BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS SHOULD APPROVE REQUEST FOR PROPOSED WESTSIDE RESTAURANT-BAR

For several months successful businessman Kerry Chesser petitioned the Board of Zoning of Appeals to approve his re-zoning requests to locate an upscale Restaurant-Bar on West Franklin street.

At the last Board Of Zoning Appeals meeting Mr. Chesser request for approval ended with a 3 to 3 tie with one member absent. Because of the tie vote a meeting of the Board was rescheduled for tomorrow afternoon at 4:00 pm at the Civic Center.

Because Mr. Chesser’s project plans didn’t meet current City of Evansville parking requirements he agreed to tear down a large section of his vacant building located on West Franklin Street so he can comply with the City’s overzealous parking requirements.  Opposition from a future competitor also forced Mr Chesser to scale down the floor plans of his proposed Restaurant-Bar.  His scaled down plans for his Restaurant-Bar will allow more on-site parking spaces.  Also a side agreement with an adjoining property owner will also add additional parking spaces for his project.

Over the years West Franklin street has become to be known as the “Entrainment District.” of Evansville.  Mr.  Chessers Restaurant-Bar expansion is similar to the commercial expansion going on in the Haynie’s Corner area during the several years.  We wonder if any special variances for parking were ever given to any of the new Restaurant or Bars located in the Haynie’s Corner area?

It’s important to point out that the overwhelming majority of the Restaurant-Bars owners located on West Franklin street supports Mr. Chesser’s newly amended parking plans.  Another good reason why the Zoning Appeals Board should approve Mr. Chesser’s request is because the Lamasco Neighborhood Association has also endorses his petition to open a new Restaurant-Bar on West Franklin street.

Bottom line, Kerry Chesser is a highly respected businessman and over the years he has contributed many hundreds of thousands of dollars to those in need in our community. He also gets high marks for the way he operates his bars and restaurants by the people that lives in the area where his businesses are located .

We strongly urge that the Zoning Appeals Board approve Mr. Chesser’s request to located his upscale Restaurant-Bars on West Franklin street because it will be a social, entertainment and economic asset to the West Franklin street area.

It’s  our opinion that the Board of Zoning Appeals should approve without delay Mr. Chessers plans to locate an upscale Restaurant-Bars on West Franklin street because it’s the right thing to do!

FOOTNOTE: Please take time and go vote on todays ‘READERS POLL.”  Todays poll question is: Do you feel that the Zoning Board of Appeals should approve the request to allow a new upscale Restaurant-Bar to be located on West Franklin street?

WHATS ON YOUR MIND TODAY?

Todays “READERS POLL” question is: Do you feel that the Zoning Board of Appeals should approve the request to allow a new upscale Restaurant-Bar to be located on West Franklin street?

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It may not be uncommon to leave a vehicle parked in a driveway overnight but be aware if you do. The Sheriff’s Office is warning residents in northern Vanderburgh county of 7 car thefts since the beginning of November all to vehicles that were left unlocked. Some of the neighborhoods being targeted include Camden and Windemere Farms as well as Wynnfield and Keystone Subdivision located off north Green River Road.

Law enforcement officials say the thieves target high population neighborhoods knowing there will be many vehicles — some left unlocked to become possible targets, “These thieves know that breaking a car window or trying to defeat a lock takes time or can make noise. They don’t want to attract any attention so they simply choose the car that is going to allow them quick access and they get in and get out,” said Lieutenant Noah Robinson.

Items being stolen include electronics, money, prescription drugs and even purses that often contain credit cards and even personal information, “We just have to take it upon ourselves to be safe, and really in today’s day you really have to do that, you really have to do it, it makes common sense to me,” said Windemere Farms resident Scott Mauser.

The Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with surveillance systems in the targeted neighborhoods to contact the crime investigation unit. There are no suspects at this time.

WHAT DID VOTERS REALLY SEE?
By Peter Funt

So, the most frequent refrain since Election Day is that “no one saw this coming.” Not the pollsters, not the media, not the Democrats’ machine.
We might also note that the Cleveland Indians didn’t see what was coming after the rain delay in Game Seven.

But unlike the Indians, we saw plenty, and we saw it early on. More than a year before the election we saw how a reality-TV star could dominate a debate stage and, with total disregard for truth, slice and dice 16 other candidates.

We saw the power of controlling the message through social media. The world’s first Twitter Candidate spewed middle-of-the-night vitriol that by noon the next day was often the lead story among mainstream media.

We watched as the powerful forces of skewed news——–led by Fox News Channel, Breitbart and Drudge——–invented some stories and distorted others for a vast audience that was fearful, hateful, vengeful and eager for political and emotional reinforcement.

We looked on, often entertained, by the spectacle of rallies that attracted tens of thousands of people, without much regard for the fact that these rally-goers and their friends might actually cast votes.
We saw qualified Democrats like Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren step aside so that the Candidate of Destiny could brush away Martin O’Malley and——–with alarming difficulty——–socialist Bernie Sanders.
We noted that the Democratic National Committee can be every bit as reckless with the rules as its Republican counterpart.

We watched as a litany of poor judgments came back to haunt the Democrats’ nominee. It wasn’t about legality, it was about optics. It was how a suspicious electorate would view outrageously high speaking fees, stonewalling over emails, and a murky relationship with a multi-billion dollar family charity.

Following the conventions, we observed one candidate working harder on the trail and making many more campaign stops than his opponent.

We read between the lines that several outrageous threats and promises from early in the campaign were fading away in calculation for the home stretch. For instance, there wouldn’t really be “mass deportations” of undocumented immigrants, only a roundup of violent criminals. There wouldn’t actually be a ban on Muslims entering the country, only a more serious “vetting” of people coming from the world’s hot spots. Et cetera.

In the final days we looked at poll results that seemed comforting, even though state figures were far less reliable than national numbers.

We saw the apparent arrogance of a candidate who took states like Wisconsin and Michigan for granted, and who trotted out Hollywood big shots like Lady Gaga and Cher, who many Americans find so easy to resent.
On Election Day, we saw some long lines at polling places and didn’t bother to vote. We saw the elaborate post-election celebratory set-up at the Javits Center in New York and figured the contest was in the bag.
It was there to see all along. Alas, in our new and confusing political world, seeing isn’t always believing.

 Peter Funt. Columns distributed exclusively by Cagle Cartoons, Inc., newspaper syndicate.

2016-2017 HEATING ADVICE TO STAY SAFE AND SNUG AND SAVE MONEY

Don’ Be Flustered By Winter’s Bluster

Fuel to heat our homes can mean high bills. And heating increases the risks of fire, explosion and carbon monoxide poisoning. But a heating system that works efficiently can mean more warmth, more safety—and more money left for other things.

The Evansville-Vanderburgh County Building Commission, Evansville Fire Department, Vanderburgh County township fire departments, American Red Cross, Vectren Corp. and your local heating and air conditioning contractors want to alert the citizens of Evansville and Southwestern Indiana to the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning, fire and explosion from a malfunctioning furnace, a blocked flue or chimney, a broken gas line or inadequate air for combustion.

There may be hidden damage to your furnace, gas piping, flue or chimney. We are recommending that all citizens have their furnaces, space heaters, ranges, water heaters, gas lines, chimneys, flues and other heating equipment checked by a licensed heating contractor without delay. (You should do this every year.) You will protect yourself and your family this winter and save on heating bills.

Carbon monoxide replaces the oxygen in the air we breathe when fuel-burning equipment is operating and the vent or chimney is obstructed or there is not enough air to let the equipment burn fuel efficiently. Carbon monoxide is odorless, colorless and tasteless and catches its victims unaware, sometimes as they sleep. If you suspect a carbon monoxide problem, leave your home and call 911 or your local fire department.

Families in Evansville and across the country have been killed by carbon monoxide poisoning, and many others have become seriously ill. Symptoms may be similar to the flu, including headache, dizziness, nausea and shortness of breath. There may be fatigue and confusion. But you may go to sleep and never wake up.

Always use portable generators outdoors, far away from the home and any openings. Candle fires also have killed families. Be careful using candles during power outages and other times! And make a family fire escape plan.

Help alert your family with carbon monoxide detectors and smoke detectors, available at all hardware stores, home centers and department stores. Regularly test detectors and change the batteries.

THEY CAN HELP

Evansville Urban Enterprise Association offers free carbon monoxide detectors and smoke detectors, while supplies last, to residents of the Enterprise Zone and the service areas outside the zone who have not received them in the past. Phone (812) 426-2490.

Community Action Program of Evansville (CAPE) handles the Indiana Weatherization Assistance Program in Vanderburgh, Posey and Gibson counties. (Every county in Indiana has an agency for the weatherization program.)  CAPE may repair or replace faulty heating equipment and make other energy-efficient improvements. CAPE also helps with heating bills. CAPE has income limits. Phone (812) 492-3928.

Memorial Community Development Corp. offers emergency home repairs. The program covers repairs urgently needed to protect the residents. The home must be occupied by the owner, and there are income limits. Phone (812) 402-5530.

Vectren Corp. has details on no-cost home energy assessments and energy-saving products, income-qualified weatherization and rebates for purchases of qualifying furnaces, programmable thermostats, insulation and duct sealing. Phone (866) 240-8476 or visit Vectren.com/SaveEnergy.

Community One offers volunteer-based basic home repairs and weatherization to low-income people who own and occupy their homes, especially the elderly and disabled. Phone (812) 250-6888.

Handy Chore will change furnace filters, install smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors, provide fire extinguishers, make some windows and doors weathertight, repair storm doors and outer doors and pump out flooded basements. Handy Chore serves homeowners who are disabled or at least age 60. Phone SWIRCA & More at (812) 464-7817.

FOOTNOTE:  Faith-based organizations, social agencies and township trustees may help with heating bills and needs.