The Evansville Observer Archive: The unofficial history of Evansville, Wisconsin from 2005-2013: Thousands of Video and Audio and Articles; Free: To Search scroll to the Search this Blog line and enter name of person, topic, or issue. Then scroll up to see all articles. Or use Google Search by topic. Enjoy.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Normal, Mn. Engineers a Bond Panic; Tales From Normal, Mn. : FICTION
Click on the post for the latest.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
CNN: Irish workers get "Haircut"; Bankers get bailout?
The pattern of banks getting bailed out on bonds at 100% and the everyday worker taking it in the shorts is not sustainable worldwide---click on the post for an interesting article in CNN:
Patriots Launch War Games; Determined to use live ammo::Tales From Normal, Mn.: FICTION
Click on the post for the latest.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
CNN: Irish protest Austerity Plan
Click on the post for the CNN article today. Maybe it is a foreshadowing of the austerity plan for the U.S. Imagine the IMF moving swiftly to arrange austerity for US bondholders when the Republicans and Democrats were unable to agree to a solution.....
StarTrib: Incoming President of Mpls Realtors Assn faces Ethics Board on Foreclosure Sale Questions
Click on the post for the latest.
BTC Lowers Tax bite: Gazette
Click on the post for the article in the Gazette. Interesting to note that BTC recognized the decline in valuation of a 100,000 home by 4% whereas in Evansville only a decline of 2% was recognized.
Friday, November 26, 2010
With the Luck of the Irish, Corporate Taxation goes Untouched? NYT
Click on the post for the article in the New York Times...seems low corporate taxation did not save Ireland....the new austerity will be accomplished maybe on the backs of the working poor.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Duluth Trading Flagship Store Now open in Mt. Horeb
Click on the post for the details plus a discount coupon.
What to be Thankful for Reviewed:
Many years ago I was attending a Dale Carnegie sales meeting conducted by Don Sheehan, a world famous sales trainer. It was 1982, the worst time to be in business, well...except for right now or the great depression. He spoke one Saturday morning on the notion of thanksgiving.
"Well, shukes he said, many guys don't get what to be thankful for....I urge you and your spouses to kneel down each night and be thankful....be thankful for the problems that you face in your life....yes...you heard me right...the problems.....
Remember that right down near here at 15th and Lyndale, there is a place where there are no problems...."
One of the guys in the group snickered a bit and said that that sounded pretty attractive...a place with no problems....
A guy next to him spoke up: " It's the cemetary".....
Don Sheehan went on: "Yes...it IS the cemetary...where there are NO problems.....and the fact that you are alive and in business today...means that you face problems....so you must be grateful for them...cause the Lord could give you a different set of problems that are a lot worse...or no problems....
So there it was....what to be thankful for...and I never forgot the lesson.
Happy Thanksgiving.
"Well, shukes he said, many guys don't get what to be thankful for....I urge you and your spouses to kneel down each night and be thankful....be thankful for the problems that you face in your life....yes...you heard me right...the problems.....
Remember that right down near here at 15th and Lyndale, there is a place where there are no problems...."
One of the guys in the group snickered a bit and said that that sounded pretty attractive...a place with no problems....
A guy next to him spoke up: " It's the cemetary".....
Don Sheehan went on: "Yes...it IS the cemetary...where there are NO problems.....and the fact that you are alive and in business today...means that you face problems....so you must be grateful for them...cause the Lord could give you a different set of problems that are a lot worse...or no problems....
So there it was....what to be thankful for...and I never forgot the lesson.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
CapTimes; Will Wis Shift to Sales Tax from high property and income tax?
Click on the post for the article in the CapTimes.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Friday, November 19, 2010
Newly Elected Legislators Recalled for Attention Deficit Disorder: Tales From Normal, MN.: FICTION
Click on the post for the latest.
China to the Rescue: ? Yahoo:
Click on the post for an article written by the author of 13 Bankers, who spoke recently in Madison.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Best Buy joins WalMart, JcPenney in the Universe of Free Shipping: Star Tribune
Click on the post for the latest.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Gov Warns Agency Heads About Shredding Files:;;;Tales From Normal, Mn.:FICTION
Click on the post for the latest.
"Irish Don't Want no Bailouts...or austerity either:" Tales From Normal, Mn.: Fiction
Click on the post for the latest.
Fair Trade International Craft Sale; Sat Nov 20th
Fair Trade
International
Craft Sale
Sat, Nov. 20, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
St. Paul Catholic Church, Corner of Garfield and First Sts.
Evansville, Wisconsin
Gorgeous yet affordable handcrafted
gifts and foods from around the world.
• Jewelry and scarves
• Ornaments and nativity sets
• Soup, coffee, tea, chocolate
• Musical instruments
• Bowls, baskets, glassware
A lunch of soup and bread, along with beverages and baked goods, available for purchase from the Catholic Youth Organization.
Admission is FREE but a donation
of $1 or a packaged dinner or toiletry
item for the Care Closet is appreciated.
International
Craft Sale
Sat, Nov. 20, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
St. Paul Catholic Church, Corner of Garfield and First Sts.
Evansville, Wisconsin
Gorgeous yet affordable handcrafted
gifts and foods from around the world.
• Jewelry and scarves
• Ornaments and nativity sets
• Soup, coffee, tea, chocolate
• Musical instruments
• Bowls, baskets, glassware
A lunch of soup and bread, along with beverages and baked goods, available for purchase from the Catholic Youth Organization.
Admission is FREE but a donation
of $1 or a packaged dinner or toiletry
item for the Care Closet is appreciated.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Governor Says he Wants Seniors to Come Home: Tales from Normal, Mn.:FICTION
Click on the post for the latest.
Twin Cities Budgets built on House of Cards: Star Tribune:
Like cities all across the country----click on the post for the story in the Star Tribune.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Friday, November 12, 2010
Observer mourns the loss of Fr. Campion of Monroe, Founder of the Apostolate to the Handicapped
Click on the post for the article in the Wisconsin State Journal.
Fr. Campion was a legend in Southern Wisconsin for his outreach effort to the handicapped. He redefined the word "Champion."
I had the pleasure of meeting him once at the end of a road race to raise money for the handicapped many years ago, and in the dead of winter, as he stood by the finish line, while all the fast runners were already in the warm bar, he chanted to the last runners, "Come on Champions....".
May he rest in peace.
Fr. Campion was a legend in Southern Wisconsin for his outreach effort to the handicapped. He redefined the word "Champion."
I had the pleasure of meeting him once at the end of a road race to raise money for the handicapped many years ago, and in the dead of winter, as he stood by the finish line, while all the fast runners were already in the warm bar, he chanted to the last runners, "Come on Champions....".
May he rest in peace.
"I Want Everything but don't want any Taxes party wins big: Tales from Normal, Mn.: FICTION
Click on the post for the latest.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Video: Cramer Speaks of the Gold rush in Natural Gas
What is next in the natural gas area? Jim Cramer weighs in. Click on the post.
Tuesday, November 09, 2010
Evansville Budget in Focus: Common Council Formal Budget Hearing tonight:
Click on the post for the current status of the budget. 73 pages of detail. It appears from page 73 that the Library addition project has been listed in 2015 with debt service additon of 1,900,000.
Wisconsin Women in business in Focus: I and E meeting Wed. Nov 10th:
Reminder: Come to I&E Club Nov. 10 to Learn What WWBIC Can Do For You!
Inventors and entrepreneurs can learn about money, consulting and other services offered by the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corp. Fausto Rivera, loan officer from WWBIC, will be speaking at the Evansville Area Inventors and Entrepreneurs Club meeting set for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 10. The group meets in the lower level of the Eager Economy Building, 7 E. Main St., Evansville.
Free and open to the public, this meeting is a convenient way to learn about options to launch and grow your idea or business. Bring a friend, ask questions and enjoy networking with a friendly group of attendees.
The sponsor for this month’s meeting is Radio Shack of Evansville, which will open its doors at 5:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 26, for post-Thanksgiving bargain hunters. For club information, contact John Gishnock, club president, at 608-882-6656 or john.g@formecology.com, or Sue Berg, vice president of marketing and outreach, at 608-882-0986.
Inventors and entrepreneurs can learn about money, consulting and other services offered by the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corp. Fausto Rivera, loan officer from WWBIC, will be speaking at the Evansville Area Inventors and Entrepreneurs Club meeting set for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 10. The group meets in the lower level of the Eager Economy Building, 7 E. Main St., Evansville.
Free and open to the public, this meeting is a convenient way to learn about options to launch and grow your idea or business. Bring a friend, ask questions and enjoy networking with a friendly group of attendees.
The sponsor for this month’s meeting is Radio Shack of Evansville, which will open its doors at 5:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 26, for post-Thanksgiving bargain hunters. For club information, contact John Gishnock, club president, at 608-882-6656 or john.g@formecology.com, or Sue Berg, vice president of marketing and outreach, at 608-882-0986.
Mailbag; Mr. Connors Writes; On Past Development
(Ed.note: I requested Mr. Connors to comment on the audios and videos on The Observer by MSA Joe DeYoung as well as Mr.Sauer that say "Flooding is what was expected". I essentially wanted to know who knew what when.)
"By the time that the development group led by Roger Berg was seeking to annex and plat the Westfield Meadows subdivision, the city had heard there might be water problems in that area. We heard a lot about these potential water problems during Mr. Abey's disagreement with the Town of Union over the annexation of the small Southgate subdivision. I think the first round of big floods just west of the Abey-Koth subdivision took place around that time. At any rate, the city asked the developers to provide data to show there was not a flooding risk in the area of the proposed subdivision. MSA demonstrated that to us satisfactorily, but in the process of investigating that issue they produced a model that showed there was a risk of flooding in the next to last phase of the Abey-Koth subdivision (S. 6th St. north of Vision). The city attempted to address this risk by allowing the same development group to annex land north of Porter Road and build a
large storm water detention facility. That facility was completely unnecessary for the Westfield Meadows subdivsion and the annexed land north of Porter Road. The city required it only to help mitigate the risk of flooding in the Abey-Koth subdivision. The city required Roger Berg's development group to pay for this storm water detention facility even though they had nothing to do with the Abey-Koth subdivision it was designed to protect.
I was not city administrator at the time the Abey-Koth subdivision was platted, so I have no idea if anyone examined the storm water management issue. I think that subdivision was platted before Foth & Van Dyke became the city's engineer. It appears whoever was advising the city about the Abey-Koth subdivision did not do a good job.
Regarding TID No. 5, if that is the downtown TID, you are correct that the city was hoping tax increment would pay the debt service on borrowing for public infrastructure projects the city likely would have done anyway because they desparately needed to be done. To the best of my recollection, the only redevelopment agreement in TID No. 5 that required the developer to make the city whole if the redeveloped property did not increase in value as much as projected was for the Coach House on N. Madison St. We did enforce that provision, although Chris Eager on the RDA board was critical of me for placing the provision in the agreement and enforcing it--he suggested I took advantage of Roger Berg by doing so. I was amused by the thought that anyone, let alone me, could take advantage of Roger Berg. There might have been some provision like that in the redevelopment agreement for the downtown Ace Hardware building, but I do not remember being involved
in negotiating that redevelopment agreement.
My only comment about the location of the senior center is that Baker Manufacturing has thrived on the other side of the creek for many decades despite the risk of flooding.
Feel free to post this on your blog."
"By the time that the development group led by Roger Berg was seeking to annex and plat the Westfield Meadows subdivision, the city had heard there might be water problems in that area. We heard a lot about these potential water problems during Mr. Abey's disagreement with the Town of Union over the annexation of the small Southgate subdivision. I think the first round of big floods just west of the Abey-Koth subdivision took place around that time. At any rate, the city asked the developers to provide data to show there was not a flooding risk in the area of the proposed subdivision. MSA demonstrated that to us satisfactorily, but in the process of investigating that issue they produced a model that showed there was a risk of flooding in the next to last phase of the Abey-Koth subdivision (S. 6th St. north of Vision). The city attempted to address this risk by allowing the same development group to annex land north of Porter Road and build a
large storm water detention facility. That facility was completely unnecessary for the Westfield Meadows subdivsion and the annexed land north of Porter Road. The city required it only to help mitigate the risk of flooding in the Abey-Koth subdivision. The city required Roger Berg's development group to pay for this storm water detention facility even though they had nothing to do with the Abey-Koth subdivision it was designed to protect.
I was not city administrator at the time the Abey-Koth subdivision was platted, so I have no idea if anyone examined the storm water management issue. I think that subdivision was platted before Foth & Van Dyke became the city's engineer. It appears whoever was advising the city about the Abey-Koth subdivision did not do a good job.
Regarding TID No. 5, if that is the downtown TID, you are correct that the city was hoping tax increment would pay the debt service on borrowing for public infrastructure projects the city likely would have done anyway because they desparately needed to be done. To the best of my recollection, the only redevelopment agreement in TID No. 5 that required the developer to make the city whole if the redeveloped property did not increase in value as much as projected was for the Coach House on N. Madison St. We did enforce that provision, although Chris Eager on the RDA board was critical of me for placing the provision in the agreement and enforcing it--he suggested I took advantage of Roger Berg by doing so. I was amused by the thought that anyone, let alone me, could take advantage of Roger Berg. There might have been some provision like that in the redevelopment agreement for the downtown Ace Hardware building, but I do not remember being involved
in negotiating that redevelopment agreement.
My only comment about the location of the senior center is that Baker Manufacturing has thrived on the other side of the creek for many decades despite the risk of flooding.
Feel free to post this on your blog."
Monday, November 08, 2010
Yahoo: Finance: Tonnelson: US needs 50% tariff on all Chinese imports
Click on the post for the latest.
Evansville School Reports for November:
Click on the post for the Supr. Report and building reports.
Local Boy Makes Good--Creates Silage 5K: Tales From Normal, Mn.: FICTION
Click on the post for the latest.
Folks Just Dying to Get into the new Normal, Mn. Historic Cemetary: Tales From Normal, Mn.: FICTION
Click on the post for the latest.
Sunday, November 07, 2010
Edgerton Cuts Flower Baskets, Police Squad car, library: Gazette
Click on the post for the story in the Gazette.
Thursday, November 04, 2010
Music: Blogs; Uptown Girl: Postscript
Check out the video from "Uptown Girl". I dedicate this my favorite Uptown Girl and all my friends in Uptown in Minneapolis. Click on the post.
WSJ: Donations Plummet at St. Mary's in Platteville: School survival threatened
Click on the post for the latest.
Rare Election Hari Kari found by student archeologists: Tales from Normal, Mn.: FICTION
Click on the post for the latest from Normal, Mn.
Wednesday, November 03, 2010
Agenda: Finance: Thursday, Nov. 4, 2010
NOTICE: The regular meeting of the Finance and Labor Relations Committee for the City of Evansville will be held on the date, time and place stated below. Notice is further given that members of the City Council might be in attendance.
Finance and Labor Relations Committee
Regular Meeting
Thursday, November 4, 2010, 6:30 p.m.
City Hall, 31 S. Madison Street, Evansville, WI
Note: Late Start Time
AGENDA
1. Call to order and roll call.
2. Approval of Agenda.
3. Motion to waive the reading of the minutes of the October 7, 2010, meeting and approve as printed.
4. Citizen appearances other than agenda items listed.
5. Motion to accept the W&L bills as presented.
6. Motion to accept the City bills as presented.
7. Unfinished Business:
A. Discussion: 2011 Operating and 2011-2015 Capital Budgets.
8. New Business:
A. Motion to recommend to Common Council approval of Resolution 2010-13, Approving Contract Extension for City Engineer.
B. Motion to recommend to Common Council approval of one-year contract with John Stockham of Stockham Consulting as City Planner.
C. Motion to recommend to Common Council approval of up to $2,932.74 to hire and train three part-time police officers.
D. Motion to recommend to Common Council approval of engagement of Johnson Block and Company, Inc., for the 2010 audit.
E. Motion to recommend to Common Council approval of 2011 purchase of services agreement with Rock County Humane Society.
9. Adjournment.
Mason Braunschweig, Chair
Requests for persons with disabilities who need assistance to participate in this meeting should be made to the City Clerk’s office by calling 882-2266 with as much advance notice as possible.
Please turn off all cell phones while the meeting is in session. Thank you.
Finance and Labor Relations Committee
Regular Meeting
Thursday, November 4, 2010, 6:30 p.m.
City Hall, 31 S. Madison Street, Evansville, WI
Note: Late Start Time
AGENDA
1. Call to order and roll call.
2. Approval of Agenda.
3. Motion to waive the reading of the minutes of the October 7, 2010, meeting and approve as printed.
4. Citizen appearances other than agenda items listed.
5. Motion to accept the W&L bills as presented.
6. Motion to accept the City bills as presented.
7. Unfinished Business:
A. Discussion: 2011 Operating and 2011-2015 Capital Budgets.
8. New Business:
A. Motion to recommend to Common Council approval of Resolution 2010-13, Approving Contract Extension for City Engineer.
B. Motion to recommend to Common Council approval of one-year contract with John Stockham of Stockham Consulting as City Planner.
C. Motion to recommend to Common Council approval of up to $2,932.74 to hire and train three part-time police officers.
D. Motion to recommend to Common Council approval of engagement of Johnson Block and Company, Inc., for the 2010 audit.
E. Motion to recommend to Common Council approval of 2011 purchase of services agreement with Rock County Humane Society.
9. Adjournment.
Mason Braunschweig, Chair
Requests for persons with disabilities who need assistance to participate in this meeting should be made to the City Clerk’s office by calling 882-2266 with as much advance notice as possible.
Please turn off all cell phones while the meeting is in session. Thank you.
Gazette; Janesville Design & Development Center to close:
Click on the post for the story in the Gazette.
Tuesday, November 02, 2010
WSJ: No stopping High Speed Rail: Agreement signed between Feds and Wisconsin
Click on the post for the article in the Wisconsin State Journal.
US Hwy 14 Corridor Study: DOT: Meeting of 10/27/2010: MOVIE Version on Mediafly now available
Click on the post for the podcast movie of the recent presentation by the DOT at Evansville High School on October 27, 2010 titled the US HWY 14
Corridor Study. There are eight video clips. Click on the icon and one by one they should load automatically.
Feel free to download to your computer or your ipad or portable video viewer. Enjoy.
Corridor Study. There are eight video clips. Click on the icon and one by one they should load automatically.
Feel free to download to your computer or your ipad or portable video viewer. Enjoy.
DOT US Hwy 14 Corridor Study
DOT: Video: 1 of 8: Presentation by DOT on October 27, 2010, Evansville High School, Evansville, Wisconsin 53536
Download File
Download File
Monday, November 01, 2010
Montgomery Honored for Library Outreach efforts; Gazette
Click on the post for the story written by Gina Duwe.