Stan LevcoStan Levco, a frequent competitor in local running races knows the value of perseverance and planning. His health and his resolve to make the best decisions possible in every competitive situation that his life presents him with has been formed and validated in his out of uniform pastime of distance running. Endurance athletic training is perhaps the best training for a professional career that requires planning, discipline, allocation of resources, and the conviction to finish.
Stan took on the challenge of learning the art of constructive language at the University of Massachusetts and later as a student of law at Indiana University. After his graduation from Indiana University and admission to the Indiana Bar in 1972, Mr. Levco began his legal career as Chief Deputy Prosecutor in Posey County. After serving as a Judge for four years Stan accepted a position in the Vanderburgh County Prosecutors office that he eventually rose to lead in 1991 as the elected Prosecutor. He has presided over this office for the past 20 years through five City Administrations.
Through prosperity and recession Stan Levco has been the man in charge of the full resources of the office of the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor. As Prosecutor, Mr. Levco has tried approximately 200 cases before a jury of Hoosier citizens. These trials have virtually all been felonies, including over 20 murder trials. He has also served as Special Prosecutor in Posey, Gibson, Warrick, Clark, Sullivan, Knox, Daviess, Lawrence, Pike, Vigo, and Monroe County.
Perhaps the most important qualities in a Prosecutor are the qualities of prudence and optimal allocation of the precious legal resources that are available to deploy to trials that provide the most protection possible to the citizens of Vanderburgh County. These management qualities are only learned from experience. A Prosecutor’s most important decisions are those decisions that allocate the prosecutorial resources made available to protect the public to highest extent possible.
Maturity and sound management judgments are necessary to make the decisions required to protect both the adults and the children of Vanderburgh County from violent and habitual criminals. Sometimes the most prudent decision that a prosecutor can make is to accept a plea bargain and other times it is in the public’s best interest to pursue a jury trial. It is up to the elected Prosecutor to make these decisions.
Stan is also a multitalented individual with talents that have been exposed as both a columnist for the Evansville Courier and as a professional musician.
Stan Levco is a man of maturity and experience fully willing and capable to lead the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s office through the legal challenges that come with an economic recession. He is an avowed protector of the people of Evansville and Vanderburgh County and is enthusiastically poised to continue his excellent record of a man of convictions both on and off of the job.
Paid for by Levco for Prosecutor Committee, Dan Tuley, Treasurer
Roberts Stadium Baseball FieldsWhat does it take to Attract 100,000 Visitors?
What do Ball Fields Cost in the Real World?
SECOND ARTICLE IN A SERIES OF TWO
By: Joe J. Wallace, Hadannah Business Solutions
Special to the City County Observer and Assisted by CCO Staff
I like many others who have been following the saga of the Robert’s Stadium Ball Fields Project now known as “The Parkâ€, left last week’s meeting with many questions regarding the financial projections that were presented. In particular, my curiosity lies around the assumptions of just where the figure of 100,000 out of town visitors came from and just how many tournaments are needed to attract a crowd like that and how much do they spend when they are here. The other research that I have been conducting is with respect to the basic cost to build baseball fields and sports complexes. Please enjoy my findings; they do shine some light on the potential of The Park.
Testing the Attendance Numbers:
Two people questioned the assumption that we can draw 100,000 people at the meeting the other night. Mr. Dunn stated that Owensboro draws about 40,000 people per year. He did not state why we can get 100,000 as opposed to 40,000 over there. That is roughly the population ratio so maybe it was scaled from population. Maybe that is the source of the figure.
The Park is proposed to have 8 ball fields. Owensboro has 13 fields in 3 separate sports parks. They held 25 tournaments this year starting in March and running into November. That 40,000/25 really supports the 1,500 people per tournament number that was thrown out on Wednesday. That number of 1,500 people per tournament is consistent with results that I have found online for Myrtle Beach, SC, Bloomington, IN, Cass County, IN, and Beaumont, Texas.
Here is a link to the page that shows what facilities Owensboro has. They claim to have been named one of the 50 top sports towns in the country.
The answer is 66 tournaments per year. Can that be done with 8 ball fields? It seems like a stretch given that Owensboro has 13 fields and attracts 25 tournaments and Cass County has 6 fields and attracts 18 tournaments. To achieve 66 tournaments would mean two tournaments per weekend for every available date during the playing season.
If the weather was cooperative, and 100% of the available dates were booked The Park will have the capacity to draw 100,000 people but we all know that some weekends rain, some dates just won’t work and that all tournaments are not filled to capacity with teams. I expect having studied Owensboro and the other locations that we can expect 40,000 just like they draw over there when the fields have been marketed and are recognized as a good place to play. That will take a few years.
Scaling with population really does not make sense. Let’s take Robert’s Stadium as an example. It has 12,000 seats. If you place it in Tokyo or Henderson it still only has 12,000 seats. The Park’s capacity is limited by the fact that it has 8 fields and only 35 or so potential weekends per year, not by the fact that Evansville has twice as many people as Owensboro.
How Much Will Our Visitors Spend?
This is one metric where Mr. Dunn and the ECVB have done their homework. The number of $100 per visitor is frequently mentioned in both projections and in results data. It also passes the common sense test when one constructs a weekend baseball budget. The more interesting statistic is in the difference in spending for week long national tournaments and in weekend regional tournaments. The metric most often used in relevant publications is the $ per team per day spent. Regional tournaments report economic impact of spending of about $1,500 per team day vs. $4,000 per team day for national tournaments. Evansville would be well served to seek out tournaments like the 7 day, 100 team tournament in Beaumont, TX that brought in spending of $2,380,000. A single tournament like that would put $57,000 into the coffers of the ECVB and would generate sales taxes of $166,600.
I did notice that many of the week long tournaments seem to be held in locations that are “vacation destinationsâ€. That would account for the difference in spending. If there is a trip to Disneyworld, the beach, or other recreational activities a vacation Mecca offers at the end of the game, per diem spending numbers will be driven higher. Evansville will be challenged to beat out an Orlando or a Myrtle Beach for tournaments that are essentially vacations for the family with a softball tournament penciled into the schedule.
Youth Sports is Hard Work: Is Evansville Ready?
Tournaments like these are expensive and labor intensive to run needing umpires for every game, groundskeepers, concession stand workers, onsite emergency medical personnel, and a host of other support people. The business of youth sports is not easy and it can’t be done with all volunteers. Any business that is projected to bring in multiple millions of revenue on an annual basis will require year round management. The good news is that if this goes forward on any scale or location, the ECVB will be creating some jobs locally to support the out of town guests coming to play ball.
When the groundskeeper from USI spoke at the meeting and discussed how he had a crew of 6 working 18 hour days just to keep the grounds in order during the recent NCAA Regional, there were lots of “deer in the headlights†looks among the people in the room. Running this operation at even half capacity will be a major undertaking and will require additional dedicated staff at the ECVB. That needs to be recognized and included in all future budgets. The Park will not run itself.
Is $18 Million a Price Worth Paying?
As members of the Evansville Parks and Recreation Department and many other have stated “$18 million is a lot of money for 8 ball fieldsâ€. I went about the business of trying to learn just what ball fields are going for these days and searched first for a recognized developer of sports facilities. I registered on the website of HK Sports Fields where I was able to find a budget for a basic baseball field. Notice the price is only $250,000 per field. They have links to complexes on the website including a 3-Plex with nice amenities that had a budget of $1.5M, a 24-field multisport facility in Mauston, WI that costs $20 Million, and a 24-Plex in Chula Vista, CA that was $40 Million.
I have not found even one case where ball fields in similar complexes to The Park have exceeded $2 Million per ball field. Parks done in a first class manner are routinely substantially under $1M per ball field in the Midwest. Even the complex in the very expensive area Chula Vista, CA was under $2 Million per field.
The bottom line here is that The Park can be first class, it can attract tournaments and the out of town visitors that come with them, and it can be done for substantially less than $18 Million either at the Robert’s Stadium site or elsewhere. Evansville does not have to max out its credit card to do this. A little bit of innovation like integrating Robert’s Stadium into The Park and a commitment not to squander all of our future opportunities is all that it will take enter the youth sports business and to have some credit limit left over for future worthy projects to better Evansville for all of its citizens. This is a baseball town, as a group we like the game. It is also a town that is frugal for many reasons. Evansville may be frugal by nature, but decades of below average economic performance, the great recession, and the escalating departure of basic industries have created a microcosm of survival. People in survival economies are quite reluctant to invest $18M in recreational facilities for outsiders. Evansville will support youth sports but the financial reality is that Evansville is not Chula Vista, CA and has no appetite for $2 Million baseball fields. If there is ever a time to hold something back for the future that time is now. Fortunately, it seems as though we can do both if we just have the restraint to think this through.
HK Sports Fields EXAMPLE BUDGET 350 ft Center Field Baseball Field
A. Layout Work _$1,000
B. Mass Site Grading, if required $10,000-12,000
a. Strip Topsoil
b. Relocate/Add Fill
c. Re-spread/Machine Grade Topsoil
C. Fence Construction $40,000
a. Bull Pen Areas
b. Gates
D. Irrigation – Entire Field………$25,000-30,000
E. Infield Construction………$40,000-45,000
a. Import/Grade Topsoil for Proper Slope
b. Sod Infield Interior and Foul Area Dugout to Dugout
c. Baseball Mix and Top Dressing Material to all Skinned Areas
d. Construct Mound and Home Plate
e. Base Anchors and Bases
f. Warning Track and Walk-up Lanes
F. Outfield Construction………..$40,000-50,000
a. Import/Grade Topsoil for Proper Slope
b. Sod Outfield Area
c. Construct Outfield Warning Track
G. Dugouts – Concrete Block……… $30,000-40,000
H. Supply and Install Scoreboard………$10,000-12,000
I. Supply and Install Bleachers………$12,000-15,000
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE COTACT: Katy Nimnicht
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Office of Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel
(812) 436-4962
knimnicht@evansvillegov.org
Ben Miller, C.B.O.
Building Commissioner
(812) 436-7868
bmiller@evansvillegov.org
(EVANSVILLE, IN) – October 21, 2010 – Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel, in partnership with City-County Building Commissioner Ben Miller, Department of Metropolitan Development (DMD) Executive Director Tom Barnett, and area landlords and property owners and managers, today announced a proposal for the creation of a voluntary rental dwelling registry.
The proposed voluntary rental registry, the first of its kind in Indiana, is intended to enhance
compliance with and consistent enforcement of the City’s Property Maintenance Code (PMC)
and improve communication between City officials and rental property operators, resulting in
quicker resolution of PMC violations and ultimately improving the quality of rental housing
stock in the City of Evansville.
City officials have been working closely with the Property Owners and Managers Association of
Evansville (POMA), Southwest Indiana Builders Association (SIBA) and other industry
representatives over the past several months to develop this proposal that will benefit all parties:
The City, property owners/managers, tenants, and City taxpayers. “Though it represents a dramatic shift in the way rental dwellings are inspected and maintained, this is a very common-sense proposal. Among other things, City officials will be able to spend more time in the field and less time doing paperwork; operators of compliant properties will be able to perform maintenance on their properties more quickly and often for less money; and operators of non-compliant properties will pay for the cost of enforcement of violations on their properties,†said Mayor Weinzapfel.
An operator (which could be a property owner, manager, court-appointed receiver, etc.) that is incompliance with the PMC can voluntarily register their rental property with the Building
Commission or DMD. The operator will pay a $25.00 per dwelling unit registry fee and submit
the name and contact information for the owner and/or local registered agent annually.
Having the direct contact information of the property owner/manager is something both City
officials and operators have long desired. The ability to address an issue directly with an
operator via email or by phone rather than by sending notices through the mail to “ABC, LLCâ€
will lead to much quicker resolution of PMC violations. Operators on the voluntary registry will also have the option of performing an annual self inspection of property and submitting an affidavit of compliance with the PMC, or paying a $50.00 per unit annual inspection fee. At this time, annual inspections would be performed by DMD inspectors. Operators will be subject to a $50.00 per unit re-inspection fee. As an additional incentive, operators on the voluntary registry will be granted an annual “limited†maintenance license allowing them to self-perform maintenance work requiring a building permit (rather than having to hire a licensed contractor to perform the work), and an annual building permit allowing maintenance work requiring a building permit up to $3,000 per unit per year.
Operators that do not register their rental property must still meet all the requirements of the
current PMC. They will, however, have to continue to hire licensed contractors to perform
maintenance work requiring a building permit and obtain all required building permits and
inspections.
An operator, whether on the voluntary registry or not, that fails to meet the minimum
requirements set forth in the PMC and fails to make efforts to correct cited PMC violations will
be required to register with the Building Commission or DMD and pay an annual fee of $100.00
per dwelling unit. Operators will be subject to a $50.00 per unit re-inspection fee. As with the
voluntary registry, operators on the required registry will submit the name and contact
information for the owner and/or local registered agent for the property. The City will perform
an annual inspection; self-inspection will not be an option. The operator will also be responsible
for administrative costs of enforcement actions. Before the proposed rental registry can be enacted, it must be presented to the Evansville City Council for approval as an amendment to the City’s Property Maintenance Code.
Gail RieckenGail Riecken is a hometown girl with a career of servant leadership possessing an ingrained need to work with people and for people for the betterment of the community and region that she comes home to everyday.
As a young girl growing up in a household that encouraged volunteerism and public service, Gail Riecken, earned pocket money by babysitting and working as a camp counselor. Her German roots made their way to America like many through the gates of Ellis Island. The strength of Gail’s grandmother was tested early in her American life by having all of her possessions stolen shortly after immigrating and by losing her husband to a mining accident. That strength seems to have manifested itself in Gail who has risen from being a schoolgirl at Evansville’s Bosse High School to become a successful entrepreneur and eventually to the office of Indiana State Representative for District 77.
While other elected officials are hiding from their records Mrs. Riecken is standing proudly on hers. As a professional woman from a family that has seized opportunities, Gail believes that one of government’s highest duties is to assure that everyone has an opportunity to achieve whatever they aspire to. One of her mantras is “it is better to teach people to fish than it is to give them a fishâ€. She also recognizes that the current economy has created situations where many people are at risk through no fault of their own. This recognition led her to embrace the opportunity to effect legislation to help people to save their homes from foreclosure and to enhance neighborhoods by mitigating abandoned property issues. Another saying of Gail’s is that “when neighborhoods succeed, communities succeedâ€.
Gail’s community involvement resume is quite comprehensive and includes direct involvement with children’s welfare programs, women’s groups, the arts, family support initiatives, and environmental concerns. This community devotion is reflected in Gail’s legislative actions to reform the administration of Medicaid to increase transparency and accountability while preserving benefits, by advocating for new law for women owned and minority owned businesses (MBE & WBE) and by authoring a bill to add certain rights of child and “endangered adultsâ€.
Finally, Gail has taken a courageous and politically unprecedented stand in challenging the Vectren Corporation’s recent request for a rate increase during a recession. Riecken is emphatic in her assertion that “Vectren’s direction is absolutely not in the best interest of Vectren’s customersâ€. Evansville recently lost Legacy Plastics to Henderson due in large part to the 100% difference in electrical service rates. Gail’s recognition that both the people of Southwest Indiana and the economic development efforts spent for the betterment of the business community are blunted by the fact that Vectren’s rates are the highest in the State of Indiana and among the highest in the country. As your State Representative, Gail Riecken will continue to strive to create a balance between life and business to enable both to prosper in this place that she has proudly chosen to call home for her entire adult life.
IS IT TRUE that on November 17, 2009 that there was a regularly scheduled meeting of the Vanderburgh County Commissioners? ….that all three County Commissioners were recorded as in attendance at that meeting that was presided over by President Troy Tornatta? ….that Vanderburgh County Treasurer Rick Davis made an extensive power point presentation at that meeting that covered the subject of the homestead tax exemption? …. that the following paragraph is unedited and taken directly from the transcript of the meeting of the Vanderburgh County Commissioners?
“Basically the state wants to weed out people who may own several homes in one county, or several homes throughout the state and they’re getting a homestead exemption on all of these homes. Those forms will be filled out by the taxpayer and mailed back, and the Auditor will verify that they only have one homestead mortgage.â€
IS IT TRUE that President Troy Tornatta of the Vanderburgh County Commissioners knew that his wife Ann Tornatta still owned the home that she had before their marriage? ….that President Tornatta knew that she was treating that home as a rental as opposed to a residence? ….that President Tornatta was aware that the homestead tax exemption could only be applied once per married couple?…..that President Tornatta presided over a meeting of the Vanderburgh County Commissioners where the Treasurer of Vanderburgh County clearly articulated the intention of the State of Indiana to “weed out†people who were taking the homestead tax exemption on multiple properties?
IS IT TRUE that Ann Tornatta (Mrs. Troy Tornatta) truly seemed to have been surprised by the allegation of receiving improper benefits from two homestead tax credits? ….that the system of advising the taxing authorities of a marriage that eliminates ones homestead tax credit is not as clear as it could be?….that there are probably many more newlyweds who had separate homes that have inadvertently found themselves in a similar situation?…..that Mrs. Tornatta showed remarkable courage by showing up at today’s press conference to confront this allegation face to face?
IS IT TRUE that all tax bills that went out in Vanderburgh County in 2010 had a pink page explaining the inappropriateness of receiving a homestead tax credit on multiple properties?….that Troy Tornatta as a member of the County Commissioners had every opportunity to have been aware of the situation regarding multiple homestead tax credit?…..that as a sitting County Commissioner Mr. Tornatta should have known about this?…..that the City County Observer wonders why he did not know????
IS IT TRUE that the Front Door Pride program to date has constructed 8 homes in the Goosetown area?…. that after more than a year only three (3) of those homes have identified a buyer and that only two of those have closed the deal? ….that the average cost to produce each house is just under $200,000 before realty fees? …that the average home is 1,670 square feet and costs the City of Evansville $115.79 per square foot to build?….that the most recently reported sale price of a Front Door Pride home is $130,000 (77.84 per square foot)? ….that there are seven (7) more houses that are on the schedule to be built?….that at the rate the first eight (8) houses are selling that it will take 5 years to sell all of these houses?…..that by the time all of these houses are sold the City of Evansville will have lost a total of over $1,000,000 for this social experiment?
IS IT TRUE that the median list price of a home in Evansville, Indiana right now is $112,900? ….that in the neighborhoods where Front Door Pride homes are being built, there are 36 homes listed with an average list price of $65,797?….that the average listing price is propped up by the Front Door Pride homes that are currently listed? ….that any private business that planned to build $200,000 houses in an area where the average value is $65,797 would be considered impractical and headed for bankruptcy?…..that the presence of $200,000 homes in a neighborhood like Goosetown are out of place?…..that vacant lots and abandoned homes are the next door neighbors of the Front Door Pride homes?….that the most effective programs like this fix the neighborhoods first and then build houses that can be sold for what they cost to build?…..that Habitat for Humanity does a great job of building appropriate homes that promote urban home ownership?
Thursday October 21, 2010
IS IT TRUE that the City County Observer has readers in 6 countries, 33 states, and 22 Indiana cities?….that the CCO has significant numbers of readers in New York City and Houston, Texas?…..that Houston and New York rank right after Evansville in our Google Analytics visitors profile?…..that next in line is Grantham, UK where the University of Evansville has a campus?…..that the City County Observer is now attracting independent thinkers and voters of every age demographic?
IS IT TRUE that there will be a press conference called by Wayne Parke on the Evansville Civic Center steps at 10:30 this morning? ….that the subject of this press conference will be alleged improper property tax activities involving incumbent County Commissioner Troy Tornatta?
IS IT TRUE that Mildred Motley, Executive Director of the Evansville Housing Authority did not have her contract renewed by the board of directors of the EHA?….that Ms. Motley since being attracted to Evansville in 2004 by the Evansville Housing Authority has done an exemplary job of re-engineering and re-organizing an agency that had a history of sloppy performance?…..that Ms. Motley put an end to many ingrained business practices that were questionable?….that the City County Observer is very curious to hear Mildred Motley tell the story of her surprise departure from her own perspective?
IS IT TRUE that the part of the City of Evansville to the east of Haynie’s Corner has traditionally been called Goosetown? ….that significant public money has been spent in efforts to revitalize Goosetown including a new park, a couple of million dollars on Front Door Pride houses, a $195,000 purchase of a home that was in turn sold for $30,000, and a $142,000 green brick alley? …. that the Goosetown Homeowner’s Association has been under the leadership of Fred Cook for many years?….that Mr. Cook recently moved a couple of blocks from the official boundaries of Goosetown and was stripped of his leadership role?…..that the Goosetown Homeowners Association is not recognized as a member of the United Neighborhoods of Evansville (UNOE) by Evansville DMD?…..that this failure to recognize this membership status has jeopardized a free mammogram program for low income women?
IS IT TRUE that the Goosetown Homeowners Association receives support from the Susan G. Komen Foundation to spread the word about a program offering free mammograms to low income women? ….that approximately 25 women received free mammograms since April as a result of this outreach program?….that a staff member of the Evansville Department of Metropolitan Development (DMD) informed the Komen Foundation that the Goosetown Homeowners Association is not a member of UNOE, causing the funding for this outreach program to be terminated? …that UNOE recognizes the Goosetown Homeowners Association as a member with dues paid and paperwork in order through 2011?
IS IT TRUE that some low income women from Goosetown may not learn about this program that provides free mammograms that are instrumental in early detection of breast cancer due to this loss of funding due to incorrect information?….that Mr. Fred Cook called Mayor Weinzapfel in an effort to clear this situation up so the outreach program can be eligible for funding again?…that Mr. Cook and the women of Goosetown are still waiting for a return phone call?
IS IT TRUE ironically that Fred Cook is the announced candidate against incumbent Councilwoman Connie Robinson to represent the 4th Ward on Evansville’s City Council election in 2011?….that this sounds like a similar political backlash against Mr. Cook and the women of Goosetown to what Rick Davis had to deal with when he announced his intention to run for Mayor?
Wednesday October 20, 2010
IS IT TRUE that starting on October 20th, 2010 that our signature column IS IT TRUE will be updated daily? …. that IS IT TRUE is becoming recognized as a column that with the help of Mole #3 stays at the forefront of forecasting that which is in need of review and oversight in local government?….that this Mole Hill is turning into the Mountain that is dedicated to driving Evansville politics from the domain of backroom deals to a place of clarity and sanity? ….that the need for Mole #3 to have some help is always increasing? ….that the City County Observer always appreciates the efforts of all of our Moles and aspiring Moles who send us information that drives better public policy?….that we never tell who our Moles are?
IS IT TRUE that Dan Shaw of the Courier and Press took the initiative to investigate the moving expense situation with respect to the pending move of the Vanderburgh Democratic Headquarters from the soon to be demolished Executive Inn parking tower?…that Mr. Shaw’s article drew a rapid rebuke and a letter from Mark Owens, Chairman of the Vanderburgh County Democratic Party?…..that it was first published in the City County Observer in the Spring of 2010 that Browning Investments would not be going forward with the Convention Hotel project? ….that the same City County Observer accurately predicted the pending demolition of the Executive Inn and its parking tower? ….that Mark Owen asserted that the Vanderburgh County Democratic Party has a 5 year lease with Browning beginning July 31, 2010 and expects that Browning Investments will be paying the Democrats for early termination of that lease? ….that July 31, 2010 fell after the “Target Date†of the agreement between Browning and the City of Evansville? ….that Browning could not have delivered on any such contract and that it was widely known at that time?
IS IT TRUE that Browning disputes Mr. Owen’s claim? …that Jamie Browning, vice president of real estate development with Browning, said Browning Investments does not plan to compensate the Democrats for moving expenses? ….that Mark Owen asserted to Mr. Shaw that the agreement makes Browning responsible for paying “compensation for a tenant’s relocation.â€?….that John Kish, the director of the Arena project is already negotiating to move two cellular towers?…that Mr. Kish would not be doing this unless the City of Evansville was assuming responsibility for honoring leases associated with the Executive Inn parking tower?…..that Chairman Owen also stated that “The Vanderburgh County Democratic Party would not seek, nor would we accept compensation from the city, or taxpayers, for its relocation,â€?…. that Mr. Kish and the taxpayers of the City of Evansville will be pleased to allow Mr. Owen and the Vanderburgh County Democratic Party to honor his pledge to not take the money from the taxpayers to move the Democratic Party Headquarters.
IS IT TRUE that several strong young Democrats have expressed a willingness to help move the Party Headquarters for free?….that contributing elbow grease, pickup trucks, and pizza are the types of things that builds camaraderie and respect in both the Democratic Party and the community? ….that efforts that are done for a cause as opposed to efforts to line the coffers are what this city, this county, the state, and this country need right now?….that there may even be a few republicans, libertarians, and independents that would turn out for the cause?
IS IT TRUE that a strong and courageous free press is the foundation of truth in government?….that the City County Observer is proud of Dan Shaw’s initiative in this and many local issues?….that the CCO admires the drive, energy, and journalistic integrity that Dan Shaw of the Courier and Press puts into every article he writes?….that we stand by his zeal to make this a better place to live with the power of the pen? …that the City County Observer recommends that each and every one of our readers reviews Mr. Shaw’s work on this situation and make your own judgments about the truth?
UPDATE: In the last 24 hours the City County Observer has received a USA Traffic Ranking of #196,665th most visited website in America passing Evansville Living’s website www.evansvilleliving.com at #395,613th, News4U (www.news4uonline.com) at #544,357th, and the Evansville Convention and Visitors Bureau that is now holding firm in the #561,341st place in America
Alexa.com is a website that ranks respective websites around the world according to the number of visitors that each site attracts. Alexa also presents these rankings with one month and three month trailing averages. During the last month the website www.city-countyobserver.com has risen in world wide rank by nearly 2.9 Million places. We became curious as to how we rank with respect to other local websites. Here are some that we selected and the worldwide ranking.
www.city-countyobserver.com #1,164,871 (City County Observer)
www.thegleaner.com #3,147,906 (Henderson Gleaner)
www.southwestindiana.org #7,695,037 (Economic Development Coalition)
www.evansvillegage.com #9,479,458 (GAGE, the Growth Alliance for Greater Evansville)
www.evansvillechamber.com #13,994,332 (Chamber of Commerce of SW Indiana: Site 1)
www.ccswin.com insufficient hits to rank (Chamber of Commerce of SW Indiana: Site 2)
The City County Observer is both pleased and surprised to rank ahead of all of these established organizations with recognized names. Two local organizations that we expect to be passing in the near future are the Evansville Convention and Visitors Bureau and the City of Evansville.
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The annual Don’s Claytons Coat-A-Kid Campaign will kick off at 9:30 a.m. Nov. 9 at Lincoln Elementary School in Evansville. Don’s Claytons Fine Drycleaning will accept new and gently used coats for infants, children and teens through December and the coats will be distributed through January.
Since the Coat-A-Kid program began in 1986, Don’s Claytons has cleaned more than 130,000 coats, all given by the community and distributed to children and teens in need by the Salvation Army and Evansville Christian Life Center.
“We always enjoy getting together with the kids at Lincoln Elementary and other young people who receive coats through this program,†company owner Steve Schmitt says. “We’ve seen a growing need for coats over the past few years.â€
Don’s Claytons will accept new and gently used coats for infants, children and teens through Dec. 31 at any of its 12 locations in Evansville and Newburgh.
For more information about the Coat-A-Kid program contact Don’s Claytons Fine Drycleaning at 424-9979 or talk with a staff member at any Don’s Claytons location. A listing of locations may be found at www.donsclaytons.com.
UPDATE: 5:11 PM Is the whole of Vanderburgh County a Recovery Zone?????
IS IT TRUE that Mole #3 predicts that the resolution that was to be considered will be removed from the agenda? ….. that the opposition of Commissioner Lloyd Winnecke to designating the entire land mass of Vanderburgh as a Katrina style Recovery Zone is what blocked this action?… that Commissioner Winnecke should be commended for recognizing this?
IS IT TRUE that the Vanderburgh County Commissioners are considering other locations for the 8 ball fields?….to take advantage of the RECOVERY ZONE BONDS, that they are also considering declaring ALL OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY TO BE A RECOVERY ZONE? ….that there are vast areas of Vanderburgh County that never have and probably never will qualify for RECOVERY ZONE status?….that the idea to consider some other location for a sports complex is a pretty good idea that may save money and gain community support? ….Commissioner Tornatta is correct that the Goebel Soccer Complex is a better location and that he should be commended for realizing that?….that declaring every square mile of Vanderburgh County as a RECOVERY ZONE is insulting and demeaning to the people of this county?….that such a declaration would constitute intentional misrepresentation of the economic status of Vanderburgh County?…..that Commissioner Lloyd Winnecke to his credit does not agree that the whole of the County is a Recovery Zone?
IS IT TRUE that the incumbent Candidate Troy Tornatta of the Vanderburgh County Commissioners is currently running a commercial that proudly states that the Great Recession has not impacted Vanderburgh County nearly as much as it has elsewhere?…..that one really can not have it both ways when it comes to widespread blight?….that taking a bit of time to reflect on this project is the right decision?….that wise governance would not commit the innkeepers tax to ballfields or any other project until a binding contract is in place for a Downtown Convention Hotel?….that sanity may and we must say may be entering the governance mode of this project?
IS IT TRUE that the Vanderburgh County Commissioners will consider a proposal by the Evansville Convention and Visitors Bureau to place part of Wesselman Park and the Roberts Stadium site into a RECOVERY ZONE when they meet on Tuesday October 26th? …..if they are not successful in declaring this area a RECOVERY ZONE that they will not be able to use a financing mechanism known as RECOVERY ZONE BONDS?…..that RECOVERY ZONE BONDS (RZB) allow federal refunding of about 45% of the interest payments over the 25 year life of the proposed loan?…that RZB’s are a part of the STIMULUS PACKAGE that were designed to encourage local governments to BORROW MONEY to be spent in DISTRESSED AREAS?
IS IT TRUE that a RECOVERY ZONE is defined as an area that has a significant amount of POVERTY, UNEMPLOYMENT, FORECLOSURES, AND GENERAL ECONOMIC DISTRESS? ….that no people live in Wesselman Park or the Robert’s Stadium site so none of those conditions are even possible? ….that the residential area in and around Wesselman Park and Roberts Stadium is not blighted by any stretch of the imagination?…..that many of the long time residents in that area are retired people who worked hard all of their lives in good blue collar jobs?…..that these residents have been good stewards of their homes and neighborhoods for their entire lives?….that having this neighborhood declared as blighted may just reduce home values and the desirability for young couples who may be considering moving to that neighborhood…..that it is an insult to the people of this neighborhood to attempt to declare their homes as blighted just to take advantage of a FEDERAL GOVERNMENT STIMULUS PLAN in the last two months of the program just to save some interest money?
IS IT TRUE that someone identifying themselves as ITCHY PEEPERS attempted to change the password of the City County Observer website?…..that this is not the first time that the City County Observer has been attacked electronically?…..that threatening emails have been sent, proprietary information has been the subject of attempted theft, and that the information has been turned over to law enforcement?….that intentional disruption of a website that generates income has been prosecuted for theft in some jurisdictions?…..that crime does not pay?…..that if you play with a firewall you just might get burned?
IS IT TRUE that the Vanderburgh County Commissioners have taken the discussion about the $18 Million ball fields off of today’s agenda?…..that the City County Observer poll with the question “Do you approve of spending $18 Million on 8 ball fields at Robert’s Stadium Propertyâ€? has attracted 133 NO VOTES and only 21 YES VOTES as of 8:00AM this morning?…..that is roughly a 6 to 1 ratio rejecting the proposal to spend $18 Million on 8 ball fields?……that we have searched the country for $2 Million little league ball fields in a sports complex and have not found any?…..that the deferral of this discussion by the Vanderburgh County Commissioners will also defer the consideration of Vanderburgh County as a Recovery Zone?….that the 9th Ward of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina is a real Recovery Zone?….that Vanderburgh County contains Johnson Place, Brentwood, Tall Timbers, Old Plantation, Carrolton Court, the Oaks, and Windsor Woods look more like Beverly Hills than they look like a RECOVERY ZONE? …..that voters would be shocked and amazed to discover who suggested declaring the entire county a RECOVERY ZONE?….that tomorrow’s scheduled meetings of the Evansville Redevelopment Commission and the Evansville Redevelopment Authority regarding the $18 Million ball fields HAVE BEEN CANCELLED?
IS IT TRUE that the readers of the City County Observer have rejected media endorsements as relevant to their decision on who to vote for?…..that if a person does not have the interest to research the candidates and the good sense to choose one in each race, then that person should just stay home and not vote?….that the results of the polls that our readers have responded to will be posted to the City County Observer website on Wednesday October 27th along with the consensus of the prediction of NINE (9) MOLES (3 Republicans, 3 Democrats, and 3 Independents)?……that our MOLES each are trying to topple MOLE #3 as Nostradamus of Local Politics by demonstrating a 100% accurate prediction?…..that our MOLES have some disagreements with our readers?….that the MOLES were stating their expectation of who will win and not their personal preferences?
