IS IT TRUE that should Lloyd Winnecke decide to seek the Republican nomination for Mayor of the City of Evansville that he will likely face a Primary battle from one or two other candidates?…that the Vanderburgh County Democratic party has never had a female party Chairperson?…that the Vanderburgh County Republican party has had two female party Chairpersons?….that Democratic party of Vanderburgh County never had a female nominee run for Mayor of Evansville?….that the Republican party of Vanderburgh has had two female candidates for Mayor? …that Evansville has never had a female Mayor? ….that select members of the local political groups would like to change that situation?

IS IT TRUE some that select members of the Vanderburgh County Republican party are not happy with the soon to be announced Republican candidate for Mayor?….that they are trying to draft a candidate to run against him in the upcoming Republican primary?

IS IT TRUE that select Vanderburgh County Party Democrats are not happy with the announced Democratic candidate for Mayor and are actively trying to get someone to run against him?…that Vanderburgh County Treasurer and candidate for the Democratic nomination for Mayor of Evansville, Rick Davis was recently quoted as saying “I am neither a Democrat nor a Republican”?…that such an inclusive expression may not appeal to the extreme partisans within the local Democratic party?…that such an attitude and a willingness to express it is refreshing and may just draw many traditional Republican voters to Mr. Davis’s camp in the general election?

IS IT TRUE “MOLE #3” that predicts that the final lists of people seeking elected offices in the city of Evansville are going to surprise people? ….the wind of political change is upon us? …. that the MOLE asks you to watch out because the local TEA PARTY group will have couple of political surprises of their own?

IS IT TRUE that a recent visit to Biaggi’s Ristaurante Italiano was quite informative?…that sometimes in life you just get lucky?…that the wait staff was engaged in lots of chatter regarding the $3,079 dinner that was held by the Board of Directors of the Evansville Convention and Visitors Bureau?…that Biaggi’s is out of OPUS ONE?….that certain members of the wait staff were questioned about the price of the bottles of Opus by one male member of the party?….that a couple of other members of the ECVB party (both male) let the wait staff know that they should not share the information about the cost of the Opus One with the person who asked about the price?…that the friendly waiter did not recognize the people being waited on?…that this is a story that the truth should have been told about when it happened?

IS IT TRUE that the cost of benefits have been getting higher and higher over the years and that employers are continually struggling to make ends meet while providing a decent benefit package?…that Cripe Architects and Engineers employs three people that are dedicated to the Evansville Arena project?….that one of those employees formerly was employed by the Office of the Mayor of Evansville?….that the agreed upon billing rate for the former employees services was supposedly based on the pay and benefits received as a City of Evansville employee?….that the mark up for these three employees is 3.13 or a full 213% more than they are actually being paid by Cripe?…that a 213% of wages benefit package is a pretty rich benefit package?…that for a package like that, many people would be willing to work for Cripe?…that the benefit package of the City of Evansville is truly burdened at 213%?….that we don’t think so?

IS IT TRUE the locally owned company Woodruff Hospitality cleared another hurdle yesterday in its quest to be chosen to construct and manage a Downtown Convention Hotel?…that both the Evansville Redevelopment Commission and the Evansville City Council have both passed resolutions supporting the proposal that Woodruff has made and the incentive package that they have requested?….that John Kish project manager is to be commended for his quiet deliberate approach to making good things happen on time and under budget?….that if Mr. Kish would have been the “Entertainment Complex Manager” instead of just the “Arena Manager” from day one the Executive Inn would be gone and Evansville would be preparing for a simultaneous opening ceremony in the Fall of 2011?….that the choice of Woodruff Hospitality validates the City County Observer’s long standing assertion that Evansville people and Evansville businesses should be given an opportunity at the significant jobs and projects and not just looked to as a labor force for outsiders?

IS IT TRUE that Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel moved very quickly to fill the two vacancies that are his to appoint to the Board of Directors of the Evansville Convention and Visitors Bureau?…that the two people that he appointed Ward Shaw of Casino Aztar and Donna Leader appear to be very good choices and fit the mold mandated by state law?….that in the official press release announcing these two appointments that Mayor Weinzapfel pushed the envelope by stating that an “outsider” should be hired to the Executive Director position vacated by the departure of Marilee Fowler?…that the Mayor also expressed a preference that the new board should move quickly to spend the Innkeeper’s Tax on some significant projects?

IS IT TRUE that there are four more board members to be appointed…that two will be appointed by the Vanderburgh County Commissioners and the other two by the Vanderburgh County Council?…that it is the Board of Director’s job to conduct the search and to make the decision on who to hire as Marilee’s replacement?…that the new Executive Director will have the responsibility to find and recommend projects for board of directors approval when it comes to significant projects being done with the Innkeeper’s Tax?…that Marilee Fowler’s departure was brought to us for the most part by political meddling in the affairs of the ECVB?…that “Here We Go Again” is not the right theme song for the ECVB if a local or national search is to yield the kind of talented candidate that is needed in this important position?…that the kind of person needed is not likely to want to be anyone’s puppet?….that puppets are only as good as their puppet master?

IS IT TRUE that the problems on the south side with respect to sewers and flood control are essentially two separate but vexing problems?…that there are four projects that have been approved and financed to address the flooding issues mostly in the second Ward?…that one of those projects has been started and is reported to be 45% complete?…that the other three projects are not yet started but are scheduled to be completed sometime in 2015?…that if your spouse wants four rooms painted and the first room is half done that the other three have not been started that the job is not yet complete?…that it still takes spending time and money to finish the job?…that the City County Observer believes that the south side flooding problem has a solution that will be implemented?….that having a solution on the drawing board and financing in place does not mean that the problem is solved and that announcing that it was solved was about 4 years premature?…that we do applaud Mayor Weinzapfel for doing something about this legacy problem and wish his successor well in finishing the job without incident?

IS IT TRUE that the other problem, the one that we smell when driving down Southlane Drive is still the subject of a Justice Department ruling and will be much more expensive and time consuming to solve?…that problem will continue to dominate local politics and resources for two decades?

January 10, 2011

News Release

Evansville, Ind. — Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel applauds City Council’s unanimous vote this evening in support of a resolution affirming the Evansville Redevelopment Commission’s decision to move forward with an agreement to develop a new
hotel in downtown Evansville adjacent to the new Evansville Arena and The Centre.

“I appreciate City Council’s leadership in pushing this vitally important project to the next level,” said Mayor Weinzapfel. “A hotel of this caliber is essential to the continued revitalization of downtown Evansville and to our community’s ability to most effectively market The Centre and the new Evansville Arena to convention, trade show and event planners, not to mention tourists of all kinds.”

As Mayor Weinzapfel announced on December 21, 2010, the City is ready to finalize an agreement with Evansville firm Woodruff Hospitality to develop a new $32 million Hyatt Place hotel with 220 guest rooms and suites, as well as banquet and meeting facilities to complement those at The Centre.

“Not only is this a positive step for our community, but it’s shaping up to be a good deal financially, especially when compared to the incentives other communities have offered for similar projects. Plus, this project will create hundreds of good paying jobs during construction over the next year and its subsequent operation,” Weinzapfel said at the time.

The agreement will stipulate that the hotel site include at least 305 parking spaces for its operation. Those spaces will also be available for arena functions. The developer will be responsible for all operating and other expenses of the new hotel and parking facility, as well as for the demolition of what remains of the former Executive Inn and its parking garage. If for some reason it is less expensive or otherwise more logical for the City to undertake the
demolition of the former Executive Inn, the incentives will be adjusted accordingly.

The City is in a position to offer public incentives not to exceed $3,500,000 from downtown economic development funds pledged by Casino Aztar; up to $4,500,000 in loans supported by the downtown TIF, not general property taxes; and up to a 10-year property tax phase-in schedule as allowable by law. In comparison, Fort Wayne officials provided a parking facility and more than $1 million for infrastructure improvements, an annual subsidy of $250,000 for at least 10 years, $6 million worth of income tax credits, the construction of a skywalk, and other incentives to spur the development of a new nationally-affiliated hotel near the new baseball stadium in downtown Fort Wayne.

The local development agreement will call for the utilization of local workers and the hiring of local construction companies, engineers and architects to the fullest extent possible. The City also will request that local minority- and women-owned businesses be utilized for a total of 21% of the work.

The development agreement is based on the responses to the initial request for proposals the Evansville Redevelopment Commission (ERC) issued in September to solicit concepts for the development, design and construction of a new hotel and determine the type and amount of public incentives that would be necessary for such a development in the current economic climate.

Woodruff Hospitality was one of four respondents to the initial RFP. Responses were also received from Browning Hotel Associates LLC (Indianapolis), White Lodging Services Corporation (Merrillville) and The Kunkel Group (Evansville), which joined Woodruff in its bid
for the hotel project shortly after the responses were received.

The ERC endorsed these incentives at its meeting on January 3, 2011, and will incorporate them into its final request for proposals for the hotel development as required by State law. The ERC
will consider all responses it receives to its RFP and expects a final agreement to be concluded in March 2011.

Woodruff Hospitality was formed approximately five years ago to acquire, renovate and manage hotel properties. Martin Woodruff, also a State Farm Insurance agent, is Woodruff Hospitality’s
majority owner and principle; and Jeff Stratton is Vice President of Finance. Woodruff Hospitality has engaged Evansville-based Landmark Design & Engineering, Inc., owned by David Stallings, to work with Hyatt corporate officials to design and engineer the new hotel facility.

Source: City of Evansville

Expresses Outspoken Opinions on Marilee Fowler’s Replacement and How to Spend the Innkeeper’s Tax

(EVANSVILLE, IN) – January 10, 2011 – Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel today announced that he
has appointed Ward Shaw and Donna Leader to the Evansville Convention & Visitors Bureau
(ECVB) Board of Commissioners. Their terms, effective immediately, will expire on December
31, 2011, since they will be filling the unexpired portions of previous members’ terms.
“Ward Shaw and Donna Leader have not only the requisite skills and experience to help lead the
ECVB through this troubling situation, but also the passion for the Evansville community
necessary to move us forward. Ward and Donna fully understand the complexities of the current
situation and are ready to hit the ground running to restore community faith in the ECVB.”
In order to move the ECVB – and our community – forward, Mayor Weinzapfel believes the
Board needs to immediately focus its efforts on the following:

• Finding a new executive director from outside the organization who can provide a fresh
perspective and leadership;

• Determining the most effective use of Innkeeper’s Tax revenues and allocating funds for
one or two large-scale projects that will have a substantial, positive impact on convention
and tourism business and our local economy;

• Working strategically and collaboratively to align the ECVB’s mission and efforts with
our region’s economic and community development goals, understanding that the
Commission was created to promote the development and growth of our convention and
visitor industry, which must be considered as much of a business sector as plastics,
automotive components, healthcare, or banking; and

• Coordinating with the Vanderburgh County Council to ensure proper administrative and
financial controls are in place.

According to State statute, the Mayor must appoint a member to the ECVB Board who is
engaged in the hotel/motel business and to represent the interests of the riverboat. Ward Shaw,
who moved to Evansville in July 2010 to serve as General Manager of Casino Aztar with
Tropicana Entertainment, is a graduate of Vanderbilt University, which he attended on a Naval
ROTC scholarship. After four years as a Naval officer onboard the USS Roanoke in the Western
Pacific, he attended Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, where he completed a
Master’s in Business Administration. Upon completing the graduate program at IU, Ward began
his career in the gaming industry with the former Harrah’s Entertainment, where he worked in a
variety of senior management roles within the company at multiple locations including St. Louis,
MO; Las Vegas, NV; Kansas City, MO; and Lake Charles, LA. Most recently before coming to
Evansville, Ward worked with stand-alone casinos around the country to assist them with
strategic planning, operational improvements and leadership development.

Ward enjoys staying active and contributing his service to philanthropic and civic organizations.
Since relocating to Evansville in July, Ward has become involved in the Rotary Club of
Evansville and has recently joined a commission to help analyze and improve operating
structures at Evansville’s Mesker Park Zoo and Botanic Garden.

Donna Leader, a native of Evansville, is a graduate of the University of Evansville who also has
received certifications in fundraising, creative problem solving, leadership training, planned
giving, and grant writing. Currently the Development Director at Joshua Academy, Donna
previously served as Executive Director of The Catholic Foundation of Southwestern Indiana,
Inc.; Director of Development for Evansville Catholic High Schools; Director of Meetings and
Conventions for Bristol-Myers Squibb/Mead Johnson; and Vice President of Sales and
Marketing for Ball Communications.

Donna’s present community service and civic involvement includes serving as an at-large
member of the Vanderburgh County Council; membership in the Rotary Club of Evansville,
ANEW – A Network of Evansville Women, and the League of Women Voters; and serving on
the Evansville Arena Project Committee, N.E.E.D.S. Executive Committee, ATHENA Awards
Committee, and Rotary Club of Evansville Civic Awards Committee (Co-Chair).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 10, 2011

AG, legislators support bill for safe disposal of prescription drugs

Legislation would deter abuse, clear obstacles to pharmacies offering drug drop-off option

INDIANAPOLIS – Because of the crisis Indiana faces in the abuse and misuse of prescription drugs, Attorney General Greg Zoeller and state lawmakers and regulators today announced a legislative proposal that would make it easier for Hoosiers to safely discard their unneeded or expired prescription drugs.

The bill, introduced into the 2011 session of the Indiana General Assembly, would revise statutory and regulatory requirements in Indiana law so that pharmacies could accept unused prescription drugs from customers and dispose of them securely and safely at their stores.

“Many parents might not realize that abuse of prescription drugs by teenagers is very common, and the source of the controlled substances is not a dealer on a street corner but the family medicine cabinet. Unused or outdated prescriptions easily get pilfered and the hazardous medications diverted for teen drug experimentation. Flushing away old medicines is not the best option either, since pharmaceutical pollutants can get into waterways. This bill is a good remedy to both problems, and I applaud the legislators for introducing it,” Zoeller said.

State Representative Kevin Mahan, R-Hartford City, is author of the legislation, House Bill 1121, and State Representative Scott Reske, D-Pendleton, and State Representative Randy Frye, R-Greensburg, are co-authors.

“As the former sheriff of Blackford County, I have unfortunately seen the abuse that can take place with prescription drugs and the liability they have in people’s homes. As sheriff, I took a proactive approach and organized a program for proper prescription disposal, which resulted in filling up eight 55-gallon barrels. This legislation is necessary to give pharmacies more control in dealing with discarded prescriptions. Another benefit to this legislation is the fact it does not require a police officer to be present while collecting this unused medication. It will give them the opportunity to participate if available, but will allow them the opportunity to fulfill their duties of keeping us safe,” Representative Mahan said.

“This is one of the many ways we are hoping to address in confronting the increasing problem of prescription drug abuse that is being experienced nationwide,” Representative Reske said.

“These programs give patients and health care providers a way to safely and effectively get these dangerous drugs out of the home. The bill will finally allow pharmacies to collect and destroy the very drugs they dispense,” said Lora Williams, president of the Indiana Board of Pharmacy, which would develop new rules if the bill passes.

In some other states, pharmacies provide disposal bins where consumers can safely discard their unneeded prescription pills, tablets and liquids. State statute would have to be changed for pharmacies in Indiana to be able to widely offer drug-disposal sites for controlled substances, however.

On September 25, the Attorney General’s Office, the Indiana State Police (ISP) and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) participated in the National Drug Take Back Day which allowed people to drop off unused and unwanted drugs at dozens of locations around Indiana. Approximately four tons of prescription drugs were collected in one day and properly destroyed by incineration. Although the Take Back Day event indicated there was pent-up demand for such collection points, federal law requires a law enforcement official to be present at a disposal site.

Mahan’s, Reske’s and Frye’s bill would allow pharmacies to participate in a disposal program to accept unused prescription medications, including controlled substances such as prescription painkillers. It would empower the Indiana Board of Pharmacy to designate who can accept those medications in keeping with the federal law.

If passed, the bill also would authorize the Board of Pharmacy to write regulatory rules to implement the program so that the medications can be securely discarded in an environmentally safe manner while protecting patients’ privacy. The Board of Pharmacy would work with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), the State Department of Health (ISDH), the Indiana State Police and other agencies in developing the new rules and licensing requirements.

Participating in the drug disposal program would be voluntary; pharmacies and other participating health facilities would not be required to offer disposal sites. “Many pharmacy retailers may be eager to offer this service voluntarily since it will draw customers into their stores where they might purchase other products. From a consumer standpoint, the convenience of being able to return unused drugs to pharmacies will mean that fewer medicines get diverted and abused. From a public safety standpoint, providing a drug disposal site no longer will entail taking a police officer off the street to supervise it,” Zoeller said.

According to IDEM, proper disposal of prescription and over-the-counter medications is an environmental concern. Pharmaceuticals, if flushed or poured down a drain, might not be removed during the sewage treatment process and the chemicals can make their way into lakes, streams and groundwater where aquatic species would be exposed to them. IDEM and cooperating Solid Waste Management Districts and other groups offer locations to discard unwanted medicines if they are not controlled substances. For more information, view this link: http://www.in.gov/recycle/6141.htm.

The Attorney General’s Office is the state’s consumer protection agency and brings licensing actions against licensed health professionals and entities. Zoeller thanked the legislators, the Indiana Board of Pharmacy, IDEM, Indiana State Police, DEA and other agencies for their efforts to reduce prescription drug diversion and abuse, and he urged the Legislature to pass the bill this session.

Could Vectren be on Duke’s Shopping List?

January 10, 2011

CHARLOTTE, N.C. and RALEIGH, N.C. – Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) and Progress Energy, Inc. (NYSE: PGN) announced today that both companies’ boards of directors have unanimously approved a definitive merger agreement to combine the two companies in a stock-for-stock transaction. The combined company, to be called Duke Energy, will be the country’s largest utility, with:

• Approximately $65 billion in enterprise value and $37 billion in market capitalization
• The country’s largest regulated customer base, providing service to approximately 7.1 million electric customers in six regulated service territories North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio
• Approximately 57 gigawatts of domestic generating capacity from a diversified mix of coal, nuclear, natural gas, oil and renewable resources
• The largest regulated nuclear fleet in the country.

“Our industry is entering a building phase where we must invest in an array of new technologies to reduce our environmental footprints and become more efficient,” said Jim Rogers, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Duke Energy. “By merging our companies, we can do that more economically for our customers, improve shareholder value and continue to grow.

“Combining Duke Energy and Progress Energy creates a utility with greater financial strength and enhanced ability to meet our challenges head-on,” Rogers continued.

“This combination of two outstanding companies is a natural fit,” said Bill Johnson, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Progress Energy. “It makes clear strategic sense and creates exceptional value for our shareholders. Together, we can leverage our best practices to achieve even higher levels of safety, operational excellence and customer satisfaction, and save money for customers by combining our fuel purchasing power and the dispatch of our generating plants.

“This merger also provides predictable earnings and cash flows to support our dividend payments to shareholders,” Johnson added.

Terms
Under the merger agreement, Progress Energy’s shareholders will receive 2.6125 shares of common stock of Duke Energy in exchange for each share of Progress Energy common stock. Based on Duke Energy’s closing share price on Jan. 7, 2011,

Progress Energy shareholders would receive a value of $46.48 per share, or $13.7 billion in total equity value.

Duke Energy also will assume approximately $12.2 billion in Progress Energy net debt. The transaction price represents a 7.1 percent premium to the unaffected closing stock price of Progress Energy on Jan. 5, 2011, and a 3.9 percent premium to the closing stock price of Progress Energy on Jan. 7, 2011.

The transaction price also represents a 6.6 percent premium to the average closing stock price of Progress Energy over the last 20 trading days ending Jan. 5, 2011, and a 6.4 percent premium over the last 20 trading days ending Jan. 7, 2011.

Following completion of the merger, officials anticipate Duke Energy shareholders will own approximately 63 percent of the combined company and Progress Energy shareholders will own approximately 37 percent on a fully diluted basis.

The combination is anticipated to be accretive to Duke Energy’s adjusted earnings in the first year after closing.

Based on Duke Energy’s current quarterly cash dividend of 24.5 cents per common share, Progress Energy shareholders would receive an approximate 3 percent dividend increase.

Duke Energy expects to effect a reverse stock split immediately prior to closing, and, as a result, the exchange ratio will be appropriately adjusted at that time to reflect the reverse split.

Structure, Organization & Leadership
When the merger is completed, Rogers will become executive chairman of the new organization. In this role, Rogers will advise the CEO on strategic matters, play an active role in government relations and serve as the company’s lead spokesperson on energy policy.

Johnson will become president and chief executive officer of the new company.

Both Rogers and Johnson will serve on the board of directors of the combined company, which will be composed of 18 members, with 11 designated by Duke Energy’s board of directors and seven designated by Progress Energy’s board of directors.

The combined company will be headquartered in Charlotte and will maintain substantial operations in Raleigh.

Until the merger has received all necessary approvals and has closed, the companies will continue to operate as separate entities.

Customers will see no change in their current electric utility companies including: Progress Energy Carolinas and Progress Energy Florida and Duke Energy Carolinas, Duke Energy Indiana, Duke Energy Ohio, Duke Energy Kentucky, Commercial Power, Duke Energy Generation Services and Duke Energy International.

Approvals & Timing
Completion of the merger is conditioned upon, among other things, the approval of the shareholders of both companies, as well as expiration or termination of any applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976.

Other necessary regulatory filings include: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) and South Carolina Public Service Commission (SCPSC).

The companies also will provide information regarding the merger to their other state regulators: the Florida Public Service Commission, Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, Kentucky Public Service Commission and Ohio Public Utilities Commission.

The companies are targeting a closing by the end of 2011.

Advisors
J.P. Morgan served as lead financial advisor and provided a fairness opinion to Duke Energy, and BofA Merrill Lynch also provided a fairness opinion to Duke Energy. Lazard Frères served as lead financial advisor and provided a fairness opinion to Progress Energy, and Barclays Capital also served as a financial advisor and provided a fairness opinion to Progress Energy. Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz served as legal counsel for Duke Energy. Hunton & Williams LLP served as legal counsel for Progress Energy.

About Duke Energy
Duke Energy is one of the largest electric power holding companies in the United States. Its regulated utility operations serve approximately 4 million customers located in five states in the Southeast and Midwest, representing a population of approximately 11 million people. Its commercial power and international business segments own and operate diverse power generation assets in North America and Latin America, including a growing portfolio of renewable energy assets in the United States. Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is a Fortune 500 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available on the Internet at: www.duke-energy.com.

About Progress Energy
Progress Energy (NYSE: PGN), headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., is a Fortune 500 energy company with about 22,000 megawatts of generation capacity and approximately $10 billion in annual revenues. Progress Energy includes two major electric utilities that serve about 3.1 million customers in the Carolinas and Florida. The company has earned the Edison Electric Institute’s Edison Award, the industry’s highest honor, in recognition of its operational excellence, and was the first utility to receive the prestigious J.D. Power and Associates Founder’s Award for customer service. The company is pursuing a balanced strategy for a secure energy future, which includes aggressive energy-efficiency programs, investments in renewable energy technologies and a state-of-the-art electricity system. Progress Energy celebrated a century of service in 2008. Visit the company’s website at www.progress-energy.com.

Source: Duke Energy

Income, Sales, and Sin Taxes May Increase to Cover $13 Billion Deficit

The New York Times is reporting that the State of Illinois has a budget deficit of $13 Billion that is forcing the new legislature to consider increasing every tax that it is within their power to increase just to keep the bills paid. In addition to the massive deficit the State if Illinois is reported to have current unpaid bills of $6 Billion causing concerns about debt ratings and bondability.

To deal with this Illinois is considering increasing the income tax by 75%, a yet to be defined tax increase on businesses, and of course the always popular increase on cigarettes by $1 per pack. The tax increases are being designed to raise about $7.5 Billion per year in additional tax revenue. When asked what the legislature would do with this money, John Cullerton the President of the Illinois Senate simply said “we would pay our bills”.

So what has happened to cause our friends and relatives across the Wabash River to be facing massive tax increases? Illinois more than nearly any other state is dominated by a single large urban city in the form of Chicago that has the population and the votes to dictate state policy. Thus the State of Illinois is governed like a Midwestern city. The rest of Illinois including the parts that we all consider to be part of the Tri-State are much more like rural America. It is somewhat like the City of Chicago has annexed the rest of the state. It will be interesting to see how the rest of Illinois responds to these massive tax increases that are largely necessary because of the excessive spending of elected officials on keeping the bills paid in the northeast corner of the state.

Here is a link to the full article.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/10/us/10illinois.html?pagewanted=1&hp

City County Observer Smashes Weekly Internet Traffic Records

On October 16, 2010 the City County Observer started tracking its internet traffic using an available 3rd party program called Google Analytics. The first quarter of tracking will end this week and we are confident that the trailing quarter’s numbers will reflect that we attracted 100,000 pageviews from 35,000 visits, 12,000 of which have been unique.

The first full week of January in 2011 presented some conditions in the marketplace that the CCO was prepared to take full advantage of to drive traffic to a new level. During that week internet traffic records were set on every day of the week with one day being marked by traffic spiking so high that our server crashed. In spite of the crash keeping the site down for 4 hours it was another record day. Last week Google Analytics recorded 15,031pageviews and 4,920 visits from 2,698 unique visitors. More importantly the average time on site increased by 25% to a full 4 minutes and 22 seconds per visit.

The CCO has now had visits from all 50 states and 59 countries. Over 80% of our following continues to be in the Evansville region but we do enjoy extensive readership from New York, Indianapolis, Houston, Austin, Chicago, Louisville, Atlanta, Washington DC, and a growing following in both the Los Angeles and Silicon Valley areas of California.

The traffic is surprisingly balanced by source with referrals now leading with 40.9%, followed by direct access at 33.2%, and finally search engine referrals at 25.9%.

What does 2011 look like?

With the launch of our “good news” paper and the fortunate situations that a local election year will provide we have set an achievable goal to record 1,000,000 pageviews during CY 2011. We expect that this will come from about 350,000 visits from 150,000 unique visitors. This will require about 30% growth on average from our record week but we have already enjoyed over 100% growth since the 2010 elections.

We are dedicated to the concept that content drives traffic, a lesson that we have taken to heart after seeing our traffic increase substantially by publishing IS IT TRUE on every weekday. We will continue to bring new authors on board, to generate provocative original content, and to do as a local publisher recently opined “show the courage to ask the questions and publish the content that take more courage than local media has been willing to muster”.

We look forward to serving the Evansville region in 2011 and to do what we believe is right cajole, shame, or even inspire local government to implement and practice good public policy.

IS IT TRUE that the subject of hiring a new Attorney for the the Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners 2011 fiscal year is on this Tuesday’s agenda?….that the names of two outstanding attorneys Ted Zimmer and Joe Harrison, Jr. are being discussed to be appointed to this most important position? ….that both gentlemen are highly respected and qualified to do legal work for Vanderburgh County since both have extensive experience doing work for the Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners?….that both lawyers were Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners lead attorneys at one time?….that the new Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners would be well served if they would split this position into Co-County attorneys because they both bring extremely high levels of legal talent to the table? ….we know that the 2011 County Commissioners budget can sustain the funding of both individuals as Co-County Attorneys? ….many people are watching to see if 2011 Vanderburgh County Commissioners have the wisdom and insight to make this happen?

IS IT TRUE we still wonder how much money GAGE lost by putting on the 2009 Freedom Festival? … that GAGE reported to the media in July of 2009 that the figure of the loss was approximately $290,000?…that the word on the street is that $300,000, $400,000, $500,000 or even more than $600,000 may be the real figure when all costs are considered? ….that the GAGE Board of Directors will meet this coming Wednesday (Jan.12, 2011) to review the 2008 and 2009 financial audits conducted by a local accounting firm? …we know that the GAGE Board of Directors will not give the local media a copy of these audits because that will declare that they are a public private partnership not-for-profit that is exempt from the Freedom of Information Act legislation? ….since this organization receives public tax dollars through the Evansville City Council and Vanderburgh County Council we shall relay on individuals from these elected entities that provide funding to provide the media with copies of these audits?

IS IT TRUE that we have a better idea?….we suggest that the newly elected Vanderburgh County Council President and member of the GAGE Board of Directors, Joe Kiefer provides the City County Observer and other local media with a copy the 2008 and 2009 audits the day after the GAGE Board of Directors reviews them? …that we would also appreciate an summary of the conclusions of the audit without GAGE board editorialization?….we expect that County Council President Joe Kiefer shall give all local media copies of these audits because his re-election campaign theme was “OPENNESS IN GOVERNMENT”?…that the executive committee at the time of the 2009 Freedom Festival should be available for questions in a public forum to explain the losses?….that Joe Kiefer was not even a part of GAGE in any way during the Freedom Festival?…that the crusader of auditing of bad policy to replace it with good public policy Commissioner Marsha Abell will be going on to the board of GAGE and should pursue the truth of what led to the difficulties of GAGE with the same diligence that she recently exposed the excessive board level poor judgment of the Evansville Convention and Visitors Bureau?

IS IT TRUE that the Evansville City Council now has a real scholar in its mist? ….the Dr. Dan McGinn is now teaching law at USI? ….his new title is Adjunct Professor? ….we know his students shall not only enjoy Professor McGinn lectures but shall learn a great deal?