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SHIRKIEVILLE PUMPED UP: Speculation that Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh could be Illinois Sen. Barack Obama’s pick as his vice presidential running mate has people talking in Bayh’s hometown of Shirkieville in rural northwest Vigo County (Terre Haute Tribune-Star)."It’s huge around here," said Larry Davison, owner of Davison Service and Equipment, one of very few businesses .jpg)
in the tiny town. Davison believes Bayh’s presence on the ticket would help Obama and would be a great thing "not just for Shirkieville, but the whole state of Indiana," he said. Shirkieville has a population of 50 or less these days, Davison said, adding that the town on Indiana 150 about 10 miles north of West Terre Haute was once larger. Davison has lived in the area most of his life and has met Bayh, his wife Susan and his father, former Sen. Birch Bayh, he said. "Everybody’s pretty sure that he’s going to get it," said Carolyn Powers, co-owner of the Midway Bar and Grill in the heart of Shirkieville. "It would put the Midway on the map, wouldn’t it?" she said with a laugh. Although Evan Bayh is a native of Shirkieville, he only lived in the small town for a couple of years, local residents say. His father moved away to pursue a law degree when Evan was very young, said Sue Secondino, 70, who lives in the former Bayh family home and knew several generations of the Bayh family, she said. "His [family] background to us is just impeccable," Secondino said of Bayh. "We are wholeheartedly for Evan and any endeavors that he might pursue," she said. The Bayh family bought the home where Secondino lives in 1952, she said. She and her husband, Pete, bought the home along with farmland from Birch and Marvella Bayh in 1957, she added. "We keep in touch," Secondino said of her relations with the Bayh family. However, she and her husband like to keep the relationship quiet. "We’re not limelighters," she said.
GENERAL TOUTS OBAMA: John A. Kesler thinks Sen. Barack Obama is not a politician, which is one of the reasons he wants Obama to be the next president of the United States. "I like the things Obama has been saying and what he considers appropriate to treat veterans in the future," he said. Kesler, an 85-year-old World War II Army veteran, was one of at least 50 people who turned out Tuesday in Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 917 to hear retired Gen. George Buskirk, a former Indiana National Guard adjutant general, speak about Obama’s veterans policies in a veterans’ issues forum. One of the topics touched on was the fact that just because someone fought in a war doesn’t mean that person is a good leader, referring to Sen. John McCain, who was a fighter pilot. Kesler agrees. "He’s an excellent pilot and hero, I don’t question that," Kesler said after the forum. "But as far as that making him the one to be the leader of the armed forces gives him zero, in my opinion." Everyone here has had [some war] experience, but are not qualified to be president."
State
360 MORTGAGE BROKERS SUSPENDED: Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita has revoked the license of about 360 loan brokers who failed to meet new requirements, including paying a fee and passing an exam (Fort Wayne Journal Gazette). But confusion over the list maintained on the secretary of state’s Web site of the brokers who are not in compliance has some local brokers crying foul. Since then, 63 loan brokers have taken the test and achieved full compliance with the law, while 69 others are pending final approval. Also, 143 brokers surrendered their licenses.
Counties
TREASURER PULLS REMODELING REQUEST: Bowing to the Vanderburgh County Council’s 2009 budget concerns, Treasurer Z Tuley has withdrawn her request for $100,000 to renovate her department’s office space (Evansville Courier & Press). But the County Council did give Tuley $5,000 Wednesday to buy new chairs. Tuley, who will leave office next year, says the withdrawal of her $100,000 request doesn’t mean the employee safety and customer convenience measures she had asked for aren’t needed. "The needs are not going to go away," she warned. "At least I put it out there and made (council members) aware of it again. When they get a plan together (for Civic Center renovation), I believe they’ll address it then."
LAKE JUDGES IN HOT BUDGET WATER: The Lake County Council is ready to put several county judges on notice. Unhappy with initial 2009 budget proposals from three of the four County Division courtrooms, council members said Wednesday they need to call the judges on the carpet (Post-Tribune). "They’re going to need to be corralled together for a meeting," said Councilman Tom O’Donnell, D-Dyer.
Cities
HOBART EYES $10 GABARGE FEE: The City Council is poised to impose a $10-a-month garbage collection fee to help fund the city’s 2009 budget (Post-Tribune). All seven council members endorsed the garbage pickup fee on Wednesday during an Ordinance Committee meeting, shortly before passing the mayor’s budget proposal on a preliminary vote. Mayor Brian Snedecor presented a $27.7 million spending plan to the council. Of that, $16.2 million — $900,000 less than this year — is earmarked for general city operations.
50-FOOT RABBIT COMING TO I-69: Anderson city officials have approved construction of a 50-foot tall cartoon rabbit sign at the entrance to a new Nestle food plant (Muncie Star Press). The rabbit is the logo of Nestle’s Nesquik drink that will be produced at the plant. The sign will be erected near the plant along Interstate 69, about 25 miles northeast of Indianapolis. Company officials say it will also include an electronic billboard to announce Nestle promotions and Anderson-area events.
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