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IS IT TRUE? February 16, 2012

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The Mole #??

IS IT TRUE? February 16, 2012

IS IT TRUE that a search firm is recruiting Winnecke Chief of Staff Steve Schaefer for the position of President of the Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce? Is It True that Schaefer served as VP of Public Policy at the SW IN Chamber for 8 years while also serving as the Executive Director of the Hoosier Voices for I-69 organization?…that Schaefer was let go from the SW IN Chamber last August and then was quickly hired by Congressman Bucshon within 1 week and then chosen by then Mayor-Elect Winnecke shortly after the election to serve as his right-hand advisor?…that Schaefer also was instrumental in revamping the image and operations of the Evansville Convention & Visitors Bureau as the Board President last year and it would be a huge loss for the community if he departed?

IS IT TRUE that Springleaf Financial is quietly having layoffs in the Evansville office?…that a month ago when the announcement came out that Springleaf was having branch office closures in other locations that some local media and others seized on that announcement that there would be no layoffs in Evansville?…that was not only short sighted it was an impractical conclusion?…that the City County Observer alone predicted that the branch office closings in other areas would precipitate layoffs in Evansville?…that this is not rocket science folks it is simple business mathematics?…that many people seemed to have made deals with themselves on behalf of Springleaf and now they are mad and saying the Springleaf lied?…that Springleaf never said that there would not be layoffs in Evansville but did announce some office closures in other places?…that Springleaf did exactly what they said they would and now folks around here are up in arms over it?…that there is nothing wrong with rubbing two brain cells together and thinking things through?…that when people start to do that there will be less allegations that businesses are a pack of liars?…that no matter what some say, these guys did not lie about this layoff?

IS IT TRUE that one thing the CCO is curious about is just what the status of compliance with the commitments made at the time that AIG was awarded tax abatements on the AIG Headquarters overlooking Scores were granted?…that there were a certain number of jobs that had to be created to get the incentives and abatements granted by the City of Evansville back in 2007 when the headquarters was built?…that we do not know the exact details but we are sure that the job creation numbers were not negative?…that if the Evansville City Council that granted these incentives and tax abatements wants to do something to redeem themselves for their recent Bacchanalian BoozeFest that reviewing the compliance with the AIG tax abatements and assessing some revenue generating taxes that have been abated yet not earned?

IS IT TRUE that the State of Indiana seems to be on the verge of passing some kind of statewide smoking ban?…that it is good to see Evansville finally on the leading edge of something as opposed to being spanked by our Daddy in Indianapolis?…that Governor Daniels can take a lesson from Evansville this time?

IS IT TRUE that after finally losing a basketball game to Tennessee State last week that the Murray State Racers are back to their winning ways?…that after rising to #7 in last week’s poll that the Racers were poised to rise to #5 on the backs of losses by North Carolina and Baylor that happened during the same week as their first loss of the year?…that it looks like Murray could be grabbing a #3 seed in March Madness by winning out?…that without the one loss that Murray would have been heading for a #2 seed?…that the CCO thinks that the hunger of the Racers will propel them into the Final 4 unless they run into the Kentucky Wildcats or the Syracuse Orange both of whom look pretty darn hard to beat?

IS IT TRUE that the Kentucky State Wrestling Tournament is this weekend and we will be keeping an eye on the progress of the Union County Braves who are among the favorites to collect their 8th state championship in the sport?…that in a state that has no class distinctions for a public school with an enrollment of only 700 to dominate in this manner is quite impressive?

A Day in the Life of the Grid With Jon Wellinghoff, FERC Chairman

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A Day in the Life of the Grid With Jon Wellinghoff, FERC Chairman
“Coupling energy consumption with real time pricing … is a very powerful tool.”

Eric Wesoff: February 10, 2012
PALM SPRINGS, California — Reporting from the Clean-Tech Investor Summit.

Jon Wellinghoff, Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, gave one of the conference’s more exciting smart grid presentations during his keynote on electricity pricing, demand response, and making the electrical grid a more responsive and efficient machine.

It was the first time this presentation, “A Day in the Life of the Grid,” had been revealed to the world. We’ll get into some of the details, but in summary, it shows that the FERC commissioners get the smart grid and the necessity “to unleash the information and unleash the power” of the American electrical grid. (We are working on getting the full text and content of the FERC presentation and will make it available when it is received.)

The presentation gave an hour-by-hour snapshot of wholesale utility pricing across the Midwest Independent System Operator (MISO) using diagrams based on Ventyx imaging software. (Ventyx was acquired by ABB for over $1 billion in May of 2010.)

Wellinghoff spoke of the need for utilities to be “restructured to unbundle their service” and to “think in non-traditional terms, where utilities are a different animal.”

“Unleashing information on energy and prices allows consumers to use their energy smartly,” according to the Commissioner, and “the first step is to give consumers access to the real costs of delivered energy — so that they’re not in the dark”

Wellinghoff noted that it’s becoming increasingly affordable to control the timing and duration of energy use given the advances in hardware, software and regulatory sophistication.

“Coupling energy consumption with real time pricing … is a very powerful tool.”

A Day in the Life of the Grid

July 21, 2011 is a day that will live in infamy.

Not really. But it was the hottest day of the year in the Midwest and the Midwest Independent System Operator (MISO) territory, which spans 13 states, has 140,000 megawatts of generation under its control, and sells $27 billion of electricity per year.

And on this particular day in July, the region would experience a new peak of 104 gigawatts.

Wellinghoff gave an hour-by-hour status of the MISO region with imaging help from ABB’s Ventyx Velocity software. He looked at the impact on big-box stores, aluminum smelters, data centers, and electric vehicle charging. He noted that consumers are paying $0.09 per kilowatt-hour despite the wholesale rate ranging from $0.00 to $1.00 per kilowatt-hour.

2:00 a.m.: Despite low energy prices across the region, there is no rate incentive for consumers to charge their electric vehicles at this time of day. Electric vehicles could provide regulation service — if they could participate in the market, according to Wellinghoff.

3:00 a.m.: Prices are near zero.

4:00 a.m.: Wind resources are still trapped in the western portion of the region because of transmission issues. The average wholesale energy price is about $0.023 cents per kilowatt-hour. At this time, an EV could charge at 40 cents per gallon gasoline equivalent, according to Wellinghoff.

5:00 a.m.: People in Detroit are waking up, and as power ramps up, pricing starts to rise.

7:00 a.m.: Wind starts to ramp.

8:00 a.m.: Trapped wind prices rise in constrained areas, but 100 miles away, prices are 10 cents per kilowatt-hour. The grid has generators inefficiently ramping-up when it would be more efficient for customers to change their loads. Wellinghoff said that this is an inefficient way of operating the grid.

9:00 a.m.: MISO declares a maximum energy event.

9:35 a.m.: Frequency on some lines drops to 59.964 cycles.

10:00 a.m.: Wind “is falling off a cliff” but ramp is rising. Peak wind is 3 gigawatts less than the previous day.

11:00 a.m.: High prices above $0.10 per kilowatt-hour start to hit the system as imports from PJM dry up.

12:00 p.m.: The wholesale markets are indicating the true costs of energy but there is a disparity bretween the wholesale price and the price the customer is paying.

1:00 p.m.: The temperature is 100 degrees but wind is down to 1 gigawatt. Only 1,800 of 30,000 turbines are producing power.

2:00 p.m.: Maximum energy warning declared.

4:00 p.m.: PJM sets an all-time peak record of 160 gigawatts while wind drops to a low point. There is a west-to-east price shift that shows a need for transmission build-out.

5:00 p.m.: The maximum energy event is terminated, but people are still making energy decisions with no knowledge of real-time electricity pricing.

6:00 p.m.: Temperatures are starting to cool off in the Midwest and prices have halved.

7:00 p.m.: Higher temperatures are holding firm in some areas and keeping the supply-demand balance tight.

8:00 p.m.: The heat index near the Lake Michigan shoreline and in eastern Michigan drops and demand falls.

9:00 p.m.: Streetlights come on and generating resources go down. MISO brings on more expensive power.

12:00 a.m.: The system becomes unconstrained as the load continues to drop.

The FERC Commissioner summed up his talk with this statement:

“If we want our nation’s energy system to remain efficient, we need to align prices with the costs of production. With a new transparent pricing environment, an array of businesses and aggregators can provide automated services that will control consumer loads. In sum, the new opportunity in energy is to align the [consumer] price with the real wholesale price.”

He added that this will “enable loads like water heaters, refrigerators, and EVs to adapt to pricing. This is the challenge for the entire smart grid and cleantech industry.”

He exhorted those in the utility industry: “Unleash the information, unleash the power.”

Another Day, Another Meth Lab Fire at a Southside House

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News Release

Type of Crime: Manufacturing Meth
Date of Crime: 021412 5:30pm
Location of Crime: 1208 Marshall

SUMMARY
Evansville Police arrested two people in connection with a Meth Lab fire at 1208 Marshall yesterday evening. Police were called to the scene of a yard barn fire that was thought to have been initially set. A subject was seen running from the scene before fire crews arrived. Witnesses gave the EFD District Chief a description. He relayed the description to responding officers. Officers spotted HARRY H. ROBERTSON in a nearby alley. ROBERTSON fled on foot and was captured a short distance away. Once the fire was extinguished, members of the Vanderburgh County Joint Task Force responded to the scene. They located numerous items used to make meth. They also recovered two “one pot’ meth labs. The homeowner, JENNIFER L. WILKEY, was also arrested. She told officers ROBERTSON had been staying at her house off and on. Police charged ROBERTSON with Manufacturing Meth, Possession of Meth, Maintaining a common Nuisance, and Resisting Law Enforcement. Police charged WILKEY with Manufacturing Meth, Possession of Meth, and Maintaining a Common Nuisance.

IS IT TRUE? February 15, 2012

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The Mole #??

IS IT TRUE? February 15, 2012

IS IT TRUE that the 2013 Federal Budget as proposed by President Obama was published on Monday and that it calls for roughly a $1 Trillion deficit?…that this will have to be borrowed to pay for the day to day operating expenses of the federal government?…that there was only a miniscule amount allocated to stimulus projects so the shortfall cannot be blamed on non-recurring investments?…that in the last 3 years the debt of the United States has doubled as a percentage of GDP to 80%?…that the nation of Greece which has experienced riots in the streets and placed on an austerity plan by their creditors has a debt of 160% of GDP?…that if the good old USA doubles again we will be in the same dire financial straits as Greece?…that there is no way to close this gap without cutting spending as growing the GDP by a third in four years is just not going to happen?

IS IT TRUE that even the three fundamental planks of the social safety network that are made up by Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are spending more money than they are collecting?…that the decision to GIVE the American people the illusion of incremental gains by cutting the FICA collections from paychecks is the big culprit in jeopardizing Social Security?…that this is a system that needs to be dynamic enough to be solvent long term on a day to day basis?…that it was quite irresponsible to loot the Social Security revenue stream for the shallow purpose of GIVING working people and extra $20 per week or so?…that this made about as much fiscal sense as buying candy today with next month’s food budget?

IS IT TRUE that the City County Observer is pleased to once again be in a leadership position on exposing the reality that the weekly gathering of Democrat members of the Evansville City Council have about a 99.999% probability to violate the Open Door Laws?…that this was done by our previous council in a very in our face manner and there were no consequences for these actions?…that it appears as though the one act play that is now being compared to “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” that played out on January 23rd may have a long term positive outcome?…that if a colossal public embarrassment and the exposure of the Evansville City Council as a governing body is what it took to get “old Boy Ways” ended then it is worth it?…that the months of January and February of 2012 may just be the beginning of the end for Evansville’s oligarchy of politics?

Ms. Right

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Dear Lil,

 

After 28 years of marriage and three kids, my wife and I divorced two months ago.  It took awhile to get out there and start meeting women again, but I finally did it and met a woman named Sherri.  We’ve been spending tons of time together and we have so much in common.  She is a great listener and she really seems to think very highly of me. 

 

I’ve made it perfectly clear that while I value her friendship and love spending time with her, but I don’t want a serious relationship.  Sherri says she understands and agrees that we shouldn’t be serious, yet she keeps sending me cards, calling everyday and giving me gifts.  Sherri isn’t the woman I imagine myself with for the future, but she will do for now.

 

Lil, how can I continue spending time with Sherri while I wait for Ms. Right?  I want to keep my options open because she isn’t what I envisioned for a partner, but she is really fun to be around for the time being. By the way, we haven’t consummated the relationship.  I think she would really be hooked.

 

Sincerely,
Randy

Randy,

I’m glad you took your time grieving after your divorce!  What took you so long?  You sound pretty sure of your ability to actually find a “Ms. Right,” so why are you even spending your time with Sherri?

First of all, Sherri sounds like a great gal, understanding, good listener and able to handle the phony-baloney you’ve been feeding to her.  Sounds like she wants you to be her Mr. Right and you’re just stringing poor Sherri along, giving her false hope while you look for a flashier fish!

I wish Sherri had written this letter so I could tell her to kick you to the curb!  I would have told sweet and trusting Sherri to call up your ex to find out who you really are.  I don’t know why your 28 year marriage ended, but I’m sure your ex can fill Sherri in on the details.

Randy, if you truly value your friendship with Sherri, cut her loose now!  Don’t lead her on for another day and make sure you don’t tell her that you have been biding your time waiting for someone better to come along.  Sherri deserves to be more than a temporary fill-in for your “Ms. Right.”  Break off your “friendship” with Sherri before her dear heart gets broken, and do it gently but firmly.

Love and Kisses,

Lil 

Dancing With Our Stars, Evansville-Style

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Dancing With Our Stars
To Benefit
St. Vincent Center for Children and Families

Saturday, May 5, 2012 The Centre Ballroom will be swinging with dances like the Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, & Cha Cha! The 4th Annual Dancing With Our Stars, Evansville-Style competition will pair trained ballroom dancers with business and community leaders to benefit St. Vincent Center for Children and Families, which provides care for hundreds of Evansville’s children.

The “Stars” this year will be Claire, Chuck Byrnes, Chase Coslett, Pat Coslett, Jeff Feyen, Gina Moore, Stephanie Roland, Chris Slade, Julie Stucki and Debra Talley. They will be accompanied by their professional partners, David Bell, Scott Bishop, Sadia Brimm, Camilla Denison, Isaiah Mattas, Sarah Nellis, Jaime Reininga, Mike San Angelo, Brandon Sears and Teresa Sheets.

Dancing “Star” winners will be determined by your votes! Come out for a great evening of dining and dancing to benefit this great charity. Cocktails will be served at 6:00pm; dinner and the dance competition will begin at 7:00pm with an all-dance after the winners have been announced.
Single tickets are $100, pairs are $190, and a table of ten is $950.00.

Click Here for more information

UE’s Friday Guitar Fest to Feature Local, Regional Musicians

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The Classical Guitar Society of Evansville and the University of Evansville will co-sponsor the annual Guitar Fest this Friday, February 17. The concert serves as a fundraiser for the society and its efforts to provide quality classical guitar concerts for the community.

The concert will take place at 7:30 p.m. February 17 in UE’s Wheeler Concert Hall. Tickets are $15 for the general public, $5 for any student, and free for UE students.

The evening will feature 20 selections from composers such as J.S. Bach, Francisco Tarrega, Mauro Giuliani, and Agustin Barrios. Performers include an ensemble of 17 local guitarists (including UE faculty and students) and guest artist Matthew Schroeder, a recent graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music (CCM).

Schroeder began his guitar studies with Sarah Wilke at the age of 14. He continued studies with Clare Callahan at CCM, where he received a Bachelor of Music degree in classical guitar performance.

While at CCM, Schroeder was the recipient of the Oscar Ghiglia Award in Classical Guitar and the Segovia Scholarship in Classical Guitar, annually awarded to an outstanding guitarist upon recommendation by the faculty at CCM. He has performed in master classes with many of the world’s top guitarists, including Oscar Ghiglia, Marcin Dylla, William Kanengiser, Jason Vieaux, Carlos Perez, Stanley Yates, and Johannes Möller.

UPDATE: IS IT TRUE? February 14, 2012 Afternoon Supplement

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IS IT TRUE that the CCO has learned that just today the Chairman of the Evansville Fire Department Merit Commission, Jim Hubert, voluntarily excused himself from the Al Lindsey case?…that in the February 10th edition of “IS IT TRUE” the CCO pointed out that Mr. Hubert could possibly have a conflict of interest with this particular hearing?…that Mr. Hubert is an attorney with the Evansville law firm Ziemer, Stayman, Weitzel and Shoulders and that this firm is representing the Evansville Fire Department in the Al Lindsey case?…that we thank and commend Mr. Hubert for doing the honorable thing?…that Mr. Hubert’s actions are the perfect example of public officials holding themselves to a higher standard in the interest of good public policy?

IS IT TRUE that over the last 20 years there have been several City of Evansville firemen who have had alcohol related issues while on the job or while driving a City Fire Department vehicle?…that they have not had their employment terminated by the City of Evansville.

IS IT TRUE that over the last 20 years there have been several City of Evansville firemen who have had drug or immoral conduct issues while on or off the clock?…that they have not had their employment terminated as a result of such situations.

IS IT TRUE that these simple facts and the other inconvenient fact that precedent carries much weight in the world of litigation should be taken into account with respect to the case of Al Lindsey?

IS IT TRUE that this whole MainGate Bar episode seems to be driving home some of the pettiness that has been going on in Evansville politics for many years now?…that we hope that this whole embarrassing situation is used as an opportunity to implement some changes?…that the first rule for changes should be “IF WHAT YOU CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE ABOUT TO DO WILL MAKE THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE LOOK LIKE A CORRUPT VILLAGE OF 500 IN THE 1950’S, DON’T DO IT”?

Six Auto Thefts Plague South Side: EPD on the Lookout for Perpetrators

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News Release

Type of Crime: Thefts from Vehicles
Date of Crime: 021212-021312
Location of Crime: Multiple

SUMMARY
Evansville Police are investigating 6 reports of thefts from vehicles in a south side neighborhood.
Reports were taken at the following locations:
638 Runnymeade
2126 Lincoln
2216 E Mulberry
2013 E Chandler
2325 Bayard Park
411 Runnymeade

Various items including electronics, purses, and a checkbook were reportedly taken. Police remind residents to lock their valuables in their homes.
Anyone with information in these thefts is asked to call the Evansville Police Department at 812-436-7979.

IS IT TRUE? February 14, 2012

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IS IT TRUE? February 14, 2012

IS IT TRUE that today is Valentine’s Day and that we encourage all of our readers to express their emotions to that special person that you love to celebrate?…that even goes for those among you who have fallen for the charms of Lifestyle Lil who is also the siren who sang to seven husbands?…that even if no one else loves you that Lil will?

IS IT TRUE that the Evansville City Council passed by a vote of 7 – 2 last night a nearly comprehensive smoking ban that will take effect on April 1, 2012?…that there is literally not one land based building in Evansville where people are employed that will allow smoking after that date?…that the only exception is the gaming area of Casino Aztar and that all of that floats?…that there has been some question raised recently as to whether the boat is in the city or the county or even in Kentucky but that is all moot at this point for enforcement purposes?…that Councilwoman Stephanie Brinkerhoff-Riley gets the badge of courage last night for voting against the exemption for Aztar because she truly believes that a comprehensive ban is the right thing to do?…that Councilwoman Mosby as expected opposed the ban based on what she thinks her constituents in the second ward want?…that if there is one thing that we can say for Missy is that she has been the most consistent of the nine members of the City Council through this whole multiyear process?

IS IT TRUE that the most puzzling vote of the night was cast by Councilman Jonathan Weaver who cast the other NO vote?…that Councilman Weaver was elected to represent the community at large which has consistently supported a smoking ban by a 4 to 1 majority for several years now?…that Councilman Weaver may want to review who he works for as his title is Councilman at-large as opposed to Councilman at-the-bar?

IS IT TRUE that two weeks ago when this whole dust up over the January 23rd booze fest attended by six Democrat City Council members came up that the City County Observer raised the issue of such meetings violating OPEN DOOR LAWS?…that we were dismissed and scoffed at with even attorneys who should know parsing words and expressing opinions to the contrary?…that now former City Council member Wendy Bredhold has been reported to confirm that these after council meeting gatherings have been going on for a number of years?…that the Monday night gatherings of Democrats have been described as “tradition”?…that to her credit Ms. Bredhold had the good sense to realize that such gatherings do not pass the smell test and rarely attended?…that Evansville’s 3rd Ward seems to have become a consistent source of principled City Council members having elected now County Commissioner Steve Melcher, Ms. Bredhold, and current Councilwoman Stephanie Brinkerhoff-Riley?…that the CCO thanks the 3rd Ward for electing people who can be counted on to do what is right to the Evansville City Council?

IS IT TRUE that the whole OPEN DOOR LAW issue is quite likely to raise its ugly head on the heels of the January 23rd alcohol fueled gathering of Democrat City Council members?…that it would take incredible naiveté, denial, or an outright lie for anyone to believe that a majority of the Democrat members of the City Council could meet weekly after council meetings for a 3+ year period and not talk about the people’s business?…that there may just be a real investigation in the making to expose whatever goes on at these gatherings?…that there will be lots of egg on lots of faces and maybe even some consequences when the fallout from the January 23rd Bacchanalian BoozeFest of the Democrats has completely been made public?