IS IT TRUE? June 13, 2011

IS IT TRUE that from all that we heard and saw that the Shriners Fest seems to have given the people of Evansville what they have been asking for in a summer festival for some time?…that the attendance was at or exceeded what was hoped for in terms of numbers of smiling bodies on the riverfront?…that the event manager Vernon Stevens is on record as stating that the overall cost of the Shriners Fest was $145,000?…that the Shriners had revenue sources like sponsorships, booth fees, and beer garden entry fees to offset the costs?…that the Shriner’s view this as a public service and will not bat an eye over it if they lost a little or made a little money?…that a private entity is the way to go for festivals like this?…that he entry fee for this event was exactly what most people love to pay and that is FREE?

IS IT TRUE that the hydroplane races cost in the neighborhood of $300,000 to bring to Evansville?…that if that particular form of entertainment is ever to be considered again that either some buttons will have to be sold to cover the costs or some do-gooder will have to dig very deep into their pocket to underwrite the event?…that the Blue Angels cancellation does not seem to have dampened the success of the event at all?…that the tab for the Blue Angels can run up to $200,000 as well and that bringing them to town will also call for large underwriting or an entry fee?…that having local entertainment in the beer gardens as opposed to big name acts is the way to go for summer festival entertainment?…that a $5 cover charge is fine and that anyone who wants to participate can easily absorb that cost?…that the City County Observer congratulates the Shriners for getting it right on their first time and look forward to next year?

IS IT TRUE the Dave Rector, general manager of the Evansville-Vanderburgh Building Authority is about to have his hands full with a crash course in how to properly maintain the new Evansville Arena?…that Mr. Rector and his staff may be biting off more than they have a budget and the manpower to chew with learning their new jobs at the Arena at the same time that they are supposedly winding down Roberts Stadium?…that there have reportedly even been some resignations among the staff that are not yet replaced?…that all of this activity in an election year that promises to bring a whirlwind of change to the status quo regardless of which candidate becomes Mayor of Evansville may just put a bit of stress on a system that is already in battle mode?…that when it comes to maintenance that we wonder if there was ever a formal quality control procedure in place within the Building Authority?…that we further more wonder if failing to plan maintenance and to adequately budget for it contributed to the decline of Roberts Stadium?…that we certainly hope that the new Arena does not go downhill quickly because there is insufficient maintenance and expertise to assign to it?

IS IT TRUE that the bulk of the Executive Inn is now on the ground?…that we are pleased to report that we have confirmed that contractual arrangements are in place to assure that the demolition company and any subcontractors will be taken care of no matter who ends up building a hotel on the site?…that this business will be taken care of even if there is no hotel at all?…that when you do the right thing like recycling and planning that “good things happen to good people”?