'ON HIS OWN TERMS' - SEMO TIMES

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PLAY
continued from Page 4
Keathley said.
“When things get tough we focus on ourselves and
taking care of our loved ones,” Keathley said.
Keathley, a stage veteran, said this play is not
what most people will expect. Though Cabaret was
made into a film starring Liza Minelli in 1972, this
production contains many adult themes and can be
considered rather controversial.
“The play is not suitable for children and may
offend some people but it is somewhat of a love story
and has its funny moments,” Kit Kat dance Alyssa
McClure said. “I didn’t know what the costumes
consisted of, or rather what they didn’t consist of.”
Ron Gilliland directed this production. Tosha
Cooksey is the assistant director and plays Rosie.
Mike Tinsley is the emcee; Guy McAndrew portrays
Ernst Ludwig and serves as makeup artist; and Fraulein
Schneider is portrayed by Carolyn Alvey.
TERMS
continued from Page 4
actions “weren’t reeducation, but were
punitive in nature.”
He describes the investigation and its
backlash as a “lesson in humility.”
According to Brookreson, until recently
lawyers were left to police themselves,
their financial matters and how
client trust account funds are managed.
Brookreson said he was unaware of the
freshly-passed regulations involving
OCDC overdraft notifications because
he has been away from his practice taking
care of his elderly parents.
His mother is currently undergoing
radiation treatment for breast cancer and
his father is running on time borrowed
from a transplanted heart. Before his
mother was diagnosed with cancer, she
was his father’s sole caretaker. Now,
as they both face grave health issues,
Brookreson had to put his life on hold
to care for them and had spent that past
few months playing catch-up with his
practice.
Though he holds himself accountable
for his staff’s actions, Brookreson feels
the OCDC has made an example of his
situation.
“In every situation, there’s going to
be someone made an example of,” he
said. “Especially if you have blond hair
and your voice booms.”
Brookreson said he’s seen a rapid
diminution in the number of solo law
practitioners in recent years because
of recent legislation and taxing regulations.
He believes lawyers practicing in
smaller firms are being phased out, and
page 6
Play dates are June 11,12,18,19,25 and 26, and the
curtain will rise at 7:30 each evening at the Rodger’s
Theatre. A matinee is planned for June 20. Tickets will
be available at the door.
he sees himself as an example of this “I feel just like The Outlaw Joesy “I love cold beer, good barbecue and
trend.
Wales,” Brookreson said with a smirk. good family,” he said.
During his 12 years practicing law in “I’m leaving the Ozarks and heading to Brookreson said his eventual return
Poplar Bluff, Brookreson prided himself Texas.”
to law is “possible, but not likely.”
on the humanistic point of view he ap- Brookreson, an avid outdoorsman “In ten years, I see myself attending
plied to his cases.
and father to an 8-year-old son, hopes one of my son’s debates or lectures,” he
“I saw my clients as people before that folks will continue to see him as said with a smile. “He inherited my in-
they were plaintiffs or defendants,” he just “Mike from Poplar Bluff and not telligence and wit, but with a little more
said.
He also prides himself in his ability
to serve his clients. He said he reached
Mike Brookreson, local attorney.” protestant work ethic.”
out to the community time and time
again doing pro bono work.
“Not one of my clients would say
I wasn’t working diligently for them,”
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Brookreson said.
And while he’s sure that some of his
former clients are unhappy he is unable
to complete their cases after stepping
“Your Seed and AG Chemical Specialist”
down, no one has contacted him personally
or expressed any dissatisfaction
with his ability or the way he handled
their funds.
The cases Brookreson was working
on at the time he stepped down are
now being handled by a number of local
practitioners, including Carl Miller, Dan
Moore and a local law firm including
Mark Richardson. He commends all
of the lawyers, prosecutors and judges
working in Missouri, especially in Butler
County.
“My clients won’t be punished,”
Brookreson said. “These are the same
people who have been in my corner
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