IS IT TRUE that our investigation about the astoundingly high residential electricity rates that are charged by Vectren have moved to the north and the east?…that it is not just Henderson that enjoys significantly lower rates than are offered by Vectren?….that Jasper, Terre Haute, and Owensboro also have rates that vary from 42% to 58% of what Vectren charges all of us?….that for a typical household one can travel 50 miles in any direction and escape the monopoly that has been granted to Vectren?…that by doing so families can cut their electric bill by at least half?…that as long as this situation continues that SW Indiana is severely handicapped when it comes to attracting jobs, entering the green economy, or even being seen as a cost effective place to live? …that SW Indiana is an island of overpriced power relative to its neighbors that are served by other power providers?

IS IT TRUE that last night before a crowd of 8,000 at the University of California at Santa Barbara that the undefeated University of Louisville Cardinals soccer team advanced to the final game of the NCAA tournament?….that their opponent this Sunday will be the Akron Zips also from the Midwest?….that strong youth soccer programs in the local communities is starting to pay off for these two universities along with Michigan and North Carolina the other Final Four teams?…..that in 1986 the University of Evansville Purple Aces soccer team made a trip to the Final Four?…that in the spring of 2004 that Evansville opened the Goebel Soccer Complex that has seen some success in developing local soccer talent along with attracting national tournaments?….that the Reitz Bowl is a perfect venue for a crowd of 10,000 to watch a soccer tournament?…that if Evansville is to become a town that attracts major athletic events of a NCAA Division 1 level that the NCAA Division 1 College Cup may just be an achievable goal?…that a return to the Final Four by the Purple Aces in the near future played in the Reitz Bowl would be one major accomplishment for Evansville and Vanderburgh County?

IS IT TRUE that long term planning by whatever and whomever is taking it upon themselves to attract major sports events to Evansville should include a long term goal of attracting the College Cup of Division 1 Soccer?….that this task should fall within the responsibilities of the Evansville Convention and Visitors Bureau?….that the “national” search for a replacement for Marilee Fowler continues to be hampered by a local disconnection with the economic reality of what it costs to get top shelf talent to relocate to Evansville?…that if the ECVB either can’t afford or won’t pay national rates that such a search makes about as much sense as hanging out at D-Patrick’s hoping that a $150,000 import will somehow be bought for 50% off?…that qualified, willing, and experienced local candidates should be given a second look?

IS IT TRUE that the City County Observers call for suggestions for the 10 most significant things in 2010 and the 10 things that we had better get right is drawing some very good suggestions?….that the gloves are off and the claws are out already over the prospect of a more restrictive smoking ordinance?….that one suggestion is that one of the Top 10 things for 2010 is the fact that the City Council after staunch opposition for twenty years deadlocked in a 4-4 tie regarding a tougher smoking ordinance last March?….that another suggestion is that a smoking ordinance is something that we have better get right in 2011?…that the Vanderburgh County Commissioners are planning to do exactly that with a comprehensive smokefree workplace law in early 2011?…that the real legislative body that will be under fire and controversy will be the Evansville City Council all of whom are up for re-election in 2011.

IS IT TRUE that it has now been 1,309 days since the announcement was made on May 14, 2007 that the McCurdy Hotel was to be refurbished into luxury apartments?…that it has now been 1,164 days since the Evansville Redevelopment Commission at the request of Mayor Weinzapfel approved the spending of $603,000 to purchase the parking lot.

IS IT TRUE that there are now 701 days remaining in the two years that the EPA had given the City of Evansville to present an acceptable solution to the Combined Sewer Overflow problem?…..that this plan is an expensive and complex endeavor that needs immediate attention to avoid the embarrassment and expense of another round of fines?

City County Observer Seeks Reader Input

As part of our December reflection period, we at the City County Observer are planning a series of articles on the 10 most significant things that we need to get right in 2011 and how those things will impact day to day life for the people of Evansville. We would like our readers to nominate the things that you believe will significantly impact Evansville that are achievable in 2011. We are looking for things that will have lasting impact on Evansville and its surroundings from a political or economic perspective. Here are some off the top of our head examples:

The 2011 Mayoral Election

The Makeup of the new Evansville City Council

The hiring of a new Executive Director for the Evansville Convention and Visitors Bureau

The First Street Dilemma: Will the McCurdy and the Riverhouse continue to just sit there?

The Executive Inn Dilemma plays itself out

We would very much appreciate your assistance in identifying the 10 most significant things to get right during 2011. Please include a paragraph or more of why you think your suggestions are worthy of a Top 10 for 2011 goals and objectives. You may enter by leaving a comment to this call for suggestions. You may use either your name or your handle. We will not discriminate as long as the proposals are credible.

News Release PIO 10-45

The Evansville Police Department Canine Unit places second at the Nationals!

Date: November 1-5th
Location: Tangipahoa Parrish S.O., Hammond, Louisiana
Supervisor: Sgt. Brent Hoover

SUMMARY

The Evansville Police Department Canine Unit placed second at the 2010 United States Police Canine Association’s (USPCA) National Field Trials!

The week long competition was hosted by the Tangipahoa Parrish Sheriff’s Office in Hammond, Louisiana November 1st through 5th.

Representing the Evansville Police Department at the Nationals were Cpl. Tim Nussmeier/K-9 Viro, Nick Henderson/K-9 Jery, Jason Thomas/K-9 Bobi, Jeremy Matthews/K-9 Brix, and Zach Elfreich/K-9 Axel.

The Top Five finishers in the Department Team competition were:

1st – St. Paul Minnesota Police Department
2nd – Evansville Indiana Police Department
3rd – Ramsey County Minnesota Sheriff’s Office
4th – Polk County Florida Sheriff’s Office
5th – Baton Rouge Louisiana Police Department.

All of the Evansville Canine Teams scored high enough to earn the USPCA National “Gold Medal of Excellence”.

Zach Elfreich and K-9 Axel (Evansville’s newest canine team) placed first in the Agility portion of the competition with a perfect score! This makes Zach and Axel the 2010 USPCA National Agility Champion!

The City County Observer has conducted an exclusive interview with an officer of Woodruff Hospitality where we have learned many details about the coming proposal of the company to finance and construct a 220 room Hyatt Place hotel on the site of the current Executive Inn parking garage.

The Hyatt Place brand has typically been built in much larger cities to serve niches within large markets with 160 – 180 rooms per hotel. According to Woodruff officials, the Hyatt Corporation was so impressed by the Evansville opportunity that they have committed to a significant equity investment in the Downtown Evansville Hyatt Place. The fact that Evansville investment dollars were brought to the table served to sufficiently impress the Hyatt Corporation, the Pritzker family, and the private investment group that provided the debt financing to seal the viability of the proposal.

The proposal will be comprehensive and include a subterranean parking garage with approximately 300 places to replace the lost parking spaces due to the demolition of the Executive Inn parking tower. The decision to go down instead of out to replace the parking will stave off the need that has been perceived for the City of Evansville to acquire additional property to construct a parking tower.

Woodruff Hospitality will be proposing a solution that includes the demolition of the remainder of the existing Executive Inn and the design and construction of T shaped elevated walk bridge over Walnut St. and Martin Luther King Blvd. to allow Hyatt Place customers indoor access to both the Centre and the Evansville Arena. Additionally the land under the Executive Inn will become a tasteful load out zone to serve the new Arena. This was especially important as a convenient load out was not included in any previous layouts.

The cost of the project is currently estimated to be just under $40 Million and the duration to be about 3 months of demolition and site preparation followed by 14 to 16 months of actual construction. The details of the proposal with respect to the contributions and incentives of the City of Evansville have not yet been finalized. In the interview it was divulged that the City of Evansville will only be asked to pay for the problems that were created apart from the hotel itself. The potential value of the Downtown Hyatt Place Hotel is recognized as a great opportunity by the locally lead investment group and their proposal reflects that recognition.

If all of the decisions on the part of the City of Evansville are timely, the permitting process is expedited, and no unforeseeable circumstances occur Downtown Evansville will be standing proudly at the grand opening of a new Hyatt Place Hotel in the Spring or Summer of 2012.

The Evansville Hyatt Place that will be proposed by Woodruff Hospitality plans to lean on the many years of expertise in hotel management by the Hyatt Corporation to manage this hotel.

Hyatt Hotels Corporation that conducted an initial public offering (IPO) in 2009 is currently trading at an all time high of $45.98 and trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol H.

IS IT TRUE that Mole #I41 tells us that the public relations people at Vectren have been asking what the City County Observer is about?…that the City County Observer accurately pointed out that Vectren has residential rates for electricity that are nearly three times the rates paid across the money saving bridge in Henderson?….that we have contacted Mr. Mike Roeder, Vice President of Communications at Vectren and offered him an opportunity to publish an explanation as to just how and why Evansville should be saddled with electrical rates that are triple what the people of Henderson pay for electricity?….that the City County Observer will publish any explanation of this astonishing pricing difference in unedited form at the top of the page whenever we receive it?….that Mr. Roeder has been supplied information on how to submit his article?….that we truly hope he reponds?

IS IT TRUE that the University of Evansville Purple Aces took a pretty sound defeat at the hands of the North Carolina Tar Heels last night in front of a capacity crowd of over 12,000 people at Roberts Stadium last night?…that the Aces scored first and held a couple of leads in the early minutes of the game?…that one of the top players for North Carolina is a former member of the Indiana State Champion Washington Hatchets, Tyler Zeller?…that the decision to pursue and compete at the Division 1 level by the University of Evansville is what enabled Roberts Stadium to attract a perennial national powerhouse to Evansville?…that it took courage and chutzpah on behalf of a 2,500 student college like UE to schedule the Tar Heels?

IS IT TRUE that by staying Division 1 and by continually improving someday the Aces may once again strike fear into the hearts of bigger, stronger, and faster opponents who dare to enter the new Evansville Arena?…that UCLA’s legendary coach John Wooden after a Division 1 NCAA Championship that UCLA may not really be the best team in the country?…that Coach Wooden was referring to the undefeated College Division champion Aces when he made that statement?… that even in defeat that the City County Observer is proud of our Evansville Aces for having the courage to take on teams like UNC?

IS IT TRUE that the Aces did defeat the NCAA runner-up Butler Bulldogs at the Hinkle Fieldhouse on the campus at Butler?…that the win over Butler was the best win in several years for the Aces?… that our spirits rose and we actually had hope to upset the Tar Heels after polishing off Butler?…that wins like the one at Butler are what sells tickets?…that big wins and big opponents will have more influence on the success of the new Evansville Arena than the plush seats and Downtown Evansville location will?….that winning is the only thing that really makes Arena’s successful?

IS IT TRUE that there are now 703 days remaining in the two years that the EPA had given the City of Evansville to present an acceptable solution to the Combined Sewer Overflow problem?…..that this plan is an expensive and complex endeavor that needs immediate attention to avoid the embarrassment and expense of another round of fines?

IS IT TRUE that it has now been 1,307 days since the announcement was made on May 14, 2007 that the McCurdy Hotel was to be refurbished into luxury apartments?…that it has now been 1,162 days since the Evansville Redevelopment Commission at the request of Mayor Weinzapfel approved the spending of $603,000 to purchase the parking lot.

IS IT TRUE that one theory of the origin of the poem “Humpty Dumpty” is that it was a riddle regarding the vulnerability of a King who was detached from his subjects?…that Humpty Dumpty (the King) had an outer shell that was thin and brittle like an egg?…that when Humpty Dumpty fell off the wall (his lofty perch) and fractured his thin shell, that all of the King’s horses and all of the King’s men could not put Humpty Dumpty back together again?

IS IT TRUE that 2011 is setting up to be a year of awareness in Evansville, Indiana?…that the old boy network is under the microscope of people who have never involved themselves in the search for good public policy before?…that a sleeping giant of caring, competence, and commitment is being awakened in Evansville?…that leadership can and will come from places that are not expected?….that some will not welcome this leadership?….that many will embrace the ideas of positive change and that 2011 will prove to be a year of exactly that?