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?