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IS IT TRUE? October 12, 2011 Special Afternoon Edition

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IS IT TRUE? October 12, 2011 Special Afternoon Edition

IS IT TRUE that as the reality that there is actually going to be a occupation of some public land on Evansville’s riverfront by Occupy Evansville there is some preemptive comments that are being made regarding the group that is planning to do so?…that there are the ones that think that the Occupy movement is all under the control of outside left winger types?…that when we covered their organizational meeting we saw no evidence of that?…that some are saying that the unions are pulling their strings and we saw no evidence of that?…that some are saying “those punks should just get a job” and we actually saw signs and heard words that would lead us to believe that they are very much trying to do exactly that?…that for those companies that are hiring that there may just be a captive group of prospective employees occupying Evansville starting Saturday at noon at the Four Freedoms Monument?…that this is a “job fair” opportunity for those companies that are hiring to head down there and occupy a pop-up table and take as many applications as you can?…that maybe if offered a job or better yet several hundred jobs the occupation of Evansville can end very quickly?

IS IT TRUE that Mole #456 tells us that there are some changes being made at the highest levels of the Evansville Police Department in anticipation of the changing of the guard as Mayor Weinzapfel rides off into the sunset?…that some of these changes are the kind of changes that should be left for either Mayor Winnecke or Mayor Davis to make?…that it seems as though payback or pay-it-forward activities are beginning?…that there are only 80 days remaining for such things to be SNEGALLED (snuck in legally) in?

IS IT TRUE that the Courier and Press has a direct link to a site that allows any member of the general public to check on outstanding warrants?…that any news agency, political operative, or concerned citizen is free to use this service at any time?…that the link to that data base of warrants is http://www.courierpress.com/databases/warrants/

IS IT TRUE that the last of the public debates for Mayor of Evansville will be tonight and that we are certain that both candidates are brushing up on the answers to questions that they anticipate?…that we hope that there are some surprise questions that the people of Evansville have posed to test these guys ability to think on their feet as during the last debate both candidates had note cards, written pages, and even prepared speeches that they read from?…that we are all fed up with teleprompter political speeches and really want to know how these guys think extemporaneously?…that when the questions were submitted the recent Gang activities in South Evansville had not yet boiled over into broad daylight murder?…that if one of these candidates wants to stand out for leadership that coming forth with a Gang Control Plan based on what Mayors of other cities that have had to deal with Gangs have done?…that even if no questions about Gangs find their way into tonight’s debate that the eradication of violence on the South Side is just as important for the next Mayor of Evansville to deal with as meth labs that the candidates agree are a bad thing?

Vectren Forecasting Lower Gas Bills this Winter

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Oct. 12, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media contact: Chase Kelley, (812) 491-4128 or kckelley@vectren.com

Forecasted winter gas bills to drop nearly 5 percent;
Vectren South natural gas bills among lowest in Indiana

Evansville, Ind. – Natural gas prices that continue to remain stable and relatively low will again translate to more manageable bill amounts for Vectren Energy Delivery of Indiana – South (Vectren) customers. Today, the utility announced that assuming normal winter weather, customers could see bills that are nearly 5 percent less than last year’s heating season, which saw bills decrease 30 to 35 percent from the 2008-2009 winter. Abundant gas supply in the U.S. has resulted in natural gas costs, which are passed through to customers on a dollar-for-dollar basis, remaining at levels not seen since 2001.

“For the past two years, natural gas prices have remained flat with prices stabilizing in the 40 to 45-cents per therm range; where as, three years ago, the market produced prices as high as $1.00 to $1.20,” said Vectren Chairman, President and CEO Carl Chapman. “Given gas costs represent 60 to 70 percent of winter bills, these lower prices are helping keep bill amounts down. In fact, the forecasted bill amounts for this winter have not been this low in nearly a decade.”

Last year, a typical residential customer would have paid roughly $450 for November through March natural gas service based on normal weather. This year, based upon expected natural gas commodity costs, that same customer could expect to pay around $440 in heating costs based on the average household consumption of approximately 550 therms. Bills will vary by customer depending on the size and age of the home, number of gas appliances, number in the household, thermostat settings and levels of insulation.

Vectren natural gas bills in southwestern Indiana are among the lowest in the state with only two natural gas companies offering lower prices. According to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission bill survey from September 2011, Vectren held position number 18 with position number 1 ranking as the highest bill amount and position number 20 ranking the lowest.

“Even though bills continue to be lower, it doesn’t mean customers should lose sight of implementing energy efficiency measures and finding ways to use less natural gas to lower bills even further – using energy wisely is always the best practice regardless of gas costs,” Chapman added. “Investing in high-efficiency appliances, implementing low-cost energy efficiency measures and upgrading insulation are still the right steps to undertake.”

Vectren has in place a number of tools to help customers manage their energy bills.
• Conservation Connection – Offers appliance rebates and new energy-saving tools to help customers to lower their total natural gas bills. All Indiana residential and small commercial natural gas customers are eligible. A conservation call center (866) 240-8476 is also available to help customers focus on conservation. Visit Vectren.com for a list of rebates and qualifying appliances.

• Budget Bill: Under this billing plan, a customer’s estimated costs for a year of gas service are spread out in equal monthly bill amounts for the year. This leveling of monthly bill amounts reduces the need to pay the full amount in the winter and spreads some of those higher bill charges into the non-heating months. Typically, amounts are adjusted annually for actual costs and the customer’s credit or amount due rolls into the next calculation. A mid-winter recalculation may occur for some customers if gas costs significantly change during the heating season. Customers can enroll for free at http://www.vectren.com or by calling 1-800-227-1376.

• Energy efficiency tips: Low-cost home improvement and energy conservation tips are available at Vectren.com or by calling Vectren’s Conservation Connection at 1-866-240-8476. Customers can also access how-to videos on home improvement projects such as caulking, weather-stripping or installing a low-flow showerhead at http://www.VectrenLiveSmart.com.

• Share the Warmth: Those wanting to help the less fortunate with their energy bills can contribute to Share the Warmth, a nonprofit organization that assists income-eligible customers with home weatherization services. Each year, Vectren matches all public donations, up to an annual total of $200,000. Donations may be tax-deductible and can be sent to Share the Warmth, P.O. Box 931, Evansville, IN 47706-0931 or visit http://www.sharethewarmthinc.com.

• Energy Assistance Program (EAP): State and federal utility assistance dollars are available for income-eligible customers. Those that fall within 150 percent of federal poverty guidelines should visit their local community action agency to sign up for EAP. To apply for the EAP, customers should call 1-800-872-0371 to locate their nearest community action agency.

• Universal Service Program (USP): All eligible natural gas customers who apply and qualify for EAP will automatically be enrolled in the Universal Service Program (USP), which provides additional gas bill reductions that range from 15 to 32 percent of the total bill (not including EAP benefits) in the months of December through May. Today, Vectren filed a petition with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission to continue the USP through 2016. The USP, which has been in place since 2005 and is set to expire in October 2012, is the result of a collaborative effort by Vectren, Citizens Energy Group, the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor, Citizens Action Coalition and a group representing industrial customers. The program provides about $5 million in assistance each year to roughly 30,000 Vectren Indiana customers, including crisis assistance dollars, which target qualified low-income and working-poor households that need additional help to get reconnected and/or maintain heat throughout the upcoming winter.

“Regardless of lower bill amounts, we know many Hoosiers still find themselves struggling to pay their bills and in need of financial assistance,” said Chapman. “Programs like Share the Warmth and the Universal Service Program are critical in helping Hoosiers manage costs and stay warm. We encourage customers to contact their local community action agency today and apply for financial and/or home weatherization assistance.”

Natural gas is a commodity bought and sold in a national deregulated market and prices fluctuate daily due to supply and demand pressures. Vectren purchases natural gas on behalf of its customers and then passes those costs on to customers through the gas cost adjustment, which is listed on the Vectren bill as “Gas Cost Charge.” Vectren utilities are not allowed to mark up nor profit from the purchase and sale of natural gas. Only gas costs approved by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission are recovered from customers.

Vectren South delivers natural gas to approximately 111,000 natural gas customers in southwestern Indiana, including Daviess, Dubois, Gibson, Knox, Martin, Posey, Pike, Spencer, Warrick and Vanderburgh counties.

About Vectren
Vectren Corporation (NYSE: VVC) is an energy holding company headquartered in Evansville, Ind. Vectren’s energy delivery subsidiaries provide gas and/or electricity to more than one million customers in adjoining service territories that cover nearly two-thirds of Indiana and west central Ohio. Vectren’s nonutility subsidiaries and affiliates currently offer energy-related products and services to customers throughout the U.S. These include infrastructure services, energy services, coal mining and energy marketing. To learn more about Vectren, visit http://www.vectren.com.

Winnecke Releases Quality of Life Initiatives Proposal

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Lloyd Winnecke

Today the Winnecke for Mayor campaign released a proposal to enhance key aspects of what makes up that elusive thing that we commonly refer to as “Quality of Life”. In this proposal Winnecke addresses eight points that he has identified that lead to a Vibrant City. These attributes are litter, parks, the zoo, our gateways, the arts, sustainability, recycling, and a healthy lifestyle.

The entire proposal is on the link below.

Lloyd Winnecke A_Vibrant_City

Evansville Voting Center Website/App!

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A new site has been released to give Evansville voters easier access to their local voting centers! This year, voters may vote at any center that is convenient, as opposed to being restricted to their own precinct.

The website can be found at:
http://www.vanderburghvotecenters.com/

There is also an iPhone and Android app available:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/vc-election-office/id470299551?mt=8
https://market.android.com/details?id=air.VotersRegistration&feature=search_result

Happy Voting!

Downtown Today: 10/12/2011

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Time 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Subject SAFETY BOARD
Location 301
Recurrence Occurs the second Wednesday of every 1 month effective 10/12/2011 until 10/12/2011 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
Reminder 15 minutes
TINA OWEN @ 7897
Categories ROOM 301

Time 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Subject CONSTRUCTION & ROOFING BOARD
Location 307
Recurrence Occurs the second Wednesday of every 1 month effective 10/12/2011 until 10/12/2011 from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Reminder 15 minutes
LINDA PENDLETON @ 7880
Categories ROOM 307

IS IT TRUE? October 12, 2011

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Mole #3 Nostradamus of Local Politics

IS IT TRUE? October 12, 2011

IS IT TRUE that the life of a political candidate must be a bit surreal?…that the beauty of friendships is that a person really does have the privilege of choosing who their friends are?…that political supporters are more like family?…that means that you do not get to choose them and that everyone running for office has to deal with that overzealous supporter that does something that is so far off the reservation or even outside the law that it causes what may be called “second hand embarrassment”?…that if Charles Manson were a free man that next year he would have to take sides in the presidential election?…that neither candidate would want to be seen with Manson, have a picture in the paper of Manson holding their sign, or have anything to do with him at all?…that the candidates can’t choose that?…that in every race for anything there will be surrogates that take matters into their own hands and that we hope that is what happened with the incident that we are now calling FloatGate?

IS IT TRUE that the handcuffing incident is just to staged to have been random or even to be the EPD just doing their job?…that in the sea of probabilities that a person with an outstanding warrant would be on the Democratic float, at exactly the right moment that the EPD was notified, and have available officers in place to serve the warrant that this probability is well below 1%?…that this was political theatre and that our readers seem to be evenly divided on who orchestrated it?…that at the time of writing that the readers of the CCO that have voted are favoring the choice “Democratic Central Committee Dirty Tricks” by a small margin over both “Davis Campaign Dirty Tricks” and “Police Just Doing Their Job” that are statistically tied?…that in last place is the “Planetary Alignment” option?…that it surely seems like a dirty trick?…that we hope that someone gets to the bottom of who pulled the dirty trick?

IS IT TRUE that the University of Evansville Aces held an open house at the Ford Center yesterday and that every comment that we have heard or been sent is very positive about the opulence and the beauty of the interior?…that the only complaints are that it is obviously a “hockey” arena and of course that it is downtown?…that the best advice that we have is “don’t take it out on the team because you don’t like the downtown location”?…that Aces fans need to get out and support the team and enjoy the games as they always have even if they did not support the arena?…that Aces games are a part of the enjoyment of life and being aggravated with the Arena as a whole is no reason not to support the Aces?

IS IT TRUE that while this is not a Mole #3 tip, but we have gotten some information that a certain “Material Girl” who spent a summer in McCutcheonville while filming “A League of their Own” may be making a return visit?…that the last time this person spent time in Evansville she is quoted as saying that Evansville reminded her of Eastern Europe?…that was before Eastern Europe was the chic place to visit?…that some locals took offense to her comparison?…that having never been in Eastern Europe that we reserve comment but that we may just attend the concert if Madonna really does get on the growing roster of entertainers at the Ford Center?…that we are still waiting for that first act that could not have performed at Roberts Stadium because of the load bearing capacity of the ceiling?

Pigeon Township Vectren Bill Assistance Increases by 27% this Year

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Mary Hart the Pigeon Township trustee reports that requests made by residents of Pigeon Township have increased by 27% from a year ago to just over 1,300 requests.

The dollar value of assistance requested has risen to $491,000 with only $198,000 that funds were available to provide relief for.

IS IT TRUE? October 11, 2011 Special Evening Edition

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IS IT TRUE? October 11, 2011 Special Evening Edition

IS IT TRUE that the City County Observer will most certainly be setting records today for pageviews, absolute unique users, and for time online?…that some folks would think that it is the stories about the Evansville City Council and Vectren that would be driving the traffic but then one would be wrong?…that our mid morning IS IT TRUE about FloatGate is what is driving the traffic?…that the other story that still has wings is Andrew Smith’s letter of endorsement for Rick Davis that was published Sunday?

IS IT TRUE that excluding police reports that the most read IS IT TRUE ever is now the story about the young lady who was tricked by a faulty Vectren electric meter into thinking here use was affordable only to find out later that they were billing her for power that she never knew that she used and still isn’t sure that she used because their gear was defective?…that we have since learned that the contract out the reading of meters but they still have not admitted to or accepted any fault?…that perhaps this sort of behavior is why Councilman John Friend and Candidate for 2nd Ward City Council are circulating petitions and why Occupy Evansville is putting Vectren on the same list that they have banks and government on?

IS IT TRUE that there is a spoof organization that is being bantered about online that is calling itself “VACATE EVANSVILLE”?…that if there is such a thing that it has been in existence since 1960 and has chapters that meet regularly in progressive cities with plenty of job opportunities all over America?…that the best way to be invited to join is to get a bachelor’s degree from any of our good local universities?…that they will sign you up for the Alumni Club that is otherwise known as “Vacate Evansville”?

IS IT TRUE that Mole #8 tells us that Justin Alex Jarvis ran as a Republican for public office in 1994?…that specifically Mr. Jarvis ran for pigeon township advisory board?…that he also managed the campaign office for Lori Frary when she ran for mayor in 1995?…that if this sounds a bit strange that you can confirm it yourself on the following link to the Courier and Press Archives

http://local.evpl.org/views/viewimage.asp?ID=924980

IS IT TRUE that reading that article is a strong reminder that Evansville may not be very good a recycling garbage but it sure is good a recycling politicians?…that even then names don’t seem to change?…that when we sing “old boss same as the new boss” or “same old story same old song and dance”, it really is the same old boss and the same old song and dance?…that it is no more apparent than in the Office of the Mayor of Evansville where we can honestly claim to have 52 years, 13 administrations, and 4 last names?…that even the deepest darkest hollers of Appalachia are more diverse?

A Little Dueling Banjos for Old Times Sake

Democrat Jarvis Shown to have History of Ignoring Warrants

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The following public legal documents are made available without edit, opinion, or bias.

https://city-countyobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/docket_10.11.11__.pdf

Indiana Utility Rate Survey for 2011: Handed out at Evansville City Council Meeting

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This survey contains information on the rates for electricity charged by 22 Indiana providers. Vectren is shown as having the highest pricing at every use level studied by a wide margin. This is a nine page report that we have made available on the link below.

It must be noted that our neighbor to the south Henderson, KY has rates that are below every Indiana city in this survey.

Indiana Utility_Survey_2011