Evansville Water and Sewer Utility Takes Steps to
Save Millions and Provide More Efficient Operations

(EVANSVILLE, IN) – May 25, 2011 – The Evansville Water and Sewer Utility (EWSU) Board approved a project development agreement (PDA) yesterday with Johnson Controls, Inc. which is expected to create operational efficiencies and save the City of Evansville millions of dollars. Under the terms of the PDA, Johnson Controls will lead an overall effort to pursue energy, water, network infrastructure, and operational improvements; and will work in concert with Energy Systems Group on these efforts. “The goals of this project are to reduce costs while offering improved services to citizens and ratepayers, and to meet the City’s commitment to environmental stewardship,” said Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel.

The PDA calls for upgrades to the water and wastewater plants and an assessment of automated meter reading (AMR) devices that send meter readings electronically to the EWSU. The AMR system could lead to the creation of a wireless communication network that may also provide benefits to the Police Department, Fire Department, Building Commission, Department of Metropolitan Development, and other City and County departments. Such projects are expected to produce more than $3 million in savings and new revenue streams. The EWSU will evaluate the results of the assessment in collaboration with the City/County Computer Services Department. The City then expects to enter into a performance-based contract to execute projects deemed most beneficial to the City of Evansville.

“Performance-based contracting offers a unique approach to funding capital improvement projects by using a portion of the energy savings expected to result from a capital improvement project to pay for the project itself – without rate increases,” added Weinzapfel. This self-funded program, projected to be completed almost entirely with local workforce, has the potential to create jobs for the area, improve services to utility ratepayers, improve working environments for City employees, reduce CO2 emissions from EWSU facilities, and provide a wireless network for several City and County departments.

About Johnson Controls: Johnson Controls is a global diversified technology and industrial leader serving customers in more than 150 countries. The company’s 142,000 employees create quality products, services and solutions to optimize energy and operational efficiencies of buildings; lead-acid automotive batteries and advanced batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles; and interior systems for automobiles. Johnson Controls’ commitment to sustainability dates back to its roots in 1885, with the invention of the first electric room thermostat. Through its growth strategies and by increasing market share we are committed to delivering value to shareholders and making our customers successful. In 2011, Corporate Responsibility Magazine recognized Johnson Controls as the #1 company in its annual “100 Best Corporate Citizens” list. For additional information, please visit http://www.johnsoncontrols.com/.

Johnson Controls Contact: Angela Adams, Angela.S.Adams@jci.com, (414) 524-5210

About Energy Systems Group: Energy Systems Group (ESG), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vectren Corporation (NYSE: VVC), is an award-winning energy services company that specializes in delivering sustainable energy solutions which allow building owners to maximize their energy efficiency and operational performance, while reducing their carbon footprint. Through its core business of performance contracting, ESG provides customers with innovative energy efficiency, technology, and long-term financing solutions for modernization of their facilities and energy infrastructure. To learn more about ESG, visit www.energysystemsgroup.com.

City County Observer leads the charge in forcing much needed action

The City County Observer was just made aware that the McCurdy Hotel is having its grass mowed for the first time this year as we write? Just yesterday one of our Moles reported that there were two fat and well fed snakes that were sunning themselves in the $603,000 parking lot that they call home?

The snakes were attracted to this downtown location mainly because of the close proximity to their favorite outdoor restaurant on the grounds of the McCurdy that has been serving up plump rats for a minimal effort for a couple of months now. Mole #7 has reported that the family of snakes who were the first family to move to the McCurdy were heard hissing and cursing as they scurried away at the first sounds of a lawn mower? The snakes were heading south into the Historic District in search of a new rat infested weed patch to establish a residence.

The rats that originally drew the snakes to the building were seen frantically climbing the Mayor’s beanstalk to the second floor and squeaked their intention to compete with their flying cousins the pigeons for food? That devilish Mole #666 called in to report that a crocodile was also seen vacating the building for his preferred domain of the Ohio River where he can dine on the Pigeon Creek Piranha? There has been no other reported sighting of the crocodile though so we think that true to form that Mole #666 is lying to us again?

In all seriousness, the City County Observer is pleased to see the mowing crew on the task and is even more proud of the fact that we called attention to this neglected eyesore. We advocate for good public policy and this is at least a one day example of good public policy? We hope that the member of the Evansville Redevelopment Commission whose office looks out of the ONB building at the McCurdy will feel safe walking in heels in front of the nice mowed lawn that may no longer be the home to rats, mice, and snakes.

IS IT TRUE? PART 2 May 25, 2011 FBI Crime Statistics for Evansville

IS IT TRUE that the FBI released the preliminary crime statistics for 2010 yesterday?…that the United States of America has defied past times of economic challenge and has seen the violent crime rates drop by 5.5% and property crimes drop by 2.8%?…that the City of Evansville has once again performed in an opposite manner with respect to the nation in a key “quality of life” metric?…that the crime for the City of Evansville rose during 2010 seeing a whopping 14.1% increase in violent crime and a 3.1% increase in property crime?…that the devil is in the details and the details are as follows?

IS IT TRUE that murders in Evansville grew from 3 to 5 last year that is a statistically staggering 67% increase?…that murder in Evansville has been and continues to be something that is counted on one’s fingers as opposed to the hairs on one’s head?…that going from 3 to 5 sounds bad statistically but that if 2011 only brings 3 murders again then our leaders will be crowing about the 40% decrease?…that is it good to live in a place where murder is statistically insignificant?…that the City of Gary, IN had 50 murders last year to statistically lead the nation in that infamous statistic and that the rust belt economic basket case of Flint, MI with a population smaller than Evansville has recorded 53 murders?…that if you are to be murdered in Evansville it will probably be by someone who knows you as opposed to a random killing?…that Evansville’s biggest death related crime is the crime of suicide that we indeed do lead the country in statistically for cities over 100,000?…that the crime of suicide is a form of murder that somehow does not find its way into the statistics of murder because the perpetrator cannot be prosecuted?

IS IT TRUE that the crime of rape increased by 5% from 60 to 63 crimes in Evansville in 2010?…that our rape rate calculates to 54 rapes per 100,000 people?…that some cities that are way worse than Evansville for murder are less prone to committing rape?…that Fort Wayne that nearly doubles Evansville for murder is exceeded by Evansville in the rape rate by 42%?…that even Detroit with a rape rate of 45 per 100,000 is lower than Evansville for this heinous crime?…that the rape rate in Evansville needs some serious attention and that we do have a large enough number of rapes to be statistically significant?

IS IT TRUE that the crime of robbery increased by 5.1% in the City of Evansville to a rate of 122 crimes per 100,000 people?…that Fort Wayne’s robbery rate is exactly 122 as well?…that this rate of 122 is about triple the robbery rate in the safest cities in America but a fraction of the robbery rate for some of the more violent urban centers like St. Louis that has nearly 600 robberies per 100,000 people and is right there statistically with Detroit, Chicago, and Flint?

IS IT TRUE that the crime of aggravated assault increased in the City of Evansville by 21% to a rate of 246 per 100,000 people?…that the Hoosier City of Fort Wayne has an assault rate of only 121 per 100,000 or less than half that of Evansville?…that in this category the City of Evansville is only slightly better than Louisville, but much better than the crime ridden centers like Detroit and St. Louis that have rates of over 1,000 per 100,000?…that America’s safest cities have aggravated assault rates of less than 100 per 100,000?…that this category is also one in which the City of Evansville is in need of improvement?

IS IT TRUE that it is not so much the raw numbers in the City of Evansville that are disturbing as the trend toward more criminal activity?…that from a big picture perspective that Evansville is going the wrong direction but with the exception of a half dozen or so census tracts is a safe place to live?…that we encourage the CITIZENS OF EVANSVILLE to take on the responsibility to help our excellent police department to reverse this trend so that soon we can be listed among the safest cities in America where we should be?…that the words “I DIDN’T SEE NOTHING” are the criminals best friend and have no place in a city with self respect?

IS IT TRUE that the FBI crime stats are available at the following website?

http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2011/may/crimes_052311/crime_052311

IS IT TRUE? May 25, 2011

IS IT TRUE that the McCurdy Hotel has now been officially cited by the City of Evansville for weeds?…that a local TV report last night DMD Director Tom Barnett is finally holding the should be Indianapolis developer’s feet to the fire to clean this rat’s nest and to either perform or get off the pot with the construction project to make the McCurdy a home to people instead of pigeons, rats, and bats?…that the City County Observer is pleased to see that some semblance of pressure is finally being put on the Mayor’s chosen developer to perform?…that we are also proud and pleased to have taken the lead role in calling this weed cultivating, non tax-paying, political contribution making, organization out for non-performance?…that it is also gratifying to the CCO to see the City of Evansville step up to the plate for once?…that we will be diligent in keeping the pressure on the City to force action from this developer?

IS IT TRUE that the FBI released the preliminary crime statistics for 2010 yesterday?…that the United States of America has defied past times of economic challenge and has seen the violent crime rates drop by 5.5% and property crimes drop by 2.8%?…that the City of Evansville has once again performed in an opposite manner with respect to the nation in a key “quality of life” metric?…that the crime for the City of Evansville rose during 2010 seeing a whopping 14.1% increase in violent crime and a 3.1% increase in property crime?…that of course the immediate local response was denial and statements that this is not an apples for apples comparison?…that this is the typical response here in River City and that the sooner that this area comes to grips with its problems and acknowledges them that the sooner the problems can begin the repair process?…that the FBI hires the best and brightest that the nation has to offer, maintains a complete forensics lab, and has a division dedicated to statistics?…that the FBI is all about protocol, order, and apples to apples comparisons?

IS IT TRUE that if the FBI releases a study backed up with statistics that shows that Ann Arbor is safer than Evansville, which is safer than Fort Wayne, that is safer than Flint, MI that you can take those numbers to the bank?…that somewhere in Gary, IN that regained its title of the “murder capital of America” last year there is a Mayor, a Chamber of Commerce leader, or a head of a CVB whining about the “unfair” statistics?…that denial has not helped Gary with a chart topping murder rate of 56.8 murders per 100,000 population a full 13 times Evansville’s rate become a better place to be?…that as the real crime centers of the country go that Evansville is still setting at or near the national averages and that most of the city is statistically safe?…that we do have a half dozen or so census tracts that are statistically very much like Detroit, Gary, Flint, or St. Louis in the crime department?…that we equally have one census tract in unincorporated Vanderburgh County that is safer than 96% of the country?

IS IT TRUE that the FBI regional press release commended the South for having the biggest drop in violent crime at 7.5 percent, followed by the Midwest with a 5.9 percent drop, the West at 5.8 percent and the Northeast coming in at only 0.4 percent?…that in the FBI report that murder, rape, robbery, and assault all dropped from 2009 – 2010?…that in the City of Evansville that every one of these categories of crime plus property crimes and larceny increased from between 3% to a high of 67%?

IS IT TRUE that for Gary, Flint, Camden, or a few other lawless cities to put out brochures and parrot nonsensical slogans like “spend your summer vacation in the murder capital of the nation” or the more serious ones like “move to Gary, it’s a great place to raise kids” or even “we have a great quality of life here in Flint”, are as much a form of denial as the people in Evansville who do not acknowledge that we have a serious problem with meth and that there is no crime downtown?…that when compared with the three cities above that Evansville is still quite safe?…that Evansville is however going the wrong direction and the slide to Gary style crime statistics is a slippery slope?…that the time to face those demons and drive a stake into the vampires heart is right now and not 5 years from now when we will be joining the Garys and Flints of the world at our present rates of change?

IS IT TRUE that our Part 2 of IS IT TRUE today will deal with the details of the City of Evansville’s crime statistics?

“Beatles Stories”, “Nowhere Boy” and “Parting Ways” will be shown at the festival

Louisville, KY (May 17, 2011) – “Beatles Stories” is a fascinating 75-minute documentary that follows Director Seth Swirsky as he conducts interviews with 55 famous (and not-so famous) people who share their unique and intimate encounters with one or all of the Fab Four during their heyday and beyond. Following its world premiere in Paris, France at the 2011 European Independent Film Festival, and its North American Premiere at the Newport Beach Film Festival, the film will be shown at this year’s WHAS-11 Abbey Road on the River in Louisville on Thursday, May 27th at 11:00pm, on Friday, May 28th at 11:00am and at 6:00pm, on Saturday, May 28th at 11:00am, and on Sunday, May 29th at 2:00pm. A Q&A session with the Swirsky will be held on Saturday, May 28th at 12:45pm.

During his five year labor of love journey to document “Beatles Stories,” Swirsky traveled from Los Angeles to New York to London to Liverpool to conduct more than 100 interviews (only 55 made the cut) with rock and pop legends (Brian Wilson, Graham Nash, Art Garfunkel, Smokey Robinson), actors (Sir Ben Kingsley, Jon Voight), media personalities, Beatles intimates, and even a former First Daughter. Many of the recollections are compelling. Graham Nash talks about his invitation to the TV broadcast of the Beatle’s new song, “All You Need is Love” and being a part of a magical, star studded experience. George Harrison’s first girlfriend, from before he was in the band, talks about how sweet George was as a 14 year old. Henry Winkler recounts a random meeting with Paul McCartney on a New York street where the Beatle was as happy to meet “The Fonz” as Winkler was to meet him. With this documentary Swirsky gives the viewer the chance to be a fly on the wall from those magical days gone by. This is a must-see film for anyone who loves the Beatles, or for anyone who wished they could have been there in the swinging 60’s, living the life that so few got to experience.

Abbey Road on the River festival goers can also see a screening of the 98-minute award-winning documentary film “Nowhere Boy,” a chronicle that captures and conveys the crucial formative years of John Lennon. The film depicts the events and personal circumstances that led to the formation of the Beatles, and the underlying family currents that shaped and molded the creative and inspirational qualities of John Lennon. With a script and perspectives drawn from a variety of impeccable sources and its authenticity endorsed by those who knew John Lennon best, it is the first film to allow admirers to — in the words of one of Lennon’s last and most personal songs — understand the little child inside the man. The film was released in 2009 and directed by Sam Taylor-Wood, and will be shown on Friday, May 27th at 2:00pm and 8:00pm, on Saturday, May 28th at 1:00pm and 5:00pm, and Sunday, May 29th at 4:00pm.

“Parting Ways: An Unauthorized Story of Life After the Beatles,” is an award-winning look at the lives of the Fab Four after their breakup, and chronicles how each member went on to become front men for other bands, film producers, and actors. The 51-minute film, which was released in 2010, will be shown on Friday, May 27th at 4:00pm and 10:00pm, on Saturday, May 28th at 1:00pm and 7:00pm, and on Sunday, May 29th at 6:00pm.

WHAS-11 Abbey Road on the River, a five day music festival celebrating the greatest rock band of all time, will be held at the Belvedere and Galt House Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky from May 26th to May 30th. Tickets for the world’s largest Beatles tribute festival are currently on sale at www.abbeyroadontheriver.com, and discounted tickets are available at 44 Kroger stores in the Louisville area and at The Louisville Visitor Center, located at 301 S. 4th Street. Families who want to take advantage of a money saving incentive need to purchase tickets in advance to receive free admission for one 21 and under guest with each regular ticketholder.

WHAS11 Abbey Road on the River, named a Top 10 event for 2011 by The Kentucky Travel Industry Association and the Southeast Tourism Society, is sponsored by The Galt House Hotel & Suites, the Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau, 107.7 SFR Classic Rock, The Courier-Journal and www.courier-journal.com, with additional support from Gretsch Guitar, Republic Bank, and MillerCoors.

IS IT TRUE? Part 2 May 24, 2011

IS IT TRUE that on May 23 at just before noon the City County Observer set a monthly record for pageviews?…that with 8 days left in the month of May that this record will exceed the previous record by roughly 30% by the end of the month?…that we wish to thank our readers for helping us grow?…that some of our new readers are coming to us from posts that have been placed on national forums with links to the CCO story about the Gallup survey that anointed Evansville as the “obesity capital of America”…that we made the right decision to release that story 2 weeks ahead of everyone else and that sometime being on the leading edge pays off?…that “moderation is the key to mediocrity” and that we have no interest in either?

IS IT TRUE that one of our readers has astutely pointed out that the McCurdy Hotel with all of its native pasture allowed to grow to heights above 3 feet is very likely to develop a colony of RATS to accompany the pigeons (SKY RATS) and bats (SKY MICE) in their continuing occupation of the formerly gracious hotel?…that rats, pigeons, and mice are all indicators of filth and are pretty much unwelcome outside of animal science laboratories?…that the only song of love written for a rat was “Ben” by Michael Jackson?

IS IT TRUE that in a police report from May 23, 2011 there is a complaint that the crew that is doing the curb cuts to reverse the street directions in downtown Evansville peppered a parked car with concrete debris with the high powered saw that is used to cut concrete?…that according to the police reports the crew contained no witnesses to the alleged peppering of the parked car?…that the report states that the damage to the parked car is consistent with what a good peppering from a concrete saw would do?…that the number of accidents, crimes, and incidents that have no witnesses in Evansville is just astounding?…that the often used words from non-witnesses of “I didn’t see nothing” are as much a part of the problem as the bad deeds are?…that for a police department to be more effective a cooperative citizenry is necessary?

IS IT TRUE that some of the candidates for the Evansville City Council are keeping their faces in the public for the summer and others are not?…that being lackadaisical about campaigning when ones opponent is keeping the pedal to the metal is a sure fire way to dig ones political grave?…that continuous visibility is the best way to keep the support base that was built in the hard fought primaries?

IS IT TRUE that the homeowner’s association in the Evansville Historic District has been wanting classy signs to identify the Historic District for several years now?…that the homeowner’s association is paying for half of the costs of the signs and that the City of Evansville is picking up the other half?…that the agreement to do this was easy and that the DMD staff gets high marks for cooperative assistance?…that now that it is time to pay that he Controller’s office of the City of Evansville is not only slow to pay but that they are throwing up road blocks because the bidding process that is followed for giant construction projects like the Arena was not followed?…that getting $10,000 or so of street signs should not be subject to the same bidding rules as the seats in the Arena?…that getting multiple bids from government designated preferred suppliers for a small neighborhood project is counterproductive and raises costs to ridiculous levels?…that the neighborhood association may have gotten the project done for less than their own half of the costs if they just did it instead of bringing local government into the mix?…that the Controller’s office is also blaming their new but slower computer system for the delay?…that new computers should be faster not slower?…that they probably had such a slow bid process to buy the computers that they got last year’s computers at next year’s price?

IS IT TRUE? May 24, 2011

IS IT TRUE that Radio preacher Howard Camping has revised his calculation for the rapture from the obviously incorrect Saturday night to October 21, 2011?…that when it comes to predicting the end of the world that with most people the name of the game is one strike and you are out?…that this knucklehead had his first strike in 1994?…that strike two was Saturday night and that unfortunately he was able to gather a significant number of followers again?…that as President Reagan once said “there you go again”, this guy has chosen another date that he may actually live to see?…that if he were smart he would have picked a date after his life has ended like 30 years from now so he does not have to endure a third strike of humiliation?…that Mr. Camping will undoubtedly gather some more followers who believe that October 21, 2011 is the day?…that we must ask that often used question “who-da-foo” when it comes to anyone who gets on board with this charlatan for a third round of silliness?…that the population of Evansville may be fat as the Gallup survey postulates but that it is better to be fat than stupid?

IS IT TRUE that the wrecking ball has finally started swinging at the Executive Inn?…that this is really the beginning of the effort to make some deal that ends with a Convention Hotel being constructed and opened to replace the Big E?…that nothing in the valuation equation has changed since last year when the City County Observer published a valuation analysis that showed a finished value of $20 Million +/- $2 Million for a 220 room hotel that rents for $99 per night and has a 60% occupancy rate?…that the construction costs that will be associated with the hotel alone will still be in the $30 Million range unless corners are cut and rules are changed?…that a conventional financing organization will still value the end product at $20 Million and will offer a loan of in the range of $15 Million if they are feeling confident about the hotel’s future success?…that unless there is a substantial equity investor or a guarantee of a loan by a deep pocketed person that this deal will still be a tough sell?…that failure to recognize this financial reality is why we are now 4 years into this Executive Inn Dilemma and there is no disclosed financing in place?…that if John Kish had a deal that it would already have been announced?…that the clock is ticking?…that having a Downtown Convention Hotel is so vital to the $200 Million in public investment that is already in the MLK Entertainment Complex that even if the City of Evansville has to guarantee or make the loans it will have to be done?…that we predict a mid 2013 opening and a local government loan or loan guarantee to grease the skids to make this happen?

IS IT TRUE that today’s rain and the rain in the forecast for the next three days is going to feed the pasture at the McCurdy Convalescent Home for Pigeons and Bats to grow to a height of at least 4 feet before another mowing opportunity presents itself?…that we even have been contacted by a private citizen who officially turned the pasture in for exceeding the weed ordinance?…that the goat that we suggested will not be sufficient to clear this pasture?…that at least 3 goats will be needed to abate these weeds unless of course a cow can be located and hired?…that about the only thing that smells worse than Bee Slough is a herd of cows or a skunk?…that we still suggest the goat solution except that Billy needs a Nannie or two to assist with his efforts?…that a poor skunk would do no good because pasture grasses are not part of their preferred diet?…that in all seriousness, that no homeowner or landlord in the City of Evansville should get a weed violation notification until the McCurdy pasture has been cleared?

IS IT TRUE? Part 2 May 23, 2011

IS IT TRUE that the wrecking ball is scheduled to swing into what is left of the old Executive Inn today at 4 o’clock?…that with that final swing any shred of thought about turning an obsolete pile of bricks into a functioning 2-Star flop house is officially over?…that there are a couple of relics that someone may want for collecting purposes like the E or a brick from the tower?…that they need to get on about the business of getting them because soon they will be recycled into something?…that this day is only two years behind schedule?…that the most cost effective and well planned solution would have had the Big E taken down when the west wing went down in 2009?…that if that were done according to a well thought out MASTER PLAN that there would or at least could be a new convention hotel already in operation?…that much money could have and should have flowed into the city if this whole exercise had been planned and vetted when it should have been in the 2007 – 2009 timeframe?

IS IT TRUE that the old refurbished Kentucky Theatre in Downtown Lexington is still in operation and serves as a movie theatre?…that on Friday night that hundreds of people were seen coming out of the Kentucky Theatre after watching a movie?…that every Saturday night the Rocky Horror Picture Show is shown to fully costumed crowds?…that we are curious as to the feasibility to show movies in the Victory Theatre?…that if there is one entertainment venue in Downtown Evansville that could be adapted to show movies to increase both event nights and attendance that the Victory could serve that purpose?

IS IT TRUE that the Evansville Arena with its 11,000 seat capacity and $127 Million price tag is across the board about half of the Yum Center in every category?….that given that ratio that the marquee naming opportunities for the Evansville Arena should be expected to scale accordingly?….that would mean that there are over $50 Million in naming opportunities that can be identified in the new Evansville Arena? … that a search of the Evansville Arena website makes no mention of naming rights opportunities?…..that with the potential for around $50 Million of naming rights opportunities to be sold that a concerted effort to sell sponsorships with a chairperson and a committee or even a paid professional team should be underway?….that the only reference in an archive search is that project manager John Kish is quoted in “hoping” that someone will buy the naming rights to the Evansville Arena?….that the City County Observer as one of the fastest growing internet traffic sites in Evansville has not been approached or been told of any naming rights programs that exist?….that the CCO would not know who to call to name so much as a floor tile?….that the naming rights efforts today remind us of the Executive Inn Dilemma?

IS IT TRUE that if the City of Evansville will release a list of the naming opportunities in the new Evansville Arena that the City County Observer will post these opportunities with or without pricing so that our readership can consider these marketing opportunities as their marketing budgets are being formed for 2012?…that well run businesses are starting to think about and form 2012 budgets RIGHT NOW?…that if sponsorship opportunities at the Arena are to be in the mix that they need to be in discussions RIGHT NOW and not in a panic to get into the mix after the dollars are already committed to other places?…we really wonder where we would go to buy so much as a brick or a chairback naming opportunity?…that we are shocked and amazed that a public naming opportunity of some type is has not yet been announced?

IS IT TRUE? May 23, 2011

IS IT TRUE that the City County Observer has received written notice from Tom Barnett, Director of the Department of Metropolitan Development that two of our requests for documentation under the Freedom of Information Act will be granted?…that we will be receiving the information on June 16th which is exactly 21 days after our request was made?…that is the longest time allowed by law for the City to deliver?…that choosing to take the maximum time means utilizing the maximum obstructive capacity that the law allows?…that if there was nothing to obstruct that we would be given the stuff right now instead of pushing the release to the last hour of the last day?…that transparency does not push to the limit of the law to delay making legally required public disclosures?

IS IT TRUE that we will be eager to examine these materials and to understand more about the real contractual relationships with respect to the Downtown Convention Hotel and the management of the new Evansville Arena?…that we cross our fingers that by the time that we have the documents that a full financial package is in place to build the hotel and that a sellout marquee act has been booked for the first event in the Arena?

IS IT TRUE that John Gregg who recently threw his hat into the ring seeking the Democratic nomination for Governor of Indiana was in Evansville last week?…that he spent the better part of the afternoon buddying up to Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel?…that such sightings could make for some rampant speculation about potential Democratic candidates for Lieutenant Governor in 2012?…that one of the most interesting cameo shots of the afternoon could occurred when Republican candidate for Mayor of Evansville Lloyd Winnecke joined them for a while and exchanged pleasantries in a downtown Evansville dining establishment?…that Winnecke’s presence is the object of the most local curiosity?

IS IT TRUE that select campaign staff members of the Lloyd Winnecke for Mayor committee and Rick Davis for Mayor campaign staff shall meet at 10:30 this coming Thursday at the Winnecke for Mayor campaign headquarters to discuss the terms of possible public debates? …that this meeting shall be one of many between key campaign staff to discuss possible future public debates between both candidates? …the next such meeting on this subject shall be at the Davis for Mayor campaign headquarters on West Franklin Street?

IS IT TRUE that a big discussion broke out among mixed political company about the meanings of the often used terms “good Democrat” and “good Republican”?…that there were people who considered themselves to be a “good Democrat” who thought that means to vote for whatever piece of humanity that actually runs on the Democratic ticket?…that when the last name of the former Knight Township trustee came up that they all backed off of that assertion?…that a similar discussion came up among the self anointed “good Republicans” with similar results?…at the end of the discussion a very good set of definitions emerged with respect to what the word “good” means when used as an adjective before a political party?…that the definitions and examples agreed upon were as follows:

“A good Democrat is a person who agrees with the fundamental philosophy of the Democratic Party yet possesses the mental capacity to deduce a bad Democrat when one runs under the party banner, and the courage of their own ethics to never vote for a bad Democrat” ex: Good Democrats are more than willing to reject bad Democrats and vote for a good Republican.

“A good Republican is a person who agrees with the fundamental philosophy of the Republican Party yet possesses the mental capacity to deduce a bad Republican when one runs under the party banner, and the courage of their own ethics to never vote for a bad Republican” ex: Good Republicans are more than willing to reject bad Republicans and vote for a good Democrat.