Monday, July 30, 2007

IS THIS THE REAL STORY, AFTER ALL? ARE THE FACTS RIGHT ON THIS ONE, THIS TIME?

This time, I think I may have all the facts in order about the redistricting issue facing Council and citizens.

On Friday, on the 2nd Floor of the Federal Building, with the Judge being from Evansville, the following Council members were called in by Mr. Ulrich (their Attorney). The Council members called in were Mr. Gahan, Mr. Kochert and Mr. Zurschmeide.

Mr. Ulrich received a message from a Clerk of the Court, from Mr. Baylor, asking Mr. Beardsley to telephone him asap. Mr. Ulrich responded he was not that party's attorney (Mr. Beardsley).

The outcome is the litigants must come up with the parameters they have in mind by next Friday.

Now, this brings us back to the issues I raised in the other posting, which is, i.e., is Mr. Ulrich being paid extra for this work? Will Mr. Beardsley go easy on us as citizens if we have to pay his legal fees?

If they are redistricted, it can't possibly happen until after the election, right? It would seem we could not have two people running against each other in the fall; and btw, would that give the Democrats a caucus meeting so we can put Mr. Schmidt back in?

It will be published in the paper soon, I'm sure of it. Next Friday is the deadline, and anyone wishing to research it can search Federal records for a copy of the suit.

Thanks for letting me set the record straight.

Peace, NA.

WHAT IS IT -- SOMETHING NO ONE WANTS TO TALK ABOUT?

The curiosity has awakened in me...what's this about the redistricting of the City of New Albany actually being underway downtown, in a Court of Law? As I am aware Mr. Ulrich attended, along with Mr. Coffey, Mr. Gahan, Mr. Kochert and evidently I am entirely wrong about all of this, especially Mr. Baylor. Please accept my public apologies. Thank you for setting the record straight, Mr. Baylor. I do appreciate it. Mr. Baylor's comments have been published.

As he asked, I will remove the rest of this posting.

It would be an interesting, and awkward, position for some if it was true. Maybe Mr. Schmidtt would get his seat back because Mr. Ceasar would be running against Mr. Coffey for the same district, blah, blah, blah.

Peace, NA.

Friday, July 20, 2007

T H E W A R . . . . . . . . . (WHICH ONE)?????

As an American citizen, when I found out we were going to war with Iraq, I got on the horn. We called our U.S. Senator and our U.S. Congressman and stated clearly we felt this war was unnecessary, contrived and Iraq WAS NOT a threat to OUR national security. As I have said before, the 9/11 terrorists were not from Iraq. My feelings are strong against using another country to fight our war on "terrorism". How many times have they "tried" telling us "if we don't fight it there, they'll come over here"? Wrong. Wrong on ALL COUNTS. And, still wrong to this day. On the news there was mention of either Time or Newsweek having an article stating even if we started pulling out tomorrow, how long do you think it would take just to get the 40 some thousand vehicles alone out? As all of the logistics was mentioned of what a nightmare it would be and potentially we might have to stay for life, I lost my taste for my coffee.

My opinions about this war have never been kept secret on "my" little blog here, but now it has been tainted with my family now being drawn in to this inept President's "second, or is it third" surge.

My nephew has been called up for Afghanistan. Afghanistan doesn't bother me like Iraq does; but it does bother me we pulled our troops from Afghanistan to fight in Iraq. The REAL ENEMY is up on that Pakistan/Afghanistan border -- and that is where my nephew is going.

There's always a catch, isn't there? He's served his four years of Guard duty, yes National Guard. He was to be released in October. He's in school at the top of his class in computers. The problem with me lies in the fact that he IS NOT IN THE ARMY, he IS NOT IN THE NAVY, he IS NOT IN THE MARINES, he is in the NATIONAL GUARD. The NATIONAL GUARD should be taking caring of the U.S. and not Iraq nor Afghanistan. We don't have enough Guards' people now to help our own citizens in times of disasters, like New Orleans i.e.....

As I had already warned my nephew Zachary that I did not think they were going to let him out in October, that I felt he was going to be part of the "next" surge Bush had planned...he didn't think so. He told me he would know by October because there would be a freeze put on his bank account. He's a little bit upset, to say the least, as am I. Personally, I don't feel he's been trained to fight in a war and I don't think that is what the National Guard is intended for...but I am pretty opinionated on this subject -- and not just because of him. The whole thing in general gets my goat.

Since the government was not going to let Zach out, he went ahead and re-enlisted and got the government's $20,000.00 re-enlistment bonus. I can't argue that I wouldn't have done the same thing, but your life isn't worth one million dollars to me. I love you like you are my own son, which I never had, and I can't even imagine what you are getting ready to do.

Your Aunt Von will be with you, and we'll communicate on "MySpace", and I'll send you mail and all kinds of care packages...just can't believe it, Zach. It literally makes me ill (and to be called up on your grandfather's (my dad's) birthday), sad sad day for us.

My faith is strong, as is the family's...we'll all be there with ya.

Love you Zachary Scott -- Aunt Von

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC TO THE EARS!!!!

It's late notice and everything, but some original members from the old "Exiles" band will be performing at Hugh E. Bir's, down at the original "4th Street Live" and Market.

As a rabid music fan, I've known this group, or some of 'em, for 30 odd years and I'm so thankful they're bringing the "new" group they are forming to New Albany for their debut.

Fun starts at 9:00 PM tonight. Hope to see you there. Thanks.

Infrastructure (Alias -- Sewers)

Personally, I would like to thank Kevin Zurschmeide for his time and Mr. Solomon's time in going through the EMC proposal and cutting around $300,000.00 from same. My issue, and Mr. Ledford and others was this proposal should have been first bid out under the Overton tenure. Like Mr. Ledford said, it's a good proposal -- compared to what?

Having received numerous and sundry calls from various individuals (some of them it's been a while), anyways, I asked my Council person (Mr. Price) to attend the Sewer Board meeting and ask Mayor Garner if he had or anyone who worked for him had solicited the bid from Aqua Utilities. Mayor Garner said no. Mr. Zurschmeide stated he refused the bid because RFPs had not been put out for a "bid process".

My only concern was to bid the durn thing out; not Aqua Utilities. Though, I have to admit, there is a concern on my part as to how the Aqua/Hughes Group was able to submit a bid based upon what specifications? My understanding is the EMC bid was used for their analysis. This would lead to the question as to how they received a copy of same to even come up with their numbers.

Another big question is -- what was the big hurry? EMC's contract had six more months to run; what another awful game being played on certain people's parts (and yes, I know who and what and why).

It's just a sad day when one of the players in this mess got drunk and told a Council member's grandchildren off while this party was drunk because Aqua didn't get the contract. Now, that really is unacceptable -- you know?

It's put to bed now. EMC has their contract and we -- THE PEOPLE -- are the eyes and ears of the EPA. We can only follow any progress that may continue.

Thank you Todd Solomon, for your service to our City. We know you will be at the Sewer Board meeting tomorrow but that Wednesday will be your last day. Good luck with GRW Engineers and the best to you and your family.

Yvonne & Susan

Monday, July 02, 2007

My Babies and the Grand Babies

First, the good news about Crystal Dawn -- "my" baby...the new medicine they tried on her with the Graves Disease has brought her thyroid levels down to normal.

The "eye disease", which has caused vision loss in her left eye will burn it self out (according to the Doctor) and then they can see what they have to do to repair same. When the CAT scan came back, they did find where the neuroblastoma disease had set a cyst up in her sinus cavity; so the Doctor is having that taken care of asap to see how much it's playing into the vision loss.

Austin got his sutures out two weeks late, but is now rip tearing around. We hired Attorneys and they found out the Doctor who operated on him twice and didn't cover the sheath up in his ankle has four lawsuits already pending against him.

As this was the Doctor my daughter HAD TO TAKE MY GRANDSON TO BECAUSE HE IS THE ONE IN HER INSURANCE PLAN, I have to take fault with the insurance company, also. FOUR CASES PENDING? What if someone dies because of this man's actions? There was no way we could find out that information until the Attorneys uncovered it. Disgusting. And to think of all the suffering Austin (and the worrying his mom and dad and grandparents) went through, well, it's simply infuriating.

My philosophy is to pay the Doctors while we're well, and not pay them when we're sick. Talk about PREVENTIVE MEDICINE...we'd all live to be 100 (though some may not want to).

We tied a baby bluegill on to Meemaw's Angel's (Aiden) "SpongeBob" fishing pole while he wasn't looking this weekend. We have a great picture of him when he reeled that little pole in and realized there was really a fish on there and it was doing tricks. Too precious! Evidently he is going to be a real fisherman, because that baby bluegill, when Aiden describes it, his little arms are stretched all the way out behind his back!

And, to me, that is what is all about! Peace, NA.