JUNE 30, 2017 “IS IT TRUE”
IS IT TRUE because we experienced some technical problems concerning the launching of our newly resigned paper we decided to repeat yesterdays IS IT TRUE column? …thanks for your support and reading the new City County Observer newspaper?
IS IT TRUE that it is no secret that the newspaper industry has been falling on hard times for at least a decade?…from the New York Times to every daily news based paper in the country the struggle to survive has meant cuts to staff and the associated lowering the bar when it comes to quality?…it seems as though any small to medium sized daily paper that once captured a reader’s attention for a half hour a day is now only capable of keeping one’s attention for less than 5 minutes?…the Evansville Courier and Press is no exception to what is happening to newspapers all over the country?…a court ruling regarding the taxable value of a piece of expensive equipment was published yesterday by the IndianaaLawyer.com and it included some interesting facts entered into the public record about the financial health of the Courier and Press?…the City County Observer publishes the following without bias or editing and in many ways feels remorse for the challenges facing print media of all types?  …attached below is the recap of the court ruling for your review: Evansville Courier Company, Inc. v. Vanderburgh County Assessor?
IS IT TRUE that the Evansville Courier and Press has lost approximately 60% of its circulation since the 1990s according to the official court document?…during the 7 year period from 2004 to 2011 the Courier and Press saw both daily and Sunday circulation decline by nearly 20%?…in 2011 the daily circulation of the Courier had fallen to under 40,000 and the Sunday circulation to 57,111?…this is in a market that has approximately 350,000 people?…if national trends have been followed those numbers are likely to be down by another 15% to 20% today?…In 2004 the Courier and Press employed over 500 people and today that number is closer to 200 and shrinking?…it actually states in the court document signed by Judge John J. Baker that “the Courier and Press anticipates that within 10 years they will not be publishing a printed paper?  …some of the reasons for the declines given by the Courier and Press in the legal document are competition for ads with Craigslist which is a free online sales portal, competition for news against Facebook, Twitter, and online publications?…the City County Observer was not mentioned?
IS IT TRUE the legal dust up is all about a flexographic printer that was bought by the Courier and Press in 1989 as a state of the art printing press that would last for many years?…when the printing press became obsolete to the point that spare parts were not even available the Courier management petitioned the Vanderburgh County Assessor’s Office to decrease the value of the obsolete equipment for taxation purposes?…the amount in question is on the order of $3 Million so the taxes on such a thing per year are significant?…the courts have decided that a write down of value on the basis of abnormal obsolescence is not approved leaving the Courier and Press on the hook to pay taxes on a printing press that they can’t find parts for or even repair?…this is the sort of thing that makes practical human beings look upon government actions as out of touch with reality?…continuing to tax this worthless asset even after being shown an appraisal is a prime example of government making war on business?…the day will come that there will be no daily written paper in the City of Evansville and the Vanderburgh County Assessor’s Office will bear partial responsibility for taxing a struggling business to death?
IS IT TRUE this is truly a case of oppression of a free press through irrational and indefensible taxation?…these taxes are a real world example of SNEGAL running wild?  …since the Courier and Press sub-contracts the printing of their paper in Louisville, Ky the obvious solution for the owners of this printing press is to move it somewhere that doesn’t do this and let it rust to the ground?…the City County Observer states a position of support for a free and honest press that does not fear the lash of taxation putting it out of business?…today the CCO is a brother publication that has felt the lash of oppression ourselves for publishing the brutal truth about the shenanigans the local power brokers pull on the taxpayers of Evansville?  …we pledge to continue to strive for truth and honestly in government and shall continue to force our elected officials to practice “good public policy”?
IS IT TRUE we are being told by friends from the main stream media if the once mighty Courier and Press don’t pay strict attention to the business at hand they may become a fledgling blog? Â …the City County Observer has been there and done that?
Today “Readers Poll” question is: Are you pleased with the new layout and design of the City County Observer?
“READERS FORUM” MARCH 30, 2017
WHAT IS ON YOUR MIND TODAY?
Todays “READERS POLL” question is: Do you feel comfortable with the fact that the owners of VenueWorks now has 100% controlling interest of the Thunderbolt Hockey team?
We urge you to take time and click the section we have reserved for the daily recaps of the activities of our local Law Enforcement professionals. This section is located on the upper right side of our publication.
If you would like to advertise or submit and article in the CCO please contact us City-County Observer@live.com.
City County Observer has been serving our community for 18 years.
Channel 44 News: Vectren Plans for New Installation in Indiana Counties
Vectren Plans for New Installation in Indiana Counties
Vectren is upgrading to fiber optic lines for Indiana counties. The company is installing a 10 mile stretch of current steel static wire with fiber optic lines. The installation will start in Southeastern Posey County and will run through…
PROFILE OF D-PATRICK GENERAL MANAGER TONY RICKETTS
PROFILE OF D-PATRICK GENERAL MANAGER TONY RICKETTS
As you drive into the D-Patrick parking lot, located on the corner of the Lloyd Expressway and Green River Road, the first thing you’ll notice are the German Flags displayed on the light poles. The reason for the German flags is because D-Patrick’s focus is in selling all of the German-made automobiles.
CCO had the opportunity to sit down with D-Patrick’s General Manager Tony Ricketts in a one on one interview. In our discussion, Mr. Ricketts discussed his background, German vehicles, and D-Patrick, where he has worked for 29 years. D-Patrick is Evansville’s primary seller of the 5 automobiles made in Germany. These vehicles include the Volkswagon, BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and the Porshe. D-Patrick specializes in selling all of these franchises.
Tony Ricketts grew up on a Spencer County farm. A portion of the farm Ricketts’ family lived on was once owned by Thomas Lincoln, father of our 16th president. He attended Heritage Hills High School. In college, Ricketts studied Aviation at Indiana State and Business at the University of Southern Indiana. He’s been married for 26 years and has 2 sons in their twenties. Ricketts calls the west side of Evansville his home and has lived on Reitz Hill for 24 years.
Ricketts has worked in all facets of D-Patrick during his 29 year career. This includes sales, finance, insurance, sales manages, to his current position as general manager.
So what fueled Tony Ricketts’ passion for cars? “My dad and grandfather always were interested in cars. My dad was interested in Porsche’s. My grandfather was always interested in (the discontinued) Etzel and he used to work on Mercedes Benz.”
There you have it. D-Patrick’s GM Tony Ricketts, passionate about cars, and has been able to make a living off his passion.
Southwest Indiana AHEC co-sponsors “African Americans and the Disability Experience” exhibit
Southwest Indiana AHEC Co-Sponsors “African Americans and the Disability Experience” Exhibit
Southwest Indiana Area Health Education Center (SWI-AHEC) is partnering with the Evansville African American Museum for a special exhibition, African Americans and the Disability Experience: From Colonial Times, Desegregation, Advocacy and Achievement, April 7-26 at the museum, located at 579 S. Garvin Street.
The traveling exhibit is from the Museum of disABILITY History in Buffalo, New York, which is dedicated to advancing the understanding, acceptance and independence of people with disabilities. African Americans and the Disability Experience covers the first African slaves brought to colonial America, Brown v. Board, civil rights and medical accomplishments.
A special “Fabulous First Friday†round table discussion will open the exhibit on Friday, April 7 from 6-7 p.m. Reservations are required for the April 7 opening. To RSVP, click here.
Students enrolled at the University of Southern Indiana and members of the Evansville African American Museum receive free admission to the exhibit. Non-USI students are $1.50 and non-museum members are $5. Please show university/school identification at the museum ticket office.
Southwest Indiana Area Health Education Center began as a regional center in 2008, and it is hosted by USI in the College of Nursing and Health Professions. SWI-AHEC is part of a national network with a mission to improve health by leading the nation in the recruitment, training and retention of a diverse health workforce for underserved communities.
Jonestown survivor to present at USI
The University of Southern Indiana will host a presentation by Laura Johnston Kohl, a Jonestown Survivor and author of Jonestown Survivor: An Insider’s Look, at 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 10 in Carter Hall located in University Center West. The presentation, entitled “Jonestown Survivor – Evolution of Peoples Temple in the 1960s and 1970s,†is free and open to the public.
Kohl, spent nine years in California and Guyana with Peoples Temple, the religious organization led by Jim Jones. She was away from the organization on November 18, 1978, when 918 people died from cyanide poisoning, and was one of only 87 who lived through the event. After spending 20 years recovering and rebuilding, Kohl became a speaker and author on Jonestown and communal studies.
Kohl is a regular contributor to the Jonestown Report, a publication from the Jonestown Institute. She is organizing a survivors’ visit to Jonestown with a documentary crew. Kohl has bachelor’s degrees in psychology and philosophy from the University of New York and a bilingual teaching credential from Chapman University.
Kohl is a writer, a bilingual teacher, a regular public speaker and a presenter and board member of the Communal Studies Association.
The presentation is the spring 2017 lecture for USI’s Center for Communal Studies, which promotes the study of contemporary and historic communal groups, intentional  communities and utopias. For more information, contact Jennifer Greene at 812-464-1832 or jagreene@usi.edu.
Adopt A Pet
Howie is a 10-year-old male Siberian Husky! He is very laid-back, good with other dogs, and easy on a leash. At Cardio for Canines, his walkers say he doesn’t chase other animals. Howie is part of the Hillview hoarding case that the VHS recently assisted with. His adoption fee has been reduced to $50, which still includes his neuter, microchip, senior bloodwork, vaccines, and heartworm test! Contact the Vanderburgh Humane Society at (812) 426-2563 or adoptions@vhslifesaver.org for details!