IS IT TRUE? January 13, 2012 Part 2

IS IT TRUE that today both Evansville and Henderson are mentioned in the national publication USA TODAY?…that Evansville has made the news of the day for the State of Indiana for the second time this week but that this time the news is not so flattering?…that the news from Evansville is about the film crew from England who is gracing our presence for the purpose of documenting “Life in the Fattest City in America”?…that last spring Evansville was fingered by a survey of the legendary Gallup Organization for having the highest percentage of adults in the USA that are obese tipping the stats at over 37%?…that the British crew will also be making a visit to the skinniest city in America which is Boulder, CO with an obesity rate of under 20%?

IS IT TRUE that Henderson is in the national publication because it is a stopping point on two of the maiden voyages of the American Queen which is a magnificently restored showboat the operates out of Cincinnati and provides a luxury Mark Twain experience to it’s customers?…that Henderson has a dock where people can get off and walk to the downtown but Evansville does not?…that perhaps such a boat docking alongside the LST in the future with shuttles to a refurbished and vibrant downtown Evansville COULD BE on a future itinerary for the American Queen?

IS IT TRUE we are extremely pleased to see that State of Indiana House Government and Regulatory Reform Committee endorsed a measure yesterday that shall keep public workers from hiring members of their families for jobs they supervise?…that we are also pleased to see that this soon to be passed state law shall prevent those who work for municipal governments-police officers, firefighters, parks workers, and more from serving on the County Commission, City Council, and County Council, which set their agencies budgets and salaries?…that we want to thank our elected State officials for passing this most needed reform that represent “Good Public Policy”?

IS IT TRUE that we are quite pleased to hear that an extremely honorable Vanderburgh County judge recently announced that he shall run for re-election?..that we consider Vanderburgh County Superior Judge Wayne Trockman one of the most outstanding judges in the State of Indiana?…that we also are pleased to learn that the Honorable Judge David Kiely has decided to run for the Vanderburgh County Circuit Court Judge to replace the retiring and most Honorable Judge Carl Heldt?

IS IT TRUE that the Wall Street Journal is shedding more light on the demise of the Kodak Corporation in today’s issue and this time the author is Rich Karlgaard who was the keynote speaker of an entrepreneurship forum right here in Evansville and sponsored by GAGE, Regency Properties, the Chamber, and others back in 2008?…that Mr. Karlgaard has put forth the opinion that the small town mind of Rochester contributed greatly to Kodak’s malaise?…that much of the language of the article would apply if the word Kodak was replaced by Whirlpool or any of the once powerful refrigeration industry and Rochester was replaced by Evansville?…that understanding outside failures and making moves to prevent them are key to avoiding the continuation of practices in both government and existing business that inhibits prosperity?…that the full article is on the following link?

http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB10001424052970204124204577153053662634584-lMyQjAxMTAyMDEwMzExNDMyWj.html?mod=wsj_share_email

IS IT TRUE that as there have been many newsworthy events being announced by Mayor Winnecke’s office during the last week we at the City County Observer are wondering why it is that we have not been on the distribution list of media outlets that have received these notices?…that we have been having to rely on other publications to learn about things like appointments to the Evansville Redevelopment Commission, appointments to important City of Evansville department head positions, and even Mayor Winnecke’s stance on Evansville’s distinction as the “Obesity Capital of America” as being memorialized in celluloid (was very tempted to write cellulite)?…that we are accustomed to being left out of the exclusive club of favored media by the Old Boss’s minister of propaganda but were assured that the New Boss would include the CCO in all Mayoral press releases and announcements?…that we are counting on the Winnecke administration to get the CCO on it’s distribution list as the Winnecke campaign was both prompt and excellent about?

IS IT TRUE that Evansville Police Chief Billy Bolin was the feature attraction in the USA Today on Tuesday under the section where the biggest news of the day in each state is profiled?…that Chief Bolin’s decision to allow police officers to take their cruisers home for the evening was deemed by USA Today to be the most newsworthy snippet of information in Indiana on that particular day?…that this decision was a good one and that visible police presence in any neighborhood serves to keep crime down?…that Chief Bolin will be in a rocking chair someday telling his grandkids about the day he made the national news for being smart in his new position?

IS IT TRUE that the Indiana State Legislature is gearing up to have a vote on a statewide smoking ban in the next couple of sessions?…that it appears as though the number of exemptions this year is being reduced to a level that cancer advocates will support it?…that last year there were enough exemptions that anyone with a pulse and two brain cells could have found a way around the proposed law?…that thus far this year’s bills are only exempting things that are truly debatable as opposed to last year’s?…that 2012 may just be the year that the State of Indiana takes the first step to catch up to what much of the country did as much as 25 years ago?…that the City of Evansville is doing the same thing and the first reading according to Mole #1 will be happening on January 23rd?…that it would have been on the 16th except for the fact that the 16th is a paid holiday and the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.?…that we are eager to see what the details of the City of Evansville resolution to strengthen the smoking ordinance will be as 6 of the members of the Evansville City Council have expressed a willingness to support a strengthening of the smoking ordinance?…that the only real debatable issue appears to be Casino Aztar?

IS IT TRUE that Mole #3 was tracking Joe Wallace in his trek across the United States to his new home in California and once called him on the road and missed his whereabouts by less than 10 miles?…that Joe has no idea how Mole #3 was tracking him so well from the barstool in South Florida?…that Mr. Wallace reports that there have been more venture deals seriously discussed in his first 3 days on the job in California than were discussed in his three years as the president and CEO of Gage?…that he sends the message that it is not a chicken and egg proposition as many locals assert when it comes to making angel and venture funding available?…that angel and venture funding (the egg) have to be in place and announced to inspire entrepreneurs to give it a try in any location and that venture money attracts entrepreneurs like a flame attracts a moth or even as a tax abatement or corporate welfare from the government attracts a hotel developer or a big factory?…that he also hopes to see the Evansville area solve this major shortcoming some day in the future?