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Hostess Brands to Close, 16,500 Jobs Face Elimination, 850 are Hoosiers

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November 16, 2012

News Release

Irving, TX – November 16, 2012 – Hostess Brands Inc. today announced that it is winding down operations and has filed a motion with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court seeking permission to close its business and sell its assets, including its iconic brands and facilities. Bakery operations have been suspended at all plants. Delivery of products will continue and Hostess Brands retail stores will remain open for several days in order to sell already-baked products.

The Board of Directors authorized the wind down of Hostess Brands to preserve and maximize the value of the estate after one of the Company’s largest unions, the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM), initiated a nationwide strike that crippled the Company’s ability to produce and deliver products at multiple facilities.

On Nov. 12, Hostess Brands permanently closed three plants as a result of the work stoppage. On Nov. 14, the Company announced it would be forced to liquidate if sufficient employees did not return to work to restore normal operations by 5 p.m., EST p.m., Nov. 15. The Company determined on the night of Nov. 15 that an insufficient number of employees had returned to work to enable the restoration of normal operations.

The BCTGM in September rejected a last, best and final offer from Hostess Brands designed to lower costs so that the Company could attract new financing and emerge from Chapter 11. Hostess Brands then received Court authority on Oct. 3 to unilaterally impose changes to the BCTGM’s collective bargaining agreements.

Hostess Brands is unprofitable under its current cost structure, much of which is determined by union wages and pension costs. The offer to the BCTGM included wage, benefit and work rule concessions but also gave Hostess Brands’ 12 unions a 25 percent ownership stake in the company, representation on its Board of Directors and $100 million in reorganized Hostess Brands’ debt.

“We deeply regret the necessity of today’s decision, but we do not have the financial resources to weather an extended nationwide strike,” said Gregory F. Rayburn, chief executive officer. “Hostess Brands will move promptly to lay off most of its 18,500-member workforce and focus on selling its assets to the highest bidders.”

In addition to dozens of baking and distribution facilities around the country, Hostess Brands will sell its popular brands, including Hostess®, Drakes® and Dolly Madison®, which make iconic cake products such as Twinkies®, CupCakes, Ding Dongs®, Ho Ho’s®, Sno Balls® and Donettes®. Bread brands to be sold include Wonder®, Nature’s Pride ®, Merita®, Home Pride®, Butternut®, and Beefsteak®, among others.

The wind down means the closure of 33 bakeries, 565 distribution centers, approximately 5,500 delivery routes and 570 bakery outlet stores throughout the United States.

The Company said its debtor-in-possession lenders have agreed to allow the Company to continue to have access to the $75 million financing facility put in place at the start of the bankruptcy cases to fund the sale and wind down process, subject to U.S. Bankruptcy Court approval.

The Company’s motion asks the Court for authority to continue to pay employees whose services are required during the wind-down period.

For employees whose jobs will be eliminated, additional information can be found at www.hostessbrands.info. The website also contains information for customers and vendors. Most employees who lose their jobs should be eligible for government-provided unemployment benefits.

Source: Hostessstrikeinfo.com

Alcoa and Keep Evansville Beautiful Announce “Cans for Cash” Contest Winners

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Two schools and a not-for-profit won a total of $500 as prizes in the seventh annual “Cans for
Cash” aluminum can recycling contest. The prize money is donated by Alcoa Warrick
Operations and Keep Evansville Beautiful promotes the contest.
Winners of the cash prizes are:
$250 – Holy Cross School
$150 – Resurrection Catholic School
$100 – Ronald McDonald House
Tri-State residents were encouraged to participate in the America Recycles Day “Cans for Cash
Challenge” from September 26 until November 12. Individuals who recycled their cans for cash
at either Tri-State Resource Recovery or Material Recycling were asked to designate a school,
church or non-profit to be entered in a special drawing.
A total of 4,395 pounds of aluminum cans were recycled during the “Cans for Cash Challenge,”
Alcoa is working to raise the aluminum can recycling rate in the United States to 75 percent by
2015. A soda can recycled today can be back on the store shelf within 60 days as a new can.
For every 5 pounds of aluminum that was recycled, the organization received a chance in the
“Cans for Cash” prize drawing. This year, 56 recyclers designated 40 different schools and
organizations for a chance to win a cash prize.
“We congratulate the winning schools and encourage recycling throughout the year. Aluminum
is infinitely recyclable – saving energy and protecting the environment. Recycling one ton of
aluminum saves enough energy to power an average home for 10 years,” according to Cheryl
Musgrave, President of Keep Evansville Beautiful.

AG Zoeller joins FTC in ‘Operation Lost Opportunity’

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Nov. 15, 2012

Indiana lawsuits filed after three victims lost more than $14K

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller teamed up with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) today in Washington, D.C. to announce a joint effort to crack down on business opportunity fraud.

Would-be entrepreneurs are often deceived by phony get-rich quick scams that promise easy money for a small upfront investment. The FTC’s continuing “Operation Lost Opportunity” includes asking state attorneys general to ramp up their investigations into these illegitimate companies. This effort by the Consumer Protection Working Group of the Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force includes 22 actions brought by the U.S. Department of Justice, 21 actions by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and 15 actions by state attorneys general in Indiana, California, Arizona and Colorado.

“Today’s announcement is a great example of how consumer protection agencies on the state and national level work together to connect the dots and combat fraud against those seeking economic opportunity,” Zoeller said. “As part of this effort, the Indiana Attorney General’s Office aggressively investigated consumer complaints regarding business opportunity scams and recently filed lawsuits against three out-of-state companies which all made promises of attractive profits to consumers before taking off with their money.”

The FTC announced seven new law enforcement actions and developments in five other cases involving scams that falsely promise jobs and opportunities to “be your own boss” to people who are unemployed or underemployed. The defendants in the FTC’s cases allegedly lured consumers with deceptive offers to help them start businesses as mystery shoppers, credit card processors, website operators and government insurance refund processors.

Zoeller’s office filed lawsuits in Marion County against companies accused of ripping off three Indiana consumers for more than $14,400. Zoeller said the large dollar amount taken from so few victims is only a small slice of the overall negative impact of these scams. In the past two years, the Attorney General’s office has received nearly 130 consumer complaints regarding various business opportunity scams.

In the Indiana lawsuits, defendants include All American Web Consulting of Florida, Sean Moriarty with All Value Network of Arizona and Wasatch Summit, LLC, doing business as Professional Marketing International and PMI Coaching of Utah.

All American Web Consulting is accused of offering phony media marketing services to help an Indiana consumer start her business. The victim was told Google would buy her 79,300 hits on her business website at 35 cents per hit. If she invested $7,000 in marketing services, All American represented she would make more than her initial investment because the number of hits would increase. The consumer paid the money upfront, but defendants failed to provide services or a refund.

· All Value Network sold web marketing services to an Indiana consumer who paid $515 upfront. Although the consumer told the company “he does not know how to use the Internet or a computer,” he was sold a “VIP Savings Network and Financial Software Package.” The company promised the consumer he would make more than his investment back in 30 days. The victim was unable to cancel the services and the promised refund was not given.

· Wasatch Summit sold coaching services to an Indiana resident to help start a business. The victim paid $6,945 upfront for media and marketing services, but the company failed to provide all the promised services or a refund.

All three companies are accused of violating the Indiana Business Opportunity Act which regulates the sale of business opportunities in the state if they require an initial investment of more than $500. The lawsuits also allege the defendants violated the Indiana Deceptive Consumer Sales Act. The Attorney General’s Office is seeking injunctions, consumer restitution, investigative costs and civil penalties.

To help protect consumers from falling victim to the business opportunity scam the Attorney General’s Office offers the following advice:
•Before soliciting or advertising the sale of a business opportunity, a seller must register and post a bond with the Indiana Attorney General’s Office. Consumers can contact the office to check if a company is registered. Legitimate sellers must use the Attorney General’s Office registration number in any advertisements;
•Be wary of investment amounts just under $500 as this is likely an indication that the seller is trying to avoid regulation;
•If you see an advertisement or receive a call about buying into a limited time business opportunity throw it away or just hang-up. If you think you might be a victim of a scam, file a complaint with the Attorney General’s Office by visiting www.indianaconsumer.com or by calling 1.800.382.5516.

911 Gives Hope For The Holidays

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EVANSVILLE (DATE) – For this upcoming holiday season, the Townsquare Media Radio Stations (WKDQ, WJLT, WDKS, WGBF, WGBF-AM) will team up with Henderson Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and the 911 Gives Hope charity to present the fourth annual 911 Gives Hope For The Holidays. Last year we successfully filled a 53 foot trailer with toys that were distributed to the children’s wards at local hospitals. This year all five radio stations will again partner together for a mass broadcast radiothon to urge the public to donate toys, clothing, gift certificates and more to children’s wards at Deaconess Hospital, St. Mary’s Hospital, Methodist Hospital, Evansville Psychiatric Children’s Center and the Ronald McDonald House.

The radiothon will begin 5:00 a.m. on Friday, November 30 and will run thru 6:00 p.m. on December 2. The radio stations will broadcast live from the Walmart on Burkhardt the entire weekend with additional broadcasts live from Henderson Chevrolet in Henderson, KY. Local fire departments, police departments, sheriff’s departments, and AMR will be in attendance all weekend in an effort to fill another 53 foot trailer.

The toys collected will be sorted and delivered to the local hospitals just in time for Christmas.

For more information contact Melanie Leach at 812-425-4226

USI High Altitude Balloon team makes second attempt to break world record

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USI
When: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, November 17

Where: USI Business and Engineering Center Room 1005

Launch: Southern Illinois

Landing: Gibson County, Indiana

The engineering design and analysis class at the University of Southern Indiana will be conducting its 10th high altitude balloon flight, during which the class will make a second attempt to set a world record for the highest altitude release of a paper airplane. The first attempt on October 27 failed when the balloon ruptured before its target altitude.

The current record is held by The Register’s Special Projects Bureau in the United Kingdom. The record was set in October 2010 with the launch of their PARIS Vulture 1 spaceplane. The Register recently learned about USI’s attempt to the break the record and will be following and reporting on the project from the UK. You can see the full story in the The Register at http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/10/26/paper_aircraft_attempt/.

The USI class plans to launch the balloon from a site near Rend Lake in Southern Illinois. The landing and retrieval is expected to take place somewhere in Southern Gibson County in Indiana.

Mission Control for the event will be located in USI’s Business and Engineering Center Room 1005. Interested parties will be able to view the launch and the flight trajectory of both the balloon and the paper airplane.

The trajectory of the balloon can be viewed online at http://aprs.fi using the call sign W9MOK.

The trajectory of the paper airplane can also be followed using the call sign W9MOK-2.

Park Board Agenda – 11/21/2012

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BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS

REGULAR MEETING
KEVIN WINTERNHEIMER CHAMBERS
ROOM 301, CIVIC CENTER COMPLEX
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2012
12:00 NOON

AGENDA

1. CALL TO ORDER

2. MINUTES November 1 & 7, 2012

3. CONSENT AGENDA
a. Request Re: Approve Tee Times for Ladies 18-Hole Golf League at Fendrich Golf
Course. – English
b. Request Re: Approve and Execute Lloyd Pool Rental Agreement with EVSC for High
School Swim Program. – Hutter
c. Request Re: Approve and Execute Agreement Extension with Jenny Madden for Personal
Training Services at Swonder Fitness Center. – Nadeau
d. Request Re: Approve and Execute Agreement Extension with Andrea Outlaw for Personal
Training Services at Swonder Fitness Center. – Nadeau

4. OLD BUSINESS
a. Request Re: Approve and Execute Change Order with Klenck Co. for Stadium
Demolition. – Johnson
b. Request Re: Approve and Execute Easement with Vectren for Cathodic Protection System
at Moutoux Park. – Johnson
c. Request Re: Approve and Execute Contract with David Enterprises Inc. for Repairs to
Asphalt on Greenway. – Johnson
d. Request Re: Award and Execute Contract with Alva Electric for Lighting Repairs at
Wesselman Park. – Johnson
e. Request Re: Recommendation on Bids for Golfmoor ADA Renovations. – Boberg

5. NEW BUSINESS
a. Request Re: Open Bids for Renovations to the Discovery Center and Kley Building at
Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden. – Beck
b. Request Re: Review Proposals to Purchase Equipment for Tepe Spray Park. – Boberg/Schall
c. Request Re: Review Proposals for Installation of Lift Pump for Kleymeyer Ball Diamonds. –
Boberg/Rehn
d. Request Re: Approve Budget Transfers and CIP Reprioritizations. – Johnson
e. Request Re: Any Other Business the Board Wishes to Consider and Public Comments.

6. REPORTS
a. Jill Trautvetter, Parks Foundation
b. Denise Johnson, Executive Director

7. ACCEPTANCE OF PAYROLL AND VENDOR CLAIMS

8. ADJOURN

IS IT TRUE November 15, 2012

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The Mole #??

IS IT TRUE November 15, 2012

IS IT TRUE one of our faithful Civic Center Moles has reported that both Keith Jarboe and Alex Jarvis individually called the Civic Center yesterday to see what the requirements were to file to become the Chairman of the Vanderburgh County Democrat Party?…the present state of the local party is pretty much in shambles from an organizational perspective?…we expect to have more reports of people interested in trying to right this ship in the very near future?…what is really needed is someone with no ties to the “machine” or the Weinzapfel Administration as the weakening of the Democrat Party came from within?

IS IT TRUE anyone who files to become the Democrat Party Chairman or is thought to have any information that may be damaging to “machine” operators in either party had better be on their toes and anticipate a character assassination campaign launched by whispers and gossip?…some of the whisper campaigns of the past to assassinate one’s character have served the community horribly but have been surgical in accomplishing the desires of the “machine”?…this time around with the amount of malfeasance and idiocy that has already been exposed to have been done by the City of Evansville during the last 10 years, that subjects of character assassination may just strike back in a very effective manner?…the CCO hopes that the practice of character assassination coming from elected officials and party operatives gets destroyed by whatever means is necessary so that no one is emboldened to try such things again for many years?

IS IT TRUE that we have it in good authority that City Councilman John Friend, CPA sort of likes his table pounding antics at Monday night’s council meeting being compared to the shoe wielding Nikita Khrushchev and the sword wielding Manuel Noriega?…we encourage the use of the term “le bald Nikita” among friends of Friend?

IS IT TRUE the whitehouse.gov petitions continue to attract protest signatures with California and New York joining the group of states that will gather 25,000 signatures?…Indiana is now at 19,240 which means that sometime Sunday the Hoosier state will join the growing list of states that will get some response from the Whitehouse about this issue?…of all the petitions on that website the second highest signature count is for a petition of repeal ObamaCare that is behind only the Texas appeal to secede?

IS IT TRUE that it was announced at a forum on the fiscal cliff yesterday at an Ernst & Young conference sponsored by CNBC and hosted by Scott Cohn that one of the silent but deadly things being considered in the tax increase proposals under discussion is to tax the cash value of employer provided health insurance premiums?…the Obama Administration was quoted as stating that taxing health insurance premiums as income (which the technically are) would raise between $120 Million and $160 Million in revenue for the federal government?…taxing these benefits at an average premium contribution of $10,000 per year and an average marginal income tax rate of 28% will cost middle class American families $2,800 per year in taxes on something that has been tax free for over 60 years?…that same American family will be getting a 2% take home pay cut when the social security tax “holiday” is allowed to lapse?…both of these new taxes raise more than double the revenue that will be raised by letting the Bush tax cuts on so called ”millionaires” who earn over $250,000 per year?…those class warfare taxes that dominated the presidential campaign will only raise enough money to run the government for ONE WEEK?…the consensus of the panel that included business executives, government officials, and a Democrat think tank leader is that it is time for the President and Congress to stop the demagoguery and find a sustainable solution to the things that caused the fiscal cliff?…not one of them expects them to do so in the next 6 weeks?

IS IT TRUE one of the most telling statements by the panel was a comment that in Washington Democrats and Republicans do not even go to the same parties and engage in conversations anymore?…this is a phenomena that happened in the last four years?…the term used to describe this was “political segregation”?…the suggestion that the panel had for President Obama is that he actually listen to businesses which implies strongly that he has not been doing so?…they are predicting lots of businesses to cap their employment at 49 people to avoid ObamaCare and completely agree that any fiscal plan that does not reform entitlements is doomed to fail?…they think getting out of this hole it took 10 years to dig will take at least 20 years and that the American people are still too self serving and short sighted to demand that our government do this job right?…we are already over the fiscal cliff but have not yet crashed into the canyon floor that we are hurtling toward?

Garvin Park Flag Raising Ceremony

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Evansville, Indiana –Keep Evansville Beautiful hosted VFW Post 1114 members at a flag raising ceremony today at the Garvin Park Fountain. The event showcased the recently repainted and repaired 65-foot tall flagpole, which is located directly behind the fountain at the end of Main Street.

The VFW Post 1114 honor guard procession opened the event, followed by a flag retirement ceremony to remove the existing U.S. and Indiana flags. A 21-gun salute followed the raising of new flags and Taps were played to honor veterans’ service to our country.

Keep Evansville Beautiful coordinated the repainting of the flagpole that was completed in October. The VFW Post 1114 donated the new U.S. and Indiana flags and the West Side Nut Club made a special gift for the re-painting. The ceremony recognized the contributions of individuals and businesses as the key reason the fountain and flagpole have once again become a souce of pride for the whole community.

The Garvin Park Fountain is a key focal point at the entry into the historic Garvin Park, and the flagpole is a dominant feature. Keep Evansville Beautiful held a rededication ceremony at Garvin Park Fountain in May to celebrate the restoration of the fountain, its lights, and stone wall.

“The repainting of the flag pole adds a grace note to the restored Garvin Park Fountain and emphasizes how much the community treasures this beautiful park,” said Keep Evansville Beautiful President Cheryl Musgrave.