Out Rest of Week

Sorry, but due to circumstances beyond my control, I'll be out the rest of the week. Thanks.

New Considerations When Buying a New Car

A New York Times article sums up some important considerations before buying your next vehicle, especially those made by GM or Chrysler:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/25/your-money/25money.html?8mon&emc=yma1

Bank Robber Appeals Conviction

The armed robber of one of the Linton branches of Mainsource Bank recently appealed his conviction. Here is the Court of Appeals legal opinion, which affirms the prison term given: http://www.in.gov/judiciary/opinions/pdf/04240910ewn.pdf

‘Tis the Season to Start Growing

With a lot of farm ground in the area, it may be helpful for newer landlords to peruse this document by Purdue on farm leases, including tax considerations:
http://www.ces.purdue.edu/extmedia/EC/EC-713.pdf

Bear Run Mine - A 'Rumor Has It' Update

An update to the post written a little over a month ago here: http://magiccoalcity.blogspot.com/2009/03/350-new-jobs-bear-run-mine-in-sullivan.html

Word on the street now has it that 350 ‘new’ jobs in previous headlines may not be entirely accurate. Instead, most of the staff needed at the new Bear Run Mine may actually be transfers from three other area mines, which are owned or otherwise affiliated with Peabody, such a the nearby Farmersburg Mine, among others.

Sources also indicate ‘very thorough’ physicals are being given, including hair sample drug testing. So, put down the triple cheeseburger, lose a few pounds, visit the gym, quit smoking & drinking, and lay off the drugs beforehand.

In Search of Black Gold

If you own some acreage in the area, no doubt you’ve probably been approached about leasing your ground for oil exploration. If not, you may be hit up very soon. With energy a current, nationwide concern, the search for new wells is on-going.

Here’s a good piece from Purdue, which discusses many of the aspects related to oil leases: http://www.ces.purdue.edu/extmedia/EC/EC-564.pdf It’s aimed at ‘what you need to know’ before you sign the lease… but has good information for even those that may have already signed on the dotted line.

Freddie Mac Official Dead

Quite a story on the apparent suicide of a top Freddie Mac official: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Reports-Freddie-Mac-official-apf-14995348.html?sec=topStories&pos=1&asset=&ccode=

And more details here: http://www.wtop.com/?nid=25&sid=1657033

Indiana's Biggest Ag Industry

What’s Indiana’s biggest agricultural crop, which is also one of Greene County's too?

Although your first thought may have been corn, soybeans, or hay, it’s actually wood products. Purdue University has built a website to bring together approximately 1,600 companies in the wood products industry into one directory online. The website – with a lot of interesting links -- can be found here:

http://www.indianaforestproducts.com/

The Amish – Unemployed

The Chicago Tribune has an interesting article about the effects of the economic downturn on the Amish. Read more here: http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-sun-amish-unemployed-apr19,0,1055868.story

Purdue Life Sciences Biz Plan Comp

Applications are being accepted for the Purdue University Life Sciences Business Plan Competition, which is aimed at uncovering promising entrepreneurship in the life sciences area. There is $100,000 in prizes available to the top-ranked submissions. The deadline for registration is May 18th.

More info can be found here: http://news.uns.purdue.edu/x/2009a/090416KahnLifesci.html

Interactive Jobs Map

Over at Slate, they have a pretty neat interactive map of the U.S. over the past 2+ years, showing job gains and losses – well, mostly losses lately. You can find it here: http://www.slate.com/id/2216238/

Beige Book

Here's the new Beige Book release for our district this afternoon: http://www.federalreserve.gov/fomc/beigebook/2009/20090415/7.htm

The 2009 Pig Book Arrives!

Well, it's finally the much-dreaded tax day, April 15th. What better way to celebrate it than a publication showing where at least some of all those tax revenues go!

See, each year, the Citizens Against Government Waste releases what is known as the ‘Pig Book’. It highlights what the group deems as various governmental ‘pork barrel’ spending, and the 2009 version has now arrived:

http://www.cagw.org/site/DocServer/Pig_Book_full__April_13_2009_.pdf?docID=3561

Enjoy!

CEOs: It’s Good To Be Fired

Getting fired isn’t so bad for corporate CEOs in America these days. Take the recent ‘retirement’ of GM's Rick Wagoner, who received $20 million to ride off into the sunset, according to this ABC story: http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=7208201

At that pay rate, I’d gladly volunteer to get fired -- daily.

Once Again, The ‘Net is Changing Things

College students have a new resource when they sleep through that 8AM class. The website has notes posted by various universities, but predominately from ones in Indiana it seems. (Four of the current five top note-posting schools are located within Indiana.)

Not to promote skipping class, but this website might help if you do: http://www.isleptthroughclass.com/

Boy, how the internet is changing everything!

City Council Meeting Tonight

The Linton City Council meeting is scheduled for this evening - Monday, April 13, 2009 @ 7PM. The Board of Works meeting is prior to the Council meeting.

Why Southwestern Indiana Won’t Get Funds

To get federal stimulus funds, a project must be ‘shovel ready’ to be approved.

And while a submission for funds for Greene County, Linton, and other cities & towns was submitted, few, if any, will be funded due to this. As this article explains http://www.wthr.com/global/story.asp?s=10153050 projects must be ready to go & complete with design plans done, right-of-ways purchased, and environmental studies completed. As it goes on, this takes time and money – and both are not a reality is this area.

So, look for very few, if any, federal stimulus money coming our way. I’m sure Indianapolis will cash in though; they always do.

ALERT: Counterfeit Bills in Area

Counterfeit $10 bills are reportedly showing up in the Linton area. Local businesses & individuals should be on the look out for fake currency trying to be passed.

WSJ: Hot Dog Sales Trending Up

Hot dog sales are trending up with more and more people buying hot dog carts as a new business venture, according to this story in the Wall Street Journal:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123923554488403239.html#mod=todays_us_nonsub_page_one

Petro Arsonist Loses Appeal

In an Appeals Court Decision yesterday, Chance M. Schubla, the young man convicted of setting fire to a downtown Linton business, lost his appeal.

Read more here: http://www.in.gov/judiciary/opinions/pdf/04080901ehf.pdf

HAVE OLD PHOTOS?

Do you have old photos? If you have old photos of Linton, Indiana, such as the downtown, local businesses, or coal mines of yesteryear, e-mail them to the address shown to the right. We'll post them as a new 'Photo of the Week'.

The No-Name Circus

The no-name circus is coming to town again. They won’t disclose the name of their company on their posters, but they litter downtown Linton with their flyers. It’s a complete repeat of last year: http://magiccoalcity.blogspot.com/2008/04/circus-how-not-to-advertise.html Any info you may have on who the company may be can be e-mailed to the address shown in the right-hand column.

BANK ROBBERY

A bank robbery is being reported in Farmersburg. Reportedly, the armed robber wore blue jeans and a gray hooded shirt with a black mask, and a silver car was the get-away vehicle. Any information should be forwarded to local authorities.

UPDATE:
Separate sources say it was the Farmersburg branch of Harris, NA. As you may recall, Harris has suffered two robberies recently just south of Farmersburg in Shelburn, Indiana.

UPDATE II - Additional Sources:
The TribStar provides little detail, but further confirms the bank was robbed:
http://www.tribstar.com/news/local_story_097123659.html

And WTHI TV is reporting some additional details here:
http://www.wthitv.com/dpp/news/news_wthi_farmersburg_bank_robbery_200904071316

Some Hope in the Region?

There’s some good news and hope for the area. About 60 employees, who were temporarily laid off in February, are reportedly being brought back at the CertainTeed plant in Vigo County. Here’s the TribStar story for more info: http://www.tribstar.com/news/local_story_093213413.html

Has the story changed for the better at Boral Brick now too? http://magiccoalcity.blogspot.com/2009/02/boral-brick-too-big.html Stay tuned.

I Look Like You!

It's Friday, so today's a good day for a diversion from the normal posts here. Here’s an interesting little website:

http://www.ilooklikeyou.com/

A few years ago, you could have completely gone without it.

Shortfalls & Blame

I was reminded while reading an opinion piece in the IndyStar that the freedom of speech comes with a huge responsibility, namely you must bear a lot of B.S. spewed by folks everywhere. Here’s a prime example:

http://www.indystar.com/article/20090329/OPINION08/903290320/1291/OPINION08

So, in reply, here’s my take:

The shortfalls in funding are due to the sports teams not paying up for their venue, while also apparently not providing enough perceived value that people want to attend the games. Attendance being down in not the fault of the building or the taxpayers. It’s the teams, the team owners, and the players, who bear the duty to get fans in those seats.

I also disagree with the piece on taxation:

What better way to capture revenue from spectators than an (increased) innkeeper’s tax? The same goes with food & beverage taxes. Maybe even a ticket ‘tax’ or fee is in order; however, the rest of the State does not need to generally bail out Indy. The State, as a whole, should not have to bear the burden. Indianapolis is the steward of these facilities for its own people, and it just needs to become a better one.

It’s as simple as that.

Job Opportunity with State for Youth

I thought I’d share part of this press release from yesterday & some links with more info:

“Governor Mitch Daniels today announced the state will hire 2,000 young adults to spend this summer and next improving Indiana's parks, trails and natural habitats. The program, called the Young Hoosiers Conservation Corps, will use federal stimulus funds designated for employment and training of people 16 to 24 years old. The jobs will pay $8.50 per hour. According to federal requirements, the jobs will be for Hoosiers who are 24 years old or younger and whose family incomes are at or below the poverty level (approximately $23,000 for a family of four). The positions will begin no earlier than May 1 and end no later than September 30, 2009. “

According to this map http://www.in.gov/yhcc/2329.htm there will be projects available in Greene County.

The full press release can be found here:
http://www.state.in.us/portal/news_events/37486.htm