Recently a letter was released from David Fagan, chairman of the Lunch Pail Republicans PAC. In this letter Mr. Fagan made appalling accusations that Speaker Brian Bosma has made threats against members of the House Republican Caucus if they do not vote in favor of House Bill (HB) 1001, right to work.

I find these claims disingenuous and deceitful. I have been present in every caucus meeting this legislative session and have not once heard a threat or any type of bullying remark made toward any members. Speaker Bosma has been the most open speaker we have had in the Indiana General Assembly in at least the past eight years. He has always been open with the public about the process, as well as with the caucus about all major issues; far more so than any other speaker in my recollection.

On numerous occasions last year, concerning a bill that I authored, the speaker and I had open conversations with Mr. Fagan about the intent and purpose of the bill. I’d like to ask Mr. Fagan how he could not have the courtesy to approach Speaker Bosma or members of the House Republican Leadership again this year so that similar open conversations about right to work could take place. Since last year, I, as well as all of my colleagues, have had many similar discussions with both proponents and opponents of right to work from my own district and in the Statehouse.

Instead, it seems that Mr. Fagan has resorted to spreading rumors and I find that deplorable. How is it that he is not complaining about how 35 members of the House Democrats have refused to show up to work and to fulfill the duties they were elected to do? That 6.5 million Hoosiers continue to go unrepresented at the Statehouse because of 35 individuals’ blatant disrespect for the democratic process that America was founded on?

In my time as representative for House District 33, I have always made the best decisions I could for the Hoosiers living there. I will continue to work to strengthen Indiana for Hoosier families, workers, veterans and children alike. I can assure Mr. Fagan, and all Hoosiers, that every issue, including right to work, has been and will be carefully considered, discussed and debated, before a vote is cast.

Bill Davis is state representative for District 33, which includes portions of Jay, Randolph and Delaware counties.

Bill Davis and 2009 Indiana General Assembly-Fantastic letter and worth the read.

©

Sometimes you are cruising through the local newspaper, when something just grabs your attention.  This is one event that is sure to make you smile.  Please consider donating to this wonderful cause.

Muncie’s Ladies of Harley

Love Our Troops

The Muncie’s Ladies of Harley have joined together to bring Valentine’s Day to our Troops.  I’m not much for Valentine’s Day; this year I’m making an exception.  ♥  This is a day to support our troops and nothing can make the holiday more complete than to show our love to those that are giving so much more than we can imagine. 

Forever grateful for the freedoms we so often take for granted.

The Muncie Ladies of Harley are sponsoring our troops this Valentines Day and plan to shower our brave soldiers with gifts and love on what is traditionally an “I love you” type of day.  Sending care packages loaded with things like razors, pictures and all type of goodies are in the works. 

I was especially touched when Ann Roellig was quoted in the paper:

“It’s pretty incredible what they do for us every day without us even realizing it,” she said, tears coming to her eyes and her voice halting from emotion. “They show other countries what we’re all about, patriotism and living freely. We have to do something to show them how much they mean to us at home.”

You can read the full article “Muncie’s Ladies of Harley making Valentine’s Day special for soldiers”.

 Here’s what you can do to help:

Donations for Love Our Troops

ITEMS NEEDED: Non-perishable food items, candies, hand sanitizer, body wash, shampoo and conditioner combined, combs, deodorants, toothpaste, toothbrush, floss, disposable razors, shaving cream in tubes, body powder, inflatable pillows, socks, magazines, disposable cameras, travel-size board games, stationery and envelopes, Frisbees and more.

WHERE TO DONATE: Benson Motorcycle, 6410 W. McGalliard Road, Muncie

LAST DAY TO DONATE: Friday, Feb. 3

Further information can be found at Benson’s Motorcycles website.

http://www.bensonmotorcycles.com/

Ladies, this is for you:

 Please share this with everyone you know.

Special thanks to my buddy, Mike.  Hope you don’t mind my using a picture of the bike for this blog.   

(This blog entry not sponsored by Muncie’s Ladies of Harley or Benson’s Motorcyles-I just love what they are doing and want to help.)

Reblogged from Muncie Politics Blog:

Updated! Check out Jim Arnold’s view on the meeting. Guarantee you will find it entertaining. Go to the Pages section of the blog. The usual abatements and ordinances were passed and every thing seemed to be moving at a good pace. Until, a motion was brought to the table to purchase a previously owned aerial truck from Pike Township. For the people at the meeting, it was a whirlwind of comments from the city council and members of the audience spoke. The MFD is a touchy subject among many people in the …

In today’s paper (1-22-12) a guest writer, Brad King, penned a column. Continue to chat but drop the gag. Although I found some inaccurate information, he did bring up a the idea of continuing the Mayor’s Chat with Dennis Tyler. I want to remind the folks, we were introduced to this very thing in 2009 and it didn’t get past the doors of City Hall. It would be nice to have the new Mayor update us on what is happening as it seems information is hard to come by.   Please feel free to click in the link to read the full story from the April ’09 City Council meeting.

Wake up, people, and stop the madness.  We have the government trying to censor the internet all in the name of “protecting” us.  We have copyright laws already in place, and hindering free speech is not what our Founding Fathers had in mind. In fact, the USPS was the brain child of  Benjamin Franklin.  His goal?   To disseminate information to the people.

We have the government telling us what kind of light bulbs to buy and we don’t even know if the mercury filled globes are safe. Yet, this same government is now over $15 trillion dollars in debt and asking to raise the debt ceiling yet again.

Thomas Paine had this to say in Common Sense:

Society is produced by our wants, and government by wickedness; the former promotes our happiness positively by uniting our affections, the latter negatively by restraining our vices.  The one encourages intercourse, the other creates distinctions.  The first is a patron, the last a punisher.

Thomas Paine goes on to write:

How came the king by a power which the people are afraid to trust and always obliged to check?  Such a power could not be the gift of a wise people, neither can any power, which needs checking, be from God; yet the provision, which the constitution makes supposes such a power to exist.

So what say ye, people?  Shall we become wise and place our trust in those that can govern with the knowledge that “We the people” are the society our forefather envisioned?  People of strong character willing to stand tall and firm even under the constant criticism of our peers?  Is it possible we can grab hold of what once was a great and growing nation, young and vivacious?  Not without strife or bloodshed did our early colonists bear,  striving to relieve the people from the tyranny which ruled their lives.   Passing to us a legacy of freedom never before experienced.

We must have some form of government.  Society and the laws require it.  But not a government which feels they must protect us from ourselves…or a government which uses their power against the very people who have placed them on their thrones.

The whole country is in turmoil and turmoil is an indication of a dysfunctional form of government. 

Today I pick up the paper and find we the people  of Delaware County, Indiana are paying a grant writer $145,000.00 per year.  $55,000 of that from the city budget.  Two months ago, our mayor, Dennis Tyler, promised he wouldn’t have a “good old boys” government, but this is exactly what we have today.  Giving control of a $1.5 million dollar budget to an ex-county garage employee with absolutely no experience in park administration, natural resources, managing people let alone a budget of this size.  We have a Human Resource director with absolutely no experience or training in the field.  And this is just the first two weeks.

Unless we wake up and say STOP THE MADNESS both in our federal and local governments all our hopes and dreams of prospering, peace and the pursuit of happiness will be nothing but some old dusty writings.  To stop it, we must first understand it.  I don’t believe common sense is dead and ethical behaviour must first begin with us.   With us, it will go up the chain as we will not tolerate a government that support the few on the backs of the many.

William Penn

Governments, like clocks, go from the motion men give them; and as governments are made and moved by men, so by them they are ruined too. Wherefore governments rather depend upon men than men upon governments. Let men be good and the government cannot be bad. . . . But if men be bad, let the government be never so good, they will endeavor to warp and spoil it to their turn. . . .[T]hough good laws do well, good men do better; for good laws may want [lack] good men and be abolished or invaded by ill men; but good men will never want good laws nor suffer [allow] ill ones.

[William Penn quoted from: Thomas Clarkson, Memoirs of the Private and Public Life of William Penn (London: Richard Taylor and Co., 1813) Vol. I, p.303.]

Samuel Adams

Nothing is more essential to the establishment of manners in a State than that all persons employed in places of power and trust be men of unexceptionable characters. The public cannot be too curious concerning the character of public men.

[Samuel Adams, The Writings of Samuel Adams, Harry Alonzo Cushing, editor (New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1907), Vol. III, p. 236-237, to James Warren on November 4, 1775.]

James Garfield

Now more than ever the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness, and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave, and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature. . . . [I]f the next centennial does not find us a great nation . . . it will be because those who represent the enterprise, the culture, and the morality of the nation do not aid in controlling the political forces.

[James A. Garfield, The Works of James Abram Garfield, Burke Hinsdale, editor (Boston: James R. Osgood and Company, 1883), Vol. II, pp. 486, 489, "A Century of Congress," July, 1877.]

I write these thougts quickly and with some reservations, to be sure. 

Please, let’s stop the madness….

$$Five Million Greenbacks and Some Change$$

Is there a $5 million operating budget or not? His inquiring mind wants to know. So, Dennis Tyler has asked his staff to not make any “spending commitments”. Mayor Tyler has his doubts and it is clear, he wanted to know the financial state of the City of Muncie. He asked the controller to quickly give him “an accurate picture of city finances”. We haven’t heard the new controller’s report update, though.

Looks like Mayor Tyler is confident the finances are there as he has begun work on the Mock Street fire station and preparing for it to re-open. There should be no doubt the city has the money or Dennis Tyler wouldn’t be spending. Obviously, he didn’t feel comfortable with the previous controller or the independent audit.

The first round of SAFER grants have been awarded, and Muncie is missing from the list. The SAFER grant of which Muncie received $3.5 million dollars used to recall 25 firefighters will be expiring this year. Center Township will increase its payment to Muncie from $250,000 to $400,000.

A video interview with Mayor Tyler on his first week as Commander-in-Chief, Mr. Tyler points to the messages he has received about the Mock fire station. Accolades, he said, from people praising the painting and re-opening of the station. If you are a fiscally conservative citizen and if you pay attention to local government, you may find yourself with more questions than answers.

Congressman Mike Pence showed up to congratulate and offer his support to Mayor Tyler. From there the two men went to a local high school where Dennis Tyler gave the students a brief history of his experience and a student asked a question.

“What are your goals for Muncie?”

Tyler: “His main goal of Muncie, like all mayors across the state and nation, is to create decent paying jobs. And hold on to the decent paying jobs we got and create newer, decent paying jobs, you know.”

This has kind of been his mantra since 2006.

The first week of December a group of economic and elected officials traveled to Germany to meet with a prospective business. Prior to the junket to Germany, then Mayor Sharon McShurley said the representative should be the future mayor, Dennis Tyler and she wouldn’t be going. Commissioner Don Dunnuck, who is not running for re-election was selected to go. No long-term relationship building there.

Fortunately for us, Dennis Tyler has promised his full support.

“What I’ve told the chamber is that I’ll partner with them in whatever ways we can to entice investors to Muncie and Delaware County,” Tyler said.

He said his administration — which takes office on Jan. 1 — would make representatives available for meetings with potential developers. SP 12-7-11

Well, at least there is a five-year park plan which should give the ex-county highway department employee plenty of time to get up to speed on running a $1,424,000.00 park system. We still need to put the final touches on Canan Commons and this will be the first full season for Tuhey Pool. Cardinal Greenway will be expanding and the grant money has been allocated.

“It’s been busier than I could have even imagined.” Dennis Tyler on his first days as Mayor of Muncie.

Dennis Tyler gets accustomed to Mayor’s seat (01.11.12)

2009 Muncie Parks Master Plan

Last night was the first Muncie City Council meeting.

The closing of the tracks was not voted on…imagine that.  Yes, the Land & Traffic Committee was nothing more than a political move.

If you are interested in watching the video, complete with a guest appearance by Muncie Mayor Dennis Tyler, click on the CDCGG icon below.

 Hear That Train A Comin’

Land & Traffic Part 2

Land & Traffic Part 3

Assessment Appeal Help Day # 3

Mark your calendars for Saturday January 7, 2012.  The Citizens of Delaware County for Good Government is hosting our third Annual “Property Tax Appeal Help Day” at the Kennedy Branch Library, 1700 W. McGalliard Road.  The Seminar starts promptly at 10:00 am, followed by questions and answers, and personalized help sessions.

Last year’s Help Day was a huge hit as we helped hundreds of property taxpayers find errors on their assessments and prepare property assessment appeals.

The deadline to file your appeals is January 20, 2012.  If you file late you will lose your right to appeal for the current tax year.  You may need to appeal your assessment this year, even if you appealed last year and won.  The purpose of the Help Day is to help Delaware County property owners who believe that their property tax assessment is too high.   We will provide pointers on how to create a successful appeal, and will help you complete your property tax assessment appeal forms, but we cannot guarantee that you will win your appeal.  There is no charge for this service.

 It is very important that you bring a current property record card so that we can identify errors on your assessment.  You should also bring photos of your home at angles that show the front, side, and rear elevations.  You should also provide photos of any yard buildings, pools, or other improvements to the property, plus photographs and documentation of any damages or other issues that detract from the value of the property. Make two copies of your appeal and all supporting documentation and have them date stamped when you turn in your appeal, keeping one copy for your records.

 Scott Alexander, 2012 President of the Citizens of Delaware County for Good Government.
For additional information call:   765-286-7070

Please share this email/alert with ALL your friends and contacts!!!

Help Day_010712 (Informational PDF)

Third Annual Property Tax Appeal Help Day- Jim Arnold

 Kennedy Library

1700 W. McGalliard Road

Muncie, Indiana

Most of us have read George Orwell’s famous novel 1984.  A fictional and futuristic book full of manipulation, one party control and from where the term Big Brother became a household name.  The story’s main character, Winston, holds a position  in the Ministry of History and his duty is to rewrite according to the Party.  Winston decides to keep a diary of historical fact. 

Another key character is O’Brien, a powerful Party member.   

Winston is summoned to  O’Brien’s beautiful apartment where Winston is convinced by O’Brien he is part of the Brotherhood and is working to overthrow the Party.

  Unfortunately, Winston is arrested by the Thought Police and O’Brien spends months brainwashing the poor guy.

Winston is separated from his true love, Julia, and while he is being indoctrinated into the Party he finally snaps and gives her over to O’Brien. This was goal of O’Brien and the Party all along.  When Winston is finally reunited with Julia he is void of feeling for her.  He has completely given his life, mind, soul to Big Brother and the Party. 

As is characteristic of all great novels written circa 1934, there is always a moral to the story.

So, you may be wondering what Mr. Orwell’s novel has to do with 2012 and the progress of our Nation, State, County and City.  Although George’s ideas seemed a little extreme, all extremists have a measure of truth.  

 Let’s take a look at Delaware County for example.

Of course, we aren’t actually living in Big Brotherville, for now, we still have the First Amendment and I would suggest you read it again if you have forgotten it. 

A progressive move that makes Mr. Orwell’s Party characterization similar in nature to Delaware County, is the appointing of board members.  Appointments to the county fai board was required to be evenly distributed among the parties.  Since this didn’t happen, the next best thing is to just change the ordinance to fit the appointments. 

This is progressive thinking, folks.  (Sorry there is no link.  The county link takes you to the EDIT fund ordinance.) 

In the city of Muncie, we’re clipping right along.  How can you not vote for someone who worked so hard to get screens and bulletin boards in his work place?  The assurance Mayor Elect Tyler was able to work across party lines can’t be any more clear than this:

Asked if he expected to name any Republican department heads, Tyler laughed a little and said, “I doubt it. We have more than enough qualified Democrats.”

SP 11-28-11

For District 34 State Representative,  the Party precinct committee members chose Mike White over Lewis Coulter.  The only surprise  was that Mike White was even considered for the position.    Mike believes his work as a ’60′s activist will serve Delaware county well in Indianapolis.  He certainly has the look for it.

The City and County elected officials have their own consolidation going on. 

Can’t find qualified Democrats in the city to fill  administration’s slots?  Let’s branch out to the county and pull from their pool of employees.  If the best of the best is being recruited to work for the city, where does that leave the county?

As we live precariously in the past, a letter to the editor imploring Mayor Elect Dennis Tyler to bring back Ron Bonham.  Certainly, the city can afford to pay an additional $140,000 to keep Prairie Creek reservoir open.  And why stop there, as soon as possible, let’s get Mr. Bonham back into the Commissioner’s seat.  We can always use a new sewer system.

The position has been filled, and it wasn’t with Ron Bonham.  Maybe now, he can finally retire in peace.

Of course, I hope most of you understand this is written in jest.  Nevertheless, we are totally represented by one party sect in the City, most of the County and State.  I hope you realize that every person appointed to positions of power and to boards are deeply vested in this same party.  Come January 1st, they own the good, the bad and the ugly.

If Mr. Orwell was alive today, perhaps he could write a sequel to 1984.  The perfect title?  2012.

Funny how some things work out.  Just the other day I was looking for something of interest which had nothing to do with the Delaware County Fair and the grandstands proposed expenditure.  Out of nowhere pops an article from the Muncie Star Press written  in July 2007.    Yep, the headlines grabbed my attention.

Facilities improved in time for this year’s county fair

During 2006 and 2007 nearly $200,000.00 worth of repairs were made to the grandstands.  The roof was on the list of improvements.  County Engineer Michael Denton said it would cost less to repair the roof than to take it down.

Other improvements included new chain link fence, new seats, new walks, new stand for the judges, structural repairs and safety additions.  A couple of years prior, according to the article, new lights and ticket office was added.

I’m not sure what has changed from 2007 to 2011,  but volunteers provided earth moving equipment to tear down the motorcross track back then.  I wonder if volunteers could assist in the removal of the dilapidated grandstands.  Sure would save some money.

It’s hard to say how much it would have cost the County if bulldozers and other like equipment had a price tag attached to the Delaware County Fair budget in 2007.

“The grandstand is safe and the roof has been repaired” said Jane Lasater.  “Now the grandstand needs to be painted to make it look nicer.  It’s rusty.”

There is some rumblings the stands could be repaired for $90,000.00 but I think  they’re toying with a $900,000.00 bond.  Since 2006 and including the current estimated price tag, the county will have invested over $1 million dollars in the grandstand area.  That is if the $900,000.00 financing comes through.

2011 wasn’t that great of a year for generating money.  First the Band Day and then the Antique Tractors.  Sure, they filled it with other “attractions” but didn’t make very much money.

You would think 21 people could come up with better ideas to expand the exhibits to draw more people.  As 2012 comes in, let’s hope we see some innovative and progressive ways to increase attendance and interest.

Perhaps the move to change from admission fee to parking fee wasn’t so hot of an idea after all. 

Grandstanding for the grandstands

Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir

It’s almost here…the day we looked forward to as children and sometimes dread as adults.  My heart and prayers go out to all those which may have suffered a loss of a loved one, job, health or any number of life-changing events.  I hope the memories of Christmas past will still bring joy.

Christmas was a big event in our home.  All my aunts would send presents and some are still remembered today.  My Aunt Helen and Uncle Herschel always sent the very best.  A book called Ambrose about a small lost dog which traveled around the world and returned home to his owner in a New York penthouse.  A stuffed skunk which I named Skunky…not that original, to be sure.  Nevertheless, I loved that skunk.  A beautiful china princess musical figurine.

Aunt Louise sent me an umbrella and a large stuffed doll, Little Boy Blue, I called him Billy.  Aunt June and Uncle Harry always sent clothing.  And Grandma a card with $1.00.  People sent cash through the mail back then.  You could buy quite a bit with a dollar.

What Christmas would be complete without the traditional midnight Mass?  It was always so enchanting to go into the cathedral, decorated with lights, candles and evergreens.  The church was always packed with friends of my parents, classmates and neighbors.    One year, I stepped out of the car and into a puddle.  My tights were drenched and I was mortified.  There was absolutely no way I was going into church with wet tights and shoes.  Of course, my mother had a much different view of the situation…mothers always do.

After mass, close family friends would gather at our very small home, and despite all the excitement, our little eyes could barely stay open.  The next morning, the tree had presents under it.  Magical.

I wasn’t one to believe in Santa Claus because my sister told me there was no such person and for some reason I listened to her.  However, one Christmas the only gift I wanted was a blue Sears bike with chrome fenders, light and carrier just like my classmate Jill had.  So, I decided to cover all bases and that year Santa was real.  Yea, the bike was waiting for me that Christmas morn.

Living in the Great Lakes state meant there would be no bike riding until spring.  No matter.  I decorated the bike with blue and white streamers and it stayed in the bedroom until the first available day to ride.  It was decked out with cards in the spokes, too.  Now, were talking.

During my pre-teen years, I created my very own traditions.  One of which was to hunt through the house looking for my presents.  Mom always hid them.  I was dying for a Monopoly game and shoved under my parents bed was MY present.  I was elated.  Christmas day we unwrapped our presents and something was missing.  MY Monopoly game.  There must be a mistake.

I asked Mom where MY Monopoly game which was under the bed was at.  She almost look delighted when she said “The game was for your cousin Bobby”.  I am sure I pouted and cried because by that age I didn’t believe in Santa again.  Next year I would…

Sadly, most everyone is gone but I still recall the memories and feel nostalgic and sometimes blue, sometimes melancholy.  New memories are made everyday and God somehow places people in your life to help ease the pain of loneliness.  I love every one of them and each one holds a special place in my heart.

So, to all my friends and family:

Merry Christmas in German:
Frohe Weihnachten

Merry Christmas in French:
Joyeux Noël

Merry Christmas in Italian:
Buon Natale

Merry Christmas in Portuguese:
Feliz Natal

Merry Christmas in Japanese:
メリークリスマス

Merry Christmas in Russian:
С Рождеством

Merry Christmas in Dutch:
Vrolijk kerstfeest

Merry Christmas in Swedish:
God jul

Merry Christmas in Czech:
Veselé vánoce

Merry Christmas in Turkish:
Mutlu Noeller

A new old favorite Christmas song.