never led her to believe that I was there to provide "assistance in getting her son's case re-examined." My goal was to write a comprehensive story about Anastasia WitbolsFeugen's murder. Ms. Case never made any documents available to me, nor did I receive any information from her that I "did not research." I also spoke with Byron Case. I asked both Ms. Case and Byron Case to provide specific details or documentation that would support Byron's claims of innocence, and neither of them did so.
I've respected Dedric since he started working in the electronic music scene and thought he was a fair and intelligent person. His letter shows otherwise. Brent's decision to take a hiatus from DJing was completely personal. Yes, things have slowed down for him, but it's slow everywhere. Dedric slams him for playing "past-its-prime" music when most of Dedric's Lunar Beat Theory CDs were trying to emulate the same style. Dedric even used Roland to promote Dedric's shows at the Hurricane: "Come see ROLAND this Thursday at the Hurricane with Lunar Beat Theory opening."
Ray Velasquez was one of my heroes, and he did bring many things to the early KC scene. But his bad attitude and contempt for his Midwest audience is what brought his demise and eventual fleeing from KC, not Brent Stover undercutting him at the Granada. He says he moved to New York to "further his commitment to advanced music and culture," but the time I was there, Ray had one weekly residency on a Thursday night that did slim to moderate business. With hundreds of clubs open seven days a week in New York, I hardly think one residency that does moderate numbers could be furthering anything.
These are my opinions. It's sad that people can take something like Brent "Roland" Stover's decision to take a break from DJing and use it as an excuse to talk shit on the man.
Justin Lake Whedon
Overland Park
