IS IT TRUE that neither rain can nor elections slow down the size and content of the daily Evansville Police Department activity reports that the City County Observer posts each day?…that even on a day like yesterday when mother nature sent us all a clear message to stay inside our fair city racked up 13 pages of crimes?…that it was for the most part the usual crimes of theft and drugs in the all too familiar locations in the 3rd and 4th Wards in which the bulk of our police efforts are being spent?…that we are beginning to wonder if there is something in the water that makes so many people in Evansville think it is just fine to steal?

IS IT TRUE that speaking of stealing that the picture of Brent Grafton that was mailed out to people in the 5th Ward yesterday under the authority and paid for by the Vanderburgh County Democrat Party is not the property of the Vanderburgh County Democratic Party and that the Party did not receive permission to use the picture in the mailer from the person who took the picture? ?…that this picture was taken by none other than Mr. Joe Wallace in the Civic Center at the press conference called by Mr. Grafton to announce his candidacy for Evansville City Council?…that Mr. Grafton paid the City County Observer for the right to use the picture and that Mr. Joe Wallace was paid a fair sum of money for the use of that image?…that the unauthorized use of intellectual property is indeed considered to be theft?…that maybe our police are so busy with stealing because in some circles living outside the bounds of law is a way of life?…that people learn from their leaders?

IS IT TRUE that many of you will be puzzled to see an ad in the CCO for Vectren’s rebate program to promote energy efficiency?…that we have been pretty rough on Vectren for having the highest electricity rates in Indiana and triple what the rates are across the money saving bridge?…that this program is one that anyone who wishes can get a rebate for doing something that will save them money?…that before someone screams an obscenity we would like to advise you that we do have some ads available for public service announcements at no charge and that THE CCO PROVIDED THIS SPACE TO VECTREN FOR FREE?

IS IT TRUE that the other part of the Campaign Finance Report filed by the Vanderburgh County Democrat Party on 10/21 and AMENDED yesterday to reflect the debts that they knew they had that sticks out like a sore thumb has to do with a number of recurring checks classified as “Salary” that were written to Justin A. Jarvis?…that unlike the report filed by the Winnecke campaign which has multiple entries for expenses classified as “payroll taxes” with checks made out on a regular basis to the Indiana Department of Revenue and the IRS, the Vanderburgh County Democrat Party had no such expenses in their report?…that having some experience with such things and knowing what legally constitutes an “employee” vs. a “contractor” that the “employee” classification for the staff of Winnecke for Mayor campaign seems to be correct and the campaign has clearly reported the expenses of “payroll taxes” in the appropriate manner?…that while it is possible that Mr. Jarvis truly fits the IRS description of “contractor” that we find it strange that the checks would be classified as “Salary”.

IS IT TRUE that this writer is clearly a consultant in that I am not expected to keep any hours at any location period?…that my fees are determined by an open negotiation with each and every job and that sitting on my rear for 8 hours in any designated location will result in exactly no earnings?…that I have on my left a check that was handed to me yesterday that is based on a performance contract that states on the memo line “Fall 2011 Consulting”?…that I have never ever had a situation as a consultant where any check came with the word “Salary” on it?…that it may be worth reviewing if the Vanderburgh County Democrat Party has the correct classification for Mr. Jarvis with respect to his employment status?…that as a consultant that there are reporting and filing requirements that are very different than what is applied when an employer-employee relationship is the proper IRS determination of status?

IS IT TRUE that there has been plenty of scurrying around and finger pointing coming from the ranks of the Vanderburgh County Democrat Party people about who is to blame for the filing of the false campaign finance report and the accumulation of debt?…that the accumulation of debt is not really an issue outside of those who are due to be paid and the Party?…that the person responsible for the accuracy of the Campaign Finance Report is the Party Treasurer whose signature is on both the false and the amended returns?…that this signature is at-large candidate for Evansville City Council, Mr. Conor O’Daniel?…that we will grant the possibility that Mr. O’Daniel like many others this election cycle got “snookered” or “bamboozled” by some other insider and was just handed the forms to sign?…that we would welcome a statement by Mr. O’Daniel regarding the whole set of conditions that led to his signature being affixed to a false official document?

IS IT TRUE that the picture of Brent Grafton that was mailed out to people yesterday is not the property of the Vanderburgh County Democratic Party and that the Party did not receive permission to use the picture in the mailer from the person who took the picture?…that this picture was taken by none other than Mr. Joe Wallace in the Civic Center at the press conference called by Mr. Grafton to announce his candidacy for Evansville City Council?…that Mr. Grafton paid the City County Observer for the right to use the picture and that Mr. Joe Wallace was paid a fair sum of money for the use of that image?…that Mr. Grafton has permission to use this image only on the banner ad that he paid to place in the City County Observer?…that the price to use an image owned by someone is different for sending a mass mailer than it is for a simple banner ad?…that the theft of intellectual property through screen scraping is a serious matter?…that Mr. Wallace will be submitting an invoice to the Vanderburgh County Democratic Party tomorrow morning and that no terms will be offered?…that means due upon receipt and that Mr. Wallace expects his fee of $3,500 for the mass distribution that the Vanderburgh County Democrat Party made without permission to do so?

IS IT TRUE that the negative campaign materials just seem to keep coming out?…that there is one that was sent that was paid for by the Indiana Republican State Committee and Authorized by Winnecke for Mayor that literally makes Rick Davis look like pictures of the devil that young children are scared with?…that is part of the game of politics and Mr. Davis has certainly taken the attack mode with his State Democrat paid for ads?…that it is one thing to distribute attack ads but it is very different to openly state that you won’t do this and then to do it anyway?…that Mr. John Friend has been saying that he would never do attack ads and then the Vanderburgh County Democrat Party took it upon themselves to send out an attack ad on his behalf?…that Mr. Friend has been quoted as saying he never saw the ad, never approved it, and that he has had nothing but heartburn from the Democrat Central Committee this year?…that Mr. Friend has also been getting grief over CHICKENGATE?…that is because he was listed as the Party Finance Chair on the Party website?…that Mr. Friend was getting blamed for not paying for the Chicken at Bauerhaus, or the rental of the Centre, and for filing a false campaign finance report?…that his picture was removed from the website this afternoon as he says he advised the Party a year ago that he could not do this job?

IS IT TRUE that Occupy Oakland crossed the line from protest to anarchy and disruption of commerce yesterday?…that closing the Port of Oakland by the use of intimidation tactics is not acceptable and that we encourage the State of California to do whatever has to be done to open the Port as many jobs and much trade is dependent on the goods that flow into and out of the Port of Oakland?…that as long as this movement has stayed peaceful that the CCO has been tolerant and even supportive of their grievances?…that keeping a business from carrying out their business is not worthy of praise or support?…that there are plenty of things to protest about that do not involve costing many people a day’s pay to indulge an unruly group?

IS IT TRUE that the word going out from the Ford Center is that the Evansville Icemen’s hockey game will be sold out on Saturday?…that the word SOLD might be a stretch because this guy has been offered free passes twice in the last 24 hours?…that if we are to pack the house then great, but let’s not refer to large number of giveaway tickets as SOLD when they are not?