Candidate for Second Ward City Council E. L. “Lon†Walters Attends IURC Vectren Hearing in Indianapolis.
Evansville — October 25, 2011 — Not knowing there was a motion made to postpone the IURC pre-hearing on the Vectren rate increase Monday afternoon, E. L. Lon Walters went to Indianapolis to presents over 1,500 signatures he personally obtained against the Vectren rate increase to the IURC. Instead, Lon met with Aaron Schmoll, Administrative Law Judge for the Indiana Regulatory Commission and presented him with the following information:
Vectren already has the highest rates in the state of Indiana and their demand for a guaranteed 7.3% return is unrealistic in today’s economy. I am a small business owner and in this economy, I cannot raise my rates without losing business. Yet we have a company with a monopoly like Vectren that can! Most families are struggling to make ends meet and many people simply cannot afford yet another rate hike. Vectren’s rates are 50% higher than any other Indiana utility.
Vectren’s high rates are undermining Evansville’s competitiveness as a place to live and do business. Just this past Saturday I talked to a mother who is planning to move to Henderson, Kentucky because of our high utility rates. She has reduced to the point that she has space heaters in each room and they only heat the rooms that are occupied. Vectren’s rates have been escalating for the past decade to the level that they are significantly higher than our neighboring cities. Across the river in Henderson County, Kentucky, the difference is in electric rates much greater than 50%. Lon Walters is asking the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission to do the right thing, and put the brakes on this alarming trend because it is undercutting our ability to attract new business to Evansville.
3 Stooges: Evansville Style IS IT TRUE? October 26, 2011
IS IT TRUE that the trouble with tribes, clubs, teams, fraternities, lodges, and political parties is that they are so steeped in the tradition of GROUPTHINK that there is no place for a dissenting voice even when that dissenting voice is the only voice of reason in a mindless mass of bricks in the wall?…that some such groups even resort to blood oaths, vows of allegiance, and arcane ritual to keep the membership in GROUPTHINK mode?…that the most recent local entity to have a “coming to Jesus†year for a half century of GROUPTHINK is the Vanderburgh County Democratic Party?…that the latest dust up in the increasingly comical fiasco is the endorsement of Republican candidate for Mayor Lloyd Winnecke by Democratic City Councilwoman and Vice Chair of the Vanderburgh County Democratic Party Connie Robinson?…that this endorsement has lead to a complaint being filed by a yet to be named Democratic precinct committeeperson asking that Councilwoman Robinson be removed as Vice Chair?…that the BLUE CLUB called the Indiana Democratic Party has a BLUE CLUB is on the following link?
IS IT TRUE that on Page 27 of the BLUE RULE BOOK is a section that deals with the Removal of Party Officers?…that the Grounds for Removal are well defined only as (1) Neglect of duty; (2) Willful violation of these Rules; (3) Conviction of a felony; (4) Disloyalty to the Democratic Party; or (5) Any course of conduct that does not promote the best interest of the Party or creates dissension within the Party?…that conveniently the tribunal to administer justice in this matter will not be able to meet until after the election?…that we encourage the curious to read this to your heart’s desire?
IS IT TRUE that all of this really started a little over a year ago when Rick Davis decided to break local party protocol and announce his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for Mayor of Evansville without seeking the permission of the local Party Bosses including Mayor Weinzapfel, Mark Owen, and even Vice Chair & City Councilwoman Robinson?…that we do not recall any instance of any allegation of breaking the BLUE TEAM RULES at the time?…that Mr. Davis’s only crime was offending the Tribunal of GROUPTHINK by not kissing the ring?…that the people of Evansville and especially the rank and file members of the Democratic Party have now endured a full year of barnyard and playground antics that would actually make a decent movie if any producer is out there listening?…that at the very least this should be the topic of a future community play put on at the Reitz Home?
IS IT TRUE that is has only been FOUR YEARS since the Vanderburgh Republican Party had egg on its face because a primary that put David Nixon on the ballot as the Republican nominee for Mayor of Evansville?…that we do not recall any Republican Party leaders endorsing any of the Democratic slate of candidates in 2007 but we are quite sure that Mr. Nixon did not garner 100% of the votes of Republican Party officers?…that Mayor Weinzapfel’s 85% – 15 % margin of victory guarantees that many rank and file Republicans crossed party lines to vote Democratic?…that the current mess is not about the rank and file whom we encourage to read, think, and vote for the person instead of mindlessly voting a straight ticket (pulling the rooster)?
IS IT TRUE that this mess is about whether it is appropriate to hold office in the BLUE CLUB and endorse a member of the RED CLUB at the same time?…that if the Coach of the Packers was seen rooting for the Bears while the Packers were playing the Bears the this would be one fired Coach?…that if Republican Party Chairman Wayne Parke makes a public endorsement of Rick Davis or any other Democrat in this year’s election that Mr. Parke should be shown the door?…that if the CEO of General Motors is seen driving any other brand of car that he has no business serving as the CEO of General Motors?…that so it goes for Councilwoman Robinson?…that this is one place where playing both sides against the middle should not be tolerated?
IS IT TRUE that the City County Observer admires and defends Councilwoman Robinson’s independent spirit and freedom of choice?…that if Councilwoman Robinson is supportive of Lloyd Winnecke that she should be free to use her influence to help his campaign?…that she should not however use her position as an OFFICER of the DEMOCRATIC PARTY to do so?…that the right thing for Councilwoman Robinson to do right now is to resign her position as Vice Chair and then follow her heart and mind on how to vote and how to use her personal influence?…that holding a vote of confidence among the BLUEBOTS that oppose Davis yet control the local party is a meaningless exercise in a reverse kangaroo court?…that of course the “machine†will find confidence in her?…that such an idiotic ritual will not serve to heal the Vanderburgh County Democratic Party?…that it will just make the divide wider?
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Seven EVSC educators recently delivered presentations at the Indiana Computer Educators “Focus on the Future†conference in Indianapolis. They included: Innovation, Curriculum and Technology Specialists (iCATS) Tim Wilhelmus and Jerrad Gleim; eLearning Coaches Brett Clark and Dianne Matheis; as well as Evans Elementary Professional Development Specialist Helene Blum, and Harrison High School teacher Brian Bennett.
Those individuals and 12 other members of the EVSC’s iTeam, comprised of all of the iCATS, and eLearning Coaches also attended the two-day conference.
Presentations included:
Tim Wilhelmus & Jerrad Gleim
“Beyond the Classroom and After the Bell: Using Podcasting and Blogging to Extend the Classroomâ€
Tim Wilhelmus & Brett Clark
“Building Your Network – Using Social Media to Enhance Professional Developmentâ€
Dianne Matheis
“Everything You Wanted to Know About Project Based Learning, But Were Afraid to Askâ€
Helene Blum
“iPods in the Classroom: Tool or Toy?â€
Brian Bennett & Brett Clark
“Defining the Flipped Classroomâ€
Tim Wilhelmus
“Building Playgroundsâ€
Members of the iTeam also made mini presentations during an evening “Smack Down†where individuals were asked to share Web 2.0 tips.
The Indiana Computer Educators conference is Indiana’s premier educational technology conference for K-12 teachers, administrators, and school technology leaders.
Ten Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation administrators have earned their Black Belt certification in Lean Six Sigma.
Those individuals are:
Stacy Mauser, chief technology officer
Mike Raisor, executive director for operational excellence
Mark Thompson, operations analyst
Heather Wilson, assistant to the superintendent/professional development coordinator
Mike Mentzel, director of transportation
Carl Underwood, principal, Vogel Elementary
Jason Woebkenberg, principal, Hebron Elementary
Rick Cameron, chief operating officer
David Smith, superintendent
Pat Tuley, chief financial officer and chief human resources officer
These individuals earned the certification as part of their pursuit to attain the Master’s of Business Operational Excellence degree from The Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University. They began the program last January and expect to have completed it by December 2011.
Operational excellence is a philosophy of leadership, teamwork and problem solving resulting in continuous improvement throughout the organization by focusing on the needs of the customer, empowering employees, and optimizing existing activities in the process.
Time 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM Subject PERSONNELL & FINANCE Location 301 Recurrence Occurs the last Wednesday of every 1 month effective 10/26/2011 until 10/26/2011 from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM Reminder 15 minutes
SANDIE @ 5791 Categories ROOM 301
Time 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM Subject HOUSING ROUNDTABLE MTG Location 318 Recurrence Occurs the fourth Wednesday of every 1 month effective 10/26/2011 until 10/26/2011 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM Reminder 15 minutes Categories ROOM 318
Time 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM Subject HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION Location 307 Recurrence Occurs the fourth Wednesday of every 1 month effective 10/26/2011 until 10/26/2011 from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM Reminder 15 minutes
BONNIE @ 4927 Categories ROOM 307
Time 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Subject SAFETY BOARD Location 301 Recurrence Occurs the fourth Wednesday of every 1 month effective 10/26/2011 until 10/26/2011 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM Reminder 15 minutes
TINA OWEN @ 7897 Categories Anniversary, ROOM 301
Time 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM Subject EPD DIVERSITY COUNCIL Location 307 Recurrence Occurs the last Wednesday of every 1 month effective 10/26/2011 until 10/26/2011 from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM Reminder 15 minutes
Roberta Lenfers Categories ROOM 307
Time 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM Subject ERA Location 307 Recurrence Occurs the fourth Wednesday of every 1 month effective 10/26/2011 until 10/26/2011 from 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM Reminder 15 minutes
Lana Categories ROOM 307
Time 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM Subject ITAC Location 318 Recurrence Occurs the last Wednesday of every 1 month effective 10/26/2011 until 10/26/2011 from 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM Reminder 15 minutes
TIM VANCLEAVE @ 5848 Categories ROOM 318
IS IT TRUE that the occasional practice of “Millionaire Watch†on underway in Silicon Valley once again with the 180 day lockup period for NASDAQ juggernaut LinkedIn?…that this lockup period is a 180 day period immediately following in Initial Public Offering (IPO) of the company stock during which employees of LinkedIn are not permitted to sell any of their shares on the open market to cash out on their sweat equity?…that on November 21, 2011 that nearly all of the 1,500 employees of LinkedIn will be able to cash out of this leading edge software business that did not even exist a few years ago?…that at today’s stock price of $87 per share that the employees of LinkedIn will have the ability to cash out $8.2 Billion if they choose to do so?…that this averages an astounding $5.6 Million per employee?…that we are sure that this is not equally shared but that the long time practice in Silicon Valley to offer stock options to nearly all employees has made many millionaires of people who would otherwise just draw a paycheck and struggle to get by?
IS IT TRUE that IPO’s that create and spread wealth of this magnitude are only possible in locations where active Angel Investment Networks and Venture Capital is available?…that the talent follows the money and that by not having such opportunities that Evansville and many other conservative places are sealing their economic fate at the bottom of the food chain?…that at a time of recession when Silicon Valley and a dozen other places are high fiving over companies like LinkedIn, Pandora, Synga, etc. that our election is hinging on the perceptions of the masses on Floatgate, the Homestead Tax Credit, cash infusions from Indianapolis, who hates meth the most, who endorses who, and when the Ford Center will ever draw an act that Roberts couldn’t have drawn?…that quite frankly we would be better off celebrating an IPO or ten?…that we wonder if the “keepers of the castle†are paying any attention?
IS IT TRUE that in 2004 at about the same time that the Ford Center was a twinkle in some people’s eyes that LinkedIn announced that they had secured $10M in secondary financing from the Venture Capital firm Greylock and an undisclosed additional amount from 14 Angel Investors?…that with the level of investment that was made in the Ford Center, Front Door Pride, and some other building projects over 100 start up businesses could have been funded?…that while Mountain View got LinkedIn, Google, and a host of other new businesses that we have an arena and some houses that have for sale signs that are gathering dust?…that Evansville is today a sum total of the choices that have been made for the last 50 years?…that looking back to 2004 in the link below should give local leaders cause to reflect on what may have been?…that if we never try we shall never know if something like this is even possible in Evansville?
IS IT TRUE that the $8.2 Billion harvest of cash that the employees of LinkedIn will be able to access if they choose is enough money to buy at assessed value all of the City of Evansville and still have over $1 Billion remaining?…that one can only wonder just how much impact a stash of $8.2 Billion in personal wealth distributed over 1,500 people and their families could have on a place like Evansville?…that unless something is done about the lack of investment dollars and the ability to attract talent we shall never ever know?
