We hope that todays “IS IT TRUE” will provoke “…honest and open dialogue concerning issues that we, as responsible citizens of this community, need to address in a rational and responsible way?”

IS IT TRUE that the City County Observer would like to congratulate the Evansville Courier and Press for picking up on the IS IT TRUE post that was published earlier this week about the Evansville Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Holiday Gluttony Feast Part 2? …after CVB being outed 7 years ago for spending over $3,000 for a dinner event held at Biaggi’s Ristorante, the CVB may have done it again with purchasing a $1,100 roasted whole pig from Dewig’s Market in Haubstadt?  …if Evansville Convention and Visitor’s Bureau CEO would had purchased this roasted pig from local vendors he may have paid a lot less for this dish?  …we thought that theme for the Evansville Convention and Visitor’s Bureau was to buy local? … word in the street is that the Evansville Convention and Visitor’s Bureau also had a roasted “The Pig Fest” in 2016?  …it has been reported that the total bill for the 2017 “The Pig Feast” exceeded well over $2,000, excluding any alcohol?

 IS IT TRUE that Bob Warren has headed the CVB for 8 years will announced his retirement around this coming May, 2018?  …since Mr. Warren is in charge of bringing new visitors and investors to Evansville, we hope that were no Muslims or Jewish people that didn’t get offended by this event and stayed away because of this big fat roasted pig had its picture plastered all over Facebook?  …offering mutton alongside “The Pig” may have suited those (and there are many) who do not eat pork?

IS IT TRUE that its been a very long time since someone has channeled Johnny Carson in doing a “Carnak the Magnificent” imitation in making some unrealistic predictions?  ….it looks like the prediction what would happen to downtown Evansville if a new convention hotel was built downtown may be some what off?…we wonder if this is the same “Carnak the Magnificent” who predicted an occupancy rate that would exceed the local averages for the downtown Doubletree? …Mole #21 tells the CCO that the occupancy rate the downtown Doubletree Hotel for the first year may be coming in below 40% which is lower than average for the Tri-State motels?…we wonder if this is the same “Carnak The Magnificent” that agreed with the power that be that the Ford Center and the Doubletree Hotel together would successfully bring lots of conventions and of big acts to town and it would pay for the Ford Center bond debt?  …the reality is that there has literally hasn’t been a single act that has come to the Ford Center that Roberts Stadium couldn’t have handled?…the real miscalculation statement made by the CVB leadership was if the city would bring a big time NCAA Division II sporting event to Evansville it would fill the Ford Center and area hotels never happening?

IS IT TRUE we read that Mr. Warren will announce his retirement in May, 2018 and we wish him well? ..in all fairness Mr. Warren has done a okay job with what he has to work with?…its looks like that all of subsidized fun and games nonsense will not turn Evansville into a major tourist attraction any more than a fancy bike path on North Main Street will turn it into a desirable neighborhood or the Evansville Thunderbolts will make the Ford Center profitable?

EDITOR’S FOOTNOTE:  Any comments posted in this column do not represent the views or opinions of the City County Observer or our advertisers