TRASHMAN WINS FIRST AMENDMENT AWARD
By M.L. Stein
Wednesday, November 18 1998
Wednesday, November 18 1998
Published on AllBusiness.com
Journalism
Kansas Columnist Fought County Commissioners
In the realm of understatement, it's unusual for a trash hauler to win a First Amendment award.
But then, trash collectors usually don't write newspaper columns, especially columns which lead to job dismissal and a legal fight that goes up to the United States Supreme Court. Recently, Keen Umbehr, who operates a trash business in Alma, Kan., (pop. 900), was among 12 recipients of the Free Spirit Award and a $10,000 check given annually by the Freedom Forum, an international foundation dedicated to free press, free speech and "free spirit for all people."
In the past, honorees have included Associated Press correspondent Terry Anderson, Supreme Court justices Thurgood Marshall and William Brennan, the late newspaper editor and publisher Robert Maynard and former First Lady Barbara Bush.
Umbehr, 40, who proudly calls himself "trashman," joined this august company in recognition of his 10-year struggle to keep his column and his business afloat - in the face of bitter and unrelenting opposition from Wabaunsee County commissioners with whom he had a trash-collecting contract.
Trouble Begins With Column
The trouble began in 1989, when he began writing "My Perspective," a column on local government for the weekly Alma Signal-Enterprise. The stories frequently raked the commissioners' actions.
In one column, Umbehr accused the commission of "gross misrepresentation" in reporting its handling of a $70,000 road and bridge account. In another, he berated commissioners for holding a "counterfeit" closed meeting which he claimed excluded the press and general public but admitted 10 members of the Road and Bridge Department for a discussion of "non-elected personnel." He also exposed a cash settlement by the commission for a suit involving alleged sexual harassment by one of its members, asked why the county clerk received $391 a month above her regular salary for working on elections "whether or not there is an election that month," and questioned the free loan of county equipment to a private contractor.
Reaction from the commissioners was swift and savage. Former commissioner Joe McClure called Umbehr a liar during a public meeting. At another session, commissioner Glen Heiser termed Umbehr's columns offensive, and urged they be censored and "be truthful," according to the minutes. He also recommended that the editor of the Signal-Enterprise "take a second look" at the columnist's articles. Still another official slammed the columns - calling them "trash" and "destructive."
Keen Umbehr, a big, easy-going man who, with one of his sons, picks
Kansas Columnist Fought County Commissioners
In the realm of understatement, it's unusual for a trash hauler to win a First Amendment award.
But then, trash collectors usually don't write newspaper columns, especially columns which lead to job dismissal and a legal fight that goes up to the United States Supreme Court. Recently, Keen Umbehr, who operates a trash business in Alma, Kan., (pop. 900), was among 12 recipients of the Free Spirit Award and a $10,000 check given annually by the Freedom Forum, an international foundation dedicated to free press, free speech and "free spirit for all people."
In the past, honorees have included Associated Press correspondent Terry Anderson, Supreme Court justices Thurgood Marshall and William Brennan, the late newspaper editor and publisher Robert Maynard and former First Lady Barbara Bush.
Umbehr, 40, who proudly calls himself "trashman," joined this august company in recognition of his 10-year struggle to keep his column and his business afloat - in the face of bitter and unrelenting opposition from Wabaunsee County commissioners with whom he had a trash-collecting contract.
Trouble Begins With Column
The trouble began in 1989, when he began writing "My Perspective," a column on local government for the weekly Alma Signal-Enterprise. The stories frequently raked the commissioners' actions.
In one column, Umbehr accused the commission of "gross misrepresentation" in reporting its handling of a $70,000 road and bridge account. In another, he berated commissioners for holding a "counterfeit" closed meeting which he claimed excluded the press and general public but admitted 10 members of the Road and Bridge Department for a discussion of "non-elected personnel." He also exposed a cash settlement by the commission for a suit involving alleged sexual harassment by one of its members, asked why the county clerk received $391 a month above her regular salary for working on elections "whether or not there is an election that month," and questioned the free loan of county equipment to a private contractor.
Reaction from the commissioners was swift and savage. Former commissioner Joe McClure called Umbehr a liar during a public meeting. At another session, commissioner Glen Heiser termed Umbehr's columns offensive, and urged they be censored and "be truthful," according to the minutes. He also recommended that the editor of the Signal-Enterprise "take a second look" at the columnist's articles. Still another official slammed the columns - calling them "trash" and "destructive."
Keen Umbehr, a big, easy-going man who, with one of his sons, picks
