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IS IT TRUE May 31, 2012

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The Mole #??

IS IT TRUE May 31, 2012

IS IT TRUE Mayor Winnecke and GAGE proudly announced the expansion plans of a business that has had a place in the Evansville community for many years into a market that is local, that is well understood, and that has skilled workers available to carry out the tasks required for success?…that providing assistance to Whayne Supply or companies like Whayne Supply are an exercise in the fundamentals of economic development?…that this expansion will take 4 years and will add 50 jobs with an average wage of over $20 per hour?…that the bulk of the financial package offered by the City of Evansville are in tax abatements that cost no new money with some investments in the training of the local workforce?…that the bulk of the investment will be made by Whayne Supply as it should be and that the City County Observer supports Whayne Supply in their excellent business decision and congratulates the public officials who played their small role in greasing the skids to get this done?…that deals like this are prudent, practical, and will work for Evansville?

IS IT TRUE that Mayor Winnecke and GAGE should look at every deal as how it stacks up to this Whayne Supply deal including a legacy deal or two that Mayor Winnecke inherited as a result of the final hour antics and contracts of the Weinzapfel Administration?…that just because Mayor Weinzapfel never learned from his mistakes is no reason for Mayor Winnecke not to learn a lesson from the recent past regarding the abject failures of the City of Evansville and GAGE to VET the Earthcare Energy deal?…that Mayor Winnecke, the Evansville City Council, and GAGE have a golden opportunity that was left on their doorstep by Mayor Weinzapfel to prove that they really do have the ability and will to properly VET a project before writing checks or making loan advances as they did with Earthcare Energy?…the project that we speak of is the Johnson Controls project that was signed off on and announced in the last week of the Weinzapfel Administration?

IS IT TRUE that we must remind our readers that the Weinzapfel Administration is the group whose failures to VET treated the City of Evansville to the Homestead Tax Grab, the Barnett pay scandal, the Browning Hotel failure, the downtown Convention Hotel failure part 2, the McCurdy debacle, and a host of other projects that were characterized by the Weinzapfel Administration’s signature mode of operation READY, FIRE, AIM?…that the Winnecke Administration really did follow the Weinzapfel model with Earthcare but should take this one opportunity to prove their worthiness and VET the daylights out of the Johnson Controls deal before authorizing it to go forward?

IS IT TRUE that there is still not a ten year plan for the City of Evansville?…that going forward with a host of multi-million dollar public works projects without even attempting to understand the big picture is not only foolish, it is poor public policy?…that no projects should be started until a ten year plan is in place that prioritizes the needs of this community?…that two of the projects that are necessary to even profess to be a city that provides vital services are the Combined Sewer Overflow ($500 Million+) solution and the Cast Iron Water Pipe Replacements ($450 Million)?…that even the most mentally challenged among us should be able to prioritize basic services over temples to sport and projects like the Johnson Controls proposal that has very limited potential to make Evansville a better place to live?…that a great first VETTING step for the Winnecke Administration to take would be to define what Evansville NEEDS, define what Evansville WANTS, and prioritize these things based on our capacity to pay for these things?…that we call upon the Mayor to freeze capital expenditures until a great plan is in place and to start today with the resolve to VET, VET , VET, and think things through?…it is time to obliterate the failures of the past and move forward in a practical way that will work?

Boys & Girls Club 2012 Summer Program Kick-Off

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On Friday, June 1, 2012, approximately 150 children attending
the Springleaf Financial Services Boys & Girls Club of Evansville will team-up with
50 Springleaf Financial Services employees and Mayor Lloyd Winnecke to conduct
a neighborhood beautification project. The participants
will canvass the streets between Bayard Park and
Bellemeade Park in Evansville’s Center City beginning
at 11am on Friday. This project is endorsed by the
Clean Evansville Initiative.

“The Boys & Girls Club is grateful for the partnership with Springleaf Financial
Services, Mayor Winnecke and the Clean Evansville Initiative. This is a great
opportunity for our members to do something positive for the neighborhood and
interact with professionals in our community,” said Ron Ryan, Executive Director.

The Boys & Girls Club of Evansville 2012 Summer Program began on Tuesday,
May 29, 2012, and runs through August 14. The annual membership fee is only
$10 per child and includes all programs and services. The Club operates at two
facilities during the summer: the Springleaf Financial Services Boys & Girls Club
located at 700 Bellemeade Avenue, and the Fulton Square Unit located at 1328
Dresden. The combined average daily attendance for both sites is expected to be
over 300 throughout the summer.

-more-

Highlights for this summer’s program includes:
• Special swimming trips.
• SMART Moves, SMART Girls (sponsored by the Deaconess Women’s
Hospital) & SMART Kids – all prevention programs addressing alcohol,
tobacco and drug use; as well as specific challenges faced by different age
groups and for girls.
• Project Learn, sponsored by the Vectren Foundation – members participate
in fun, interactive educational activities to assist in retaining their learning
from the previous school year.
• Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari trip for members who get involved with
multiple programs, attend the Club regularly and demonstrate leadership.
• Fine Arts program, sponsored by 10over12 Creative – members will have
the unique opportunity to participate in painting classes, ceramics, and other
fine arts education activities.
• Technology classes.
• Attend Evansville Otters games.
• Weekly tournaments in the game rooms.

There is a brief membership application the parent/guardian must complete. For
more information, contact the Club at 812.425.2311.

About the Boys & Girls Club of Evansville:
On December 7, 1957, the Evansville Boys Club opened its doors. Since then, the
Club has remained in the forefront of youth development in our community. The
Club provides comprehensive educational and recreational programs and services
for all children, age 6-17. Over 95% of Club members receive free/reduced-fee
lunch. Over 92% of Club members belong to no other organization or club. The
annual membership fee is $10, which includes all programs, services and special
trips (e.g. Holiday World, Otters games, Skate World, etc.).

Reaching over 6,000 young people annually through four sites and outreach
programming in schools and other youth-serving agencies, the Boys & Girls Club
of Evansville provides hope & opportunity for the most at-risk youth in our
community.

Mission: To enable all youth, especially those who need us most, to reach their full
potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.

Vanderburgh County Felony Charges

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Below is a list of felony cases that were filed by the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office on Monday, May 29, 2012.

Brennon Bickwermert Theft – Class D Felony; Attempted Credit Card Fraud – Class D Felony

Receiving Stolen Property – Class D Felony

Resisting Law Enforcement – Class A Misdemeanor

Criminal Trespass – Class A Misdemeanor

Justin Clark Theft – Class D Felony (Two Counts)

John Graves Theft – Class D Felony (Habitual Offender Enhancement)

Krystal Harris Theft – Class D Felony

Matthew Houchin Operating a Vehicle with a BAC of .15 or More – Class A Misdemeanor

(Enhanced to a Class D Felony due to Prior Convictions)

Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated – Class C Misdemeanor

(Enhanced to a Class D Felony due to Prior Convictions)

Charles Schoenbaum Battery Resulting in Bodily Injury – Class A Misdemeanor

(Enhanced to a Class D Felony due to Prior Convictions)

Logan Sneller Battery by Means of a Deadly Weapon – Class C Felony

Criminal Confinement – Class D Felony; Intimidation – Class D Felony

Darius Staten Receiving Stolen Property – Class D Felony

Blake Whitson Auto Theft – Class D Felony

Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated – Class C Misdemeanor

(Enhanced to a Class D Felony due to Prior Convictions)

Failure to Stop After Accident Resulting in Damage to Unattended Vehicle – Class

B Misdemeanor

VHS Pet of the Week: “Boggle”

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Hello from Boggle, a 9-month-old Beagle. Boggle is a super sweet boy who can be a shy at first but once he gets to know you, you’ll have a friend for life. Boggle is still very much a puppy so his new family can expect him to have silly spurts of energy. Boggle will do best in a home with school age children. Having a K9 companion would be wonderful for Boggle as long as he gets a chance to meet them first. For more information on Boggle the Beagle, visit us on the web at www.vhslifesaver.org or call (812) 426-2563.

Paddle with your Pooch

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Here Comes the Sun – A Story of Love, Heat and Short Shorts at the Abbey Road Beatles Fest

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Here Comes the Sun – A Story of Love, Heat and Short Shorts at the Abbey Road Beatles Fest

By: Brad Linzy

When the illustrious Editor of the CCO contacted me to cover the Abbey Road on the River Beatles Festival in Louisville, I pounced at the opportunity. In spite of being born less than three years before John Lennon’s tragic murder in 1980, (DAMN YOU, CHAPMAN!), I consider myself an avid Beatles fan, albeit one who couldn’t care less who was really the Walrus, or about Paul’s lack of footwear, or whether he is, indeed, dead. Although the Queen can and does periodically bestow posthumous knighthoods, corpses, they have found, do very little in the event of an actual invasion, unless you’re talking about catapulting them over the castle walls to spread disease….but I digress.

I must admit, no amount of fanaticism could account for soldiering on in the Saturday daytime conditions with which I was presented. Having been several years since I’ve covered such an event in the Ohio Valley summer sun, I can surely be excused the faux pas of wearing long, blue jeans in 95 degree Kentucky heat. The local idiom “it’s hot, Don” doesn’t really cut it here. A more accurate expression might have been, “the Ohio River is nearing boiling point, Don!” or “is it me, or is the sun becoming a Supernova, Don?” Either way, Don wouldn’t have heard you because he would have been too busy talking to the hallucinations resulting from his heat stroke. Never before had “Here Comes the Sun” taken on such a hellish, sinister meaning.

My first order of business upon reaching a nice, sweltering shady spot was to take a sharp knife and cut those blue jeans down to size… Unfortunately, in my zealotry, I cut them a good four inches too short, and in conjunction with the calf high socks I had on underneath, the resulting fashion statement was…well, parade worthy, to say the least. It had something of an Officer Dangle a la Reno 911 element to it. I was one knotted t-shirt away from looking like a character from a Damon Wayans skit. “It’s ok,” I thought. “At least I still have my rainbow-colored press bracelet.”

Still, it amazes me the number of people who will turn out on such a day to an event. I’m sure even if the news said a comet was about to hit earth, you would still have some hillbillies (likely family members of mine) setting up a tailgate party to watch it. To Louisville’s credit, at least their riverfront has a smattering of green grass and a few trees to absorb some of the blazing rays, a lesson Evansville would do well to replicate on its own riverfront, which is for all intents and purposes just a giant slab of heat-trapping concrete.

Also to the credit of organizers, the Festival was split up into multiple stages, most of which had at least some shaded areas close by, and there seemed to be just the right amount of venders with reasonably priced bottled water. A quick count on my part revealed no less than three large stages, a small acoustic lawn pavilion, a poolside pavilion, and another indoors pavilion inside the Galt House Hotel. Direct access to the Galt House pool was a particularly nice touch on this day. But as nice as a dip in those beckoning waters sounded to me at the time, and in spite of being now properly attired in my Dangle shorts, I had also brought with me my 24-pack abs, which is really not something that all those innocent women and children needed to see, so it was back to watching the bands.

Never in my life have I seen so many Rickenbackers, Hofners, and Gretsch guitars in one place. And how does one go about finding a Paul McCartney lookalike, who also happens to play bass guitar, and also happens to SOUND like Paul McCartney, AND is left-handed to boot? In what weird science periodical was that advertisement placed? And what cloning service filled the order?

The bands were of varying abilities and ages, but they all were enjoyable. I did hear an inordinate number of “Paperback Writer” and “Come Together” reprisals, while I was clearly screaming out demands of “Happiness is a Warm Gun” and “I Want You (She’s So Heavy),” but other than that I spent most of my time musing about which era of Beatles outfit would be the coolest in this heat. You definitely don’t want to be the early Ed Sullivan era Beatles with the black suits. That’s just suicide. And you really don’t want to be the early 70s Beatles with the white suits either. While white is cooler than black, at that time they also had massive, woodsman-type beards which would definitely itch and retain heat on the face. I settled on the beardless Beatles in India with the white togas and flower wreaths around their necks. Strangely, I didn’t see any Beatle lookalikes from that era. Most were jamming in black suits with pant legs intact…ouch.

Thankfully, around 7:00pm the sun sank behind a building and instantly the heat receded by at least10-15 degrees. A collective sigh of relief went up from the crowd, and it was just in time for the pièce de résistance, a live 90-minute reproduction of the George Martin produced “Love” album, performed by no less than four different bands, including a horn section, a string section, and jumbotron projections of psychedelic imagery in the background. If The Beatles had all lived til today and decided to do a reunion/farewell tour, I imagine this is very much what it might have looked and sounded like…and it was amazing! What a testament to the lasting power of The Beatles’ music that in a venue of these many thousands of people, ranging in age from 0-100, scarcely a soul could resist tapping a foot, bobbing a head, dancing, and singing along.

In this time of political and economic uncertainty, I probably saw more genuine smiles in that one place than I’ve seen in quite a while, and the reason is simple – these four blokes from Liverpool, England wrote some of the greatest music of all time, and festivals like this are as close as most of us are ever going to get to seeing them perform live. Unless you own a Delorean with a flux capacitor, the time for seeing The Beatles perform their music is gone. But anywhere good musicians can get together, The Beatles’ music can still be made and enjoyed. They won’t be suppressed by bad economies or hellish weather. Their music can be recreated by a couple kids with guitars or a hundred piece orchestra. It sets as well in a bar or backing up Cirque du Soleil. It is music for all people from all walks of life, and I suspect as long as Louisville chooses to put this event on, people will come, because every year brings a new crop of young people waiting to become Beatles fans.

Heading to my car on the way back from the event I saw an elderly couple kissing one another the way they probably hadn’t kissed in ages. A little further I saw people exiting the KFC Yum Center having just infected their minds willingly with Nickelback. And inside my car, I threw on a Beatles CD and listened, rather ironically, to “I’ll Follow the Sun”.

IS IT TRUE May 30, 2012

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The Mole #??

IS IT TRUE May 30, 2012

IS IT TRUE the Office of Mayor Winnecke and GAGE have advised news outlets that they are holding a press conference on Lynch Road today for the purpose of making a “major” economic development announcement?…we are sure that such an announcement will be certain to claim that politicians and their surrogates have “created” some number of jobs?…today’s meeting will be festive with pats on the back for all and that once the party is over the celebration will be over and there will be little fanfare over whatever comes next?…Vantiv advised authorities yesterday that they will be eliminated an additional 24 jobs in Evansville raising the layoff numbers in recent history to nearly 100 with the total workforce reduction now at 128?…this round of layoffs will reduce the employment at this former high flyer to about 75?…that Vantiv was called CMC and was bought by 5th 3rd Bank in 2006, then flipped to a Boston based private equity firm in 2009, and was taken public in 2011?…that we are betting the there will be no politicians smiling for the cameras in the downtown Evansville office of Vantiv tomorrow?

IS IT TRUE that a local publication known as “Our Times” and published by Sondra Matthews has checked in on the Earthcare Energy situation?…the words chosen by Ms. Matthews are self explanatory and were published exactly as follows?

“Earthcare Energy Co., overnight doomed by 3rd Ward Stephanie Brinkerhoff Riley, talking about conducting a 100 hours of research on the African American executives of the company, which was primed to bring in over 100 new jobs to Evansville. When has she done so much for so little? Yeah, if she knows anything about business start-ups, it’s about the success story of how many times one went bankrupt, was unable to pay taxes, and how sloppy record keeping was in the early days. Why didn’t she take the information she believed was accurate and help find solutions like GAGE Debbie Dewey did for SealCorp. and Earthcare? Oh, we know, “We’re in Indiana now!” Sondra Matthews

IS IT TRUE the Our Times article gets its message across very clear and that message is that the reason that private vetting efforts were made by Councilwoman Riley had more to do with race and that is how things are in Indiana?…it may serve Ms. Matthews well to go back and read what Councilwoman Riley actually wrote and about whom she wrote it?…that it would also serve Ms. Matthews well to review the presentations made by the Earthcare Energy executives at the March 26, 2012 City Council meeting?…that what Ms. Matthews will learn if she reads and watches this with an open mind is that the Earthcare Energy executive that was the subject of most of Councilwoman Riley’s findings was Mr. Stephen Geldmacher who is not African American?…that the private vetting efforts did uncover one important piece of public information about Earthcare Energy executive Mr. Erwin Washington who was not at the meeting?…that only one African American executive of Earthcare Energy spoke before the City Council that night and that was Mr. Ken Haney who spoke mostly about his perception of the opportunity that Earthcare Energy had before them?…all businesses that are seeking financial taxpayer support should be vetted well and completely without regard to their race?…that it is the quality of the opportunity, the competence of the business plan, and the relevant experience of the management team that should determine such things?

IS IT TRUE that the other print media outlet in Evansville, the Courier Press openly praises Councilwoman Riley for her private vetting efforts and gives her credit for “saving the city millions by doing her homework and discovering that the city’s deal with Earthcare Energy was lacking”?…the deal with Earthcare Energy is now in the hands of attorneys and that if the homework would have been done in the first place as opposed to calling a press conference the City of Evansville would not be legally exposed as it now is?…that Ms. Matthews should start doing the kind of homework that Councilwoman Riley did as she works hard to grow the readership and respect for “Our Times”?

HVAC Repair Prompts Delayed Opening Wednesday

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Evansville, IN – Central Library and its book drops will open at noon on Wednesday, May 30th. The delayed opening is necessary due to the installation of a replacement compressor for the air conditioning system. All other EVPL locations will operate during their normal business hours.

Clean Evansville Targets City’s Southeast Side

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EVANSVILLE, IN – Six teams of volunteers will spread out across the city’s Southeast Side on Saturday,
June 2, from 8 to 10 a.m. picking up trash as part of Mayor Lloyd Winnecke’s Clean Evansville initiative.
The June clean-up will target areas in Ward Two, which is represented by City Councilwoman Missy
Mosby. A team of volunteers also will clean up in the Evansville Arts District near Washington Avenue
and S.E. Second Street in preparation for the Sculpt EVV outdoor public sculpture show slated to begin
on June 9, 2012.

More than 150 people have volunteered for the June clean-up, according to Jennifer Mason, who
coordinates the Clean Evansville volunteers on behalf of Keep Evansville Beautiful. The majority of
volunteers will be picking up trash along Washington Avenue, from U.S. Highway 41 east to Green River
Road; along Covert Avenue, from U.S. Highway 41 east to Vann Avenue; and along Weinbach Avenue,
from Washington Avenue south to Pollack Avenue. The main trash drop-off point will be on the Bosse
High School parking lot near the corner of Washington Avenue and U.S. Highway 41.

Team 1 will be led by Mayor Winnecke, Team 2 by Timothy Weir of Accuride, Team 3 by Councilwoman
Mosby, Team 4 by First Lady Carol McClintock, Team 5 by Patricia Jackson of Vectren, and Team 6 by
Skyler York from the City’s Department of Metropolitan Development.

Since Clean Evansville’s launch in January, more than 800 volunteers have been involved in the monthly
clean-up. They have removed approximately 10,700 pounds of trash, ranging from broken bottles
and cigarette butts to discarded furniture. Allied Waste, a major supporter of the clean initiative, has
provided volunteers to collect and transport trash to the landfill. Rural King has donated $100 per

month for supplies, such as trash bags and gloves.

Keep Evansville Beautiful is recruiting volunteers for the July and August clean-up efforts. In July,
volunteers will target the Glenwood Neighborhood Association area. The August clean-up will focus on
the area around Wesselman Park.

Groups and individuals interested in joining Clean Evansville should contact Keep Evansville Beautiful at
425-4461.

SMG Announces New “Movies on Main Street”!

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Evansville, IN— Join us this summer downtown at the Victory Theatre for the new “Movies on
Main Street “! The same great free family-friendly films and food specials you enjoyed at Mesker
Amphitheatre in the air conditioned comfort of the beautiful Victory Theatre. We are all set for opening
night on June 15-16, 2012 with “Big Miracle” on Friday night and “Dr. Suess: The Lorax” on Saturday.
Doors will open at 6:30pm with the show starting at 7:30pm.

Each night will have a newly released family film and full concessions available with food specials
including hot off the grill $1 hot dogs and hamburgers. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and the movie will
begin at 7:30 p.m.

To join the fun, pick up a FREE Admission Pass at the following sponsor locations: Wesselman’s
Groceries, News4U Magazine, The Centre, WABX, Hot 96, WIKY, 93.5 The Wolf, JackFM, WEVV-CBS44,
FOX44, Bunny Bread, Garrett Printing and Graphics and Pepsi Cola Offices.

We look forward to seeing you this summer and once again, this event is family friendly, FREE and fun
for all ages! For more information, call 812-435-5770.

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