Donna James-McCartney has a TV in almost every room of her home. She has two cars, a house full of furniture, a backyard pool, a patio set and playground set.
But every TV in her home comes from a trash bin. The cars don’t run. And practically every piece of furniture in her house is a throwaway or garage sale leftover. The rickety above-ground pool, the faded playground set and patio furniture that needs seat cushions in her backyard is stuff nobody wanted.
It’s a piecing together of the American dream through a resourcefulness forged by having no money, a husband in prison, no job and a bad mortgage. A struggling effort to make life livable for a family of five.
The sun shines on a day when her daughter is out of jail and her son is doing fine after spending three weeks on life support from injuries suffered in a December car wreck. With this life, you grab a blessing wherever you can.
“Nobody’s in jail, nobody’s dead, we’re blessed,” Mrs. James-McCartney said.
Mel and Tracy Johnson struggle to raise four kids on pawn loans and one income. Illness, lost jobs and helping family members snatched this Dearborn couple out of a middle-class lifestyle and plopped them in a two-bedroom apartment with air conditioning they can’t afford to run. Their only means of transportation is the ice cream truck Mr. Johnson drives for his job.
“When ice cream season is done, he’s out of work and we’re out of a vehicle,” Mrs. Johnson said, trying to raise her voice above the whirl of fans all turned on high and working hard to cool her apartment. “That’s the only way we’re able to buy groceries.”
That’s the American dream today for many families. They’re waking up to an American nightmare of foreclosure and bad debt.
Ones who haven’t already fallen into a dark abyss of debt are struggling to hold onto a slippery ledge of security. Desperation forces new rules of survival on an American landscape pocked with huge craters of personal debt created by high energy, gas and food prices, bank failures, subprime mortgages and lost jobs.
“There has never been an economy like this because of the global implications,” said Dr. Patrick McMurry, economics professor at Missouri Western State University.
Stimulus checks and interest rate cuts offer little relief. The fallout from a U.S. economy weakened by not only the self-inflicted wounds of personal debt, but one that’s caused by forces beyond most consumers’ control. In the past, the Federal Reserve was able to make corrective adjustments such as lowering the interest rates. And other government measures helped keep the national financial ship afloat.
“Now we have to take into consideration what foreign markets are going to do,” Dr. McMurry said. “Because they’ve lowered the interest rates here, that’s weakened the dollar overseas, and some experts say up to 40 percent of the increase in the price of a barrel of oil is due to the weakened dollar.”
Mr. McMurry added that toward the end of the year, close to $100 million in subprime loans will come due, which will further the economic tailspin. It will cause even more people to take cost-saving measures in order to survive.
“People will try to reduce purchases where they can,” Dr. McMurry said.
Mrs. James-McCartney makes ends meet by working two days a week at a restaurant, with food stamps and $82 dollars a week unemployment. She’s not only supporting herself and 6-year-old daughter, Angie Blue McCartney, but her 22-year-old son, Jeramie James; a daughter, 21-year-old Jessica Lynn James; and her 4-year-old daughter, Shayla James.
Jeramie James is still recovering from injuries suffered in a car wreck last year. Jessica James just completed a stint in jail where she was picked up for parole violations. And Mrs. James-McCartney is trying to turn a life around that’s been sidetracked by drug abuse and bad choices.
Every day is spent looking for work, trying to keep her house or just trying to keep the lights on, she said. She started going to church regularly a year ago.
“I went to church before when I was doing drugs. Now I mainly go because I want my kids to do what is right,” she said. “That’s where you get peace. I had to go to church to keep away from everybody — no arguing, no fighting, nothing to worry about. It gives me something to fall back on. ”
As for the Johnsons, life was good six years ago. Both had good-paying jobs, lived in a nice home in a good Gladstone, Mo., neighborhood and had money in the bank.
Life was so good, in fact, they felt they could afford to help out some family members who weren’t doing so well. They moved Mrs. Johnson’s mother, two sisters and a nephew into their home. Mr. Johnson’s brother even came to stay for a spell.
“We paid Mom’s bills for a while, helped her get back on her feet, and after Mom moved out, Mel’s brother moved back from California, and we helped him out quite a bit,” Mrs. Johnson said.
Mrs. Johnson took sick, and that’s when things started spiraling out of control. Doctors found a cyst on one of her ovaries, and she needed emergency surgery. She was no longer able to work.
“Right before the surgery was scheduled, the cyst ruptured and I was basically bleeding to death,” Mrs. Johnson said. “Mel left work, the doctor called and told him to get to the hospital in a hurry.”
She said Mel’s immediate boss said it was OK for him to take off, but when he came back, he found out he was fired. “The owner of the company told him to park the truck where the sun don’t shine,” Mrs. Johnson said.
The Johnsons eventually lost their home and were forced to move into an apartment in Dearborn. They quickly got behind on their bills and didn’t have money to fix the family van. They ended up selling it last fall for junk.
Raising four school-age children with no car isn’t easy, especially when three of the children are active in sports and there’s no school close by.
Fourteen-year-old Frasier starts track this year. Sami, 12, begins cheerleading and 9-year-old A.J. starts football in the fall. Without a car, the Johnsons will miss some games. More importantly, without a car, they’ll have to find another way to get to the grocery store.
Mrs. Johnson said she never imagined life would be like this when they got married.
“We both had good jobs, made good money. We never imagined we’d be where we are now, struggling month to month,” Mrs. Johnson said. “If we had a vehicle, I could go back to work, and we could get out of this situation.”
Alonzo Weston can be reached at alonzow@npgco.com.
This story has 37 comments. Click here to join in on the discussion.
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What a thought-provoking article! Very well done. It is a reminder to all of us to count our blessings. I wish there was a way to get the family out of that ARM.
This story and the one about the church's mission trip in Braymer reminds us that we don't have to go far to find a way to help. It would be a blessing if more local churches would follow Braymer Baptist's example.
Posted by gr8fan on July 20, 2008 at 7:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)It's sad the situation that many Americans are facing with the economy today. Use some sense though. My god you are living on $82 a week and in one of the pictures, there the lady is choking down a cigarette. If you couldn't get through a picture without one, then you probably knock down a pack a day. Being a non-smoker, I'm not sure what a pack costs today, but I'm sure you are close to the $5 range. That's almost 1/2 of your income on cigarettes! Also, to turn down a job with two weeks of unpaid training? She would still collect her unemployment, so how would she be any worse off? I'm also sure she has been looking for longer than two weeks, so she would be ahead in the game taking that job. Come on people think! Finally, I hate to kick someone while they are down, but there are better legitimate hard-working people they could have centered this story around. We create our own situations. It's hard to sympathize too hard with a drug abuser when they are complaining about how hard it is. Good for her that she is trying to change, but I think this story shouldn't be focused on the economy and mortgage situations as much as setting priorities and making sure drugs isn't one of them.
Posted by stcy74 on July 20, 2008 at 8:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)I feel sorry for the Johnson's. Where is all that family they helped now that they're down and out? Here they are, living within their means, and they helped out her mother with her bills, some sisters, a nephew...Now Mrs. Johnson is sick, no job for her or her husband and where are the sisters, mom and the nephew now?
As for the comment above about Mrs. James-Mcartney, it isn't cigarettes thats causing her financial struggles. It's the family that keeps getting themselves thrown in jail. She's probably spending every weekend visiting them, collect phone calls and commensary funds are almost surely provided by her. That's a huge expense. Frankly I'd tell that family to get themselves out of jail get a job and start helping me out, instead of stealing, or drugs that are causing the family to fall into financial ruin. If the daughter is old enough to get herself thrown in jail, she's old enough to hold down a job when she gets out...give mom some help instead of expecting her to bail you out all the time.
Posted by alice on July 20, 2008 at 9:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)If you don't have money to support your family, then set some priorities. The cigarettes alone could feed your family. My kids don't have a scooter. My kids don't have a pool. And I work 2 jobs every single day. I feel very sorry for the family faced with cancer. They're in a bad spot by no fault of their own. My mom passed away from cancer several months ago and I missed a lot of working taking care of her and sometimes things were hard, but we got through it and hopefully the Johnson's will as well. As for the other family - set some priorities. Have your ADULT children take care of themselves and their children. I'm sure what wasn't told in that story is that the adult children are probably collecting some type of welfare. I'm sure stopping smoking is hard, but I'm sure seeing your children go hungry is hard too! Decide which is more important. I'm sure there are many local families in bad situations right now who are deserving of a break. I do think it is good you focused attention on the types of families represented by the James-McCartney family as well though. The system is broken and society needs to find a way to fix it.
Posted by fedup on July 20, 2008 at 5:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)Our sympathy and best wishes goes out the Johnson family, their situation was not a choice they made. Come on tho, couldn't you have picked a more deserving family other than the James Gang? How many cars and scooters has this family been thru? They are in their situation because of choices they have made. The mother set the example and the kids follow in her footsteps. No sympathy here, they are all old enough to make their own choices. How many chances would most people get with the law? They can talk the talk, but do they walk the walk? As for all the TV's "rickety above-ground pool, the faded playground set and patio furniture" all used or in the trash?? I doubt it. Why won't the adult children get off their lazy behinds and get a job as well instead of roaming/riding the scooter on the streets at all hours? The section of the article featuring the James family disgusts me. I always enjoyed Alonzo Weston's articles, but now I question his judgment on article subjects. You should have left a deserving article about the Johnson family at that! This was a slap in the face to law abiding citizens as well as law enforcement. This will bypass the bottom of the bird cage and go straight to the garbage! PS use the shampoo to clean your mouths up that would be a good start...
Posted by greeneyeliz on July 20, 2008 at 5:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)Its a sad fact that even in a two income family things like struggling month to month go on. I can tell you, from experience. Our family struggled with debt a few years ago where we were paycheck to paycheck. We did w/o the extras of cable/phone/internet and had only our one vehicle and worked as much as we could. I'd get home and he'd go to work then to avoid daycare expenses. There are jobs everywhere. Wal-Mart, fast food rest. other grocery stores, nursing homes and Triumph Foods. I understand when a peron is sick and cant work, that cant be helped. And sometimes, when someone is sick, the spouse is needed as a caretaker, but someone that can work should. No shame in minimum wage jobs at all. The only thing I know of w/the jobs in the St Joe area is that they all require drug testing. That shouldn't be a problem for most people. Right?
Posted by mom2809 on July 20, 2008 at 8:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)Well I am truly sorry for the family with cancer. My heart goes out to you! But as I feel being a single mother of 3 children working a full time job just for my kids to have the necessities I don't think the James were a very good pick in the poverty story! The serious wreck her son was involved in, in December was due to his own negligence. There was alcohol involved and he was the only adult and to top it off 2 people died! He turned around and sued the insurance companies so it looked better on him. Therefore 2 minors were tried as adults in this case. Where is he? Probably riding the scooter down to the DQ then home to relax in his pool! As for her not having a job.. She basically screwed that up years ago when she stole prescribed medication from elderly in the nursing home she worked at. I have no pity for them. I can tell you one of my children went to school with her daughter. During an assembly once she brought in a $500 video camera. At first I assumed Jeremy (her son) stole it but then that weekend the entire family had went to Great Wolf Lodge. Something I have never been able to afford for my own 2 children. I will take it that he got his settlement from suing the insurance company from the owner of that Durango they were in that night in December. Come on with the self pity cries no one is going to help a family that disobeys the law in every which way they can.
Posted by alice on July 20, 2008 at 9:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)In response to mom2809, wow! Unfortunately it seems like this is exactly who the system chooses to help. The family with cancer affecting their lives are the ones who will suffer. The other family may not have the life they feel they deserve, but the system will continue to care for them through the generations. It seems welfare is a "generational blessing" in most cases. We continue to work so those types of people don't have to.
Posted by itsme on July 21, 2008 at 7:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)If what is posted by mom2809 is true I think rather than handouts and pity we need to educate this family and teach them how to handle finance and prioritize.
Posted by deb2007 on July 21, 2008 at 9:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)This is going to be a vicious cirle that never ends. you can see that the children have already started the same lifestyle.
Education will last a lifetime. Handouts enable people to continue as they have been. I am not saying to judge these people, I am saying we have got to teach people, as I do my children, you reap what you sew. We bring on a lot of what happens to us by our actions.
When you are making money and doing well you MUST plan ahead and save because yes everyone could be in this position, but it is not up to anyone to bail you out, you have to work hard and through hard work and yes some pain and suffer and lots of prayer you can make things better.
Things you work for are always better than things just handed to you. And it also means sacrifice.
if this woman truly wants to work, she would take a job, any shift, to help support herself and her family. i worked 3-11, 11-7 as a single mom who had 3 kids at home. you do what you have to do to support your family. and what about the working poor. live paycheck to paycheck and are trying, but can't get ahead or fix their roof etc. to the johnson's my heart goes out to you.
Posted by nightwatcher on July 21, 2008 at 9:44 a.m.This comment was removed by the site staff.
Posted by heritage on July 21, 2008 at 10:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)wow, the case.net website has a revealing pile of dirty laundry on the son of ms. mccartney, jeramie james. he has been in trouble for quite a while. the last case is actually scheduled for 9am this wednesday the 23rd. it might be interesting to attend...... https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/cases/nameSearch.do
Posted by nightwatcher on July 21, 2008 at 10:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)Look at Donna's Casenet record-it shows she has violated her probation and has to appear in court in August.
Posted by mcresej on July 21, 2008 at 10:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)Why was nightwatcher's comments removed? There was nothing against the rules in their comments..........and there was no defamation as everything written was factual.
Posted by Mr_America on July 21, 2008 at 11:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)Big brother reserves the right to remove any comments they want for any reason.
Posted by nightwatcher on July 21, 2008 at 11:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)I don't think the newspress was aware of who they were interviewing. Donna is the biggest con artist and has done several stints in the Penitentiary. Everyone deserves a second chance and believe me this family has had many. The newspress should check out their background before writing an article.
Posted by deb2007 on July 21, 2008 at 11:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)i told them the same thing, the answer was, unless we feel they are a danger, they don't check on them. that is why their stories aren't real credible.
Posted by nightwatcher on July 21, 2008 at 12:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)I know the McCartney's are on assistance, why isn't the state doing something to save the small children? Look at all the Casenet entries!!!
Posted by akm on July 21, 2008 at 12:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)I didn't think a person could get assistance if they had felonies. Mom and son are felons.
Posted by heritage on July 21, 2008 at 1:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)one thing is for certain, Ms. james-mccartney was not too bright in permitting this interview.
Posted by Joe_Wright on July 21, 2008 at 1:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)Whiskey Tango Anyone?
Posted by Mizzou on July 21, 2008 at 1:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)I agree....especialy if her family's reputation is as well known as it seems to be.
How was this family selected for this article? Did they go to the newspress?
Maybe I am different, but if I were in their situation, I would be jumping at the opportunity to take any job. I am tired of people feeling sorry for themselves and wanting other hard working people to GIVE them hand outs. Plus she is a smoker! What a joke.
This is why some people are hesitant to help other people out.
Posted by deb2007 on July 21, 2008 at 1:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)i know several people who deal with dfs and since caden blanton's death and the pursuing circus, no one at dfs is getting involved in certain cases. in fact once source said they are having a hard time finding an atty to do the juve cases. i guess they figure if they don't get involved at all, don't have to CYA when you screw up
Posted by nightwatcher on July 21, 2008 at 2:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)and the children suffer. I thought our city was better than this!!
Posted by deb2007 on July 21, 2008 at 2:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)no it's not. not dfs, juve, or the pa's office. police can do well checks, and they are mandated reporters also. another thing, if she is taking care of 2 minor children that arent hers, she is getting state aid, food stamps and health care for them. don't think she told the whole story in her story.
Posted by deb2007 on July 21, 2008 at 2:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)besides it's not the city, it's the state and county who run dfs, juve etc.
Posted by nightwatcher on July 21, 2008 at 3:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)The sad part of all this is that the Johnson's have to be coupled in the article with the McCartney's. They are a deserving family and I would be willing to help them out but I cringe to think the McCartney's are begging for help when they have are plastered all over the papers so often for breaking the law.
Posted by Mr_America on July 21, 2008 at 4:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)Don't the James-McCartneys get enough press in the police briefs. What a waste of ink.
Posted by deb2007 on July 21, 2008 at 4:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)nightwatcher - you are right, bad thing is they probably don't qualify for anything because he is working. how sad.
Posted by thunder86 on July 21, 2008 at 5:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)The story about the James-McCartney clan makes me sick. Did anyone else notice that in the pictures they put in the paper they show the mother/grandmother whatever she is holding the little girl waiting for a ride to the food kitchen with not even a car seat???? Are you kidding me.
Posted by stjocitizen on July 21, 2008 at 5:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)I’m not sure how much I can add about the James-McCartney family because I think the other readers have said it perfectly.
Before her son was involved in the newest crash, he also tried to run over one of our police officers. Donna and her husband (Steven) led the police on a chase with their small daughter in the car (might be the reason she is on parole not sure). He has quite the history on casenet himself if anyone wants to check it out.
While for their daughter, I truly hope she gets herself together. She should stop spending her money on her family members who are continually locked up. They are adults and make their own choices so she should stop enabling them. Her young daughter could use the love and attention that she spends on dealing with the criminals in her family. She suffers and the sad part is she had no choice in the matter.
Posted by StJoeMoe on July 21, 2008 at 7:39 p.m.This comment was removed by the site staff.
Posted by heritage on July 21, 2008 at 8:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)stjoemo!!!!! that is as good as the st joseph video on utube.
Posted by deb2007 on July 22, 2008 at 10:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)does it indicate in this article that ms. johnson had cancer?
Posted by ajm on July 22, 2008 at 10:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)Maybe this has been asked already and I missed it, but how can Donna McCartney draw unemployment if she is working? It sounds to me like her adult children need to take care of themselves.
Posted by ajm on July 22, 2008 at 10:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)oh and I just checked case.net myself. This family is always in trouble. Jeramie was just busted for pot on 7-3-08 and just bailed out last week. And you want me to feel sorry for them? Right..
Posted by Mizzou on July 24, 2008 at 9:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)After reading all of the comments on here and posting one myself....does anyone else wish the NewsPress would take down the picture of Donna McCartney with her hands folded up...after reading all of the comments that picture disgusts me. I feel sorry for the other family lumped into this story.
NewsPress please do a little research before you do a human interest story.