NotInKokomo.Com - Blogs http://www.notinkokomo.com/cms/blogs/ This is a discussion forum for local interest in Kokomo Indiana, covering politics, police and fire issues, and the automobile industry. en Sun, 05 Feb 2012 20:50:57 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.notinkokomo.com/cms/images/misc/rss.jpg NotInKokomo.Com - Blogs http://www.notinkokomo.com/cms/blogs/ <![CDATA[City Owned Taxi's: Friend, Foe, or Folly...]]> http://www.notinkokomo.com/cms/blogs/notinkokomo/27-city-owned-taxis-friend-foe-folly.html Sun, 20 Nov 2011 23:16:09 GMT ---Quote (Originally by notinkokomo)--- Back on August 13, the Kokomo Tribune announced...
Quote Originally Posted by notinkokomo View Post
Back on August 13, the Kokomo Tribune announced local government plans to develop and operate a government taxi-cab service - displacing private business that already provides public-assistance transportation throughout Howard County.

Friend?

NIK requested, and quickly received, quite a lot of information regarding the City's Proposals and planning in this venture.

Mr. Larry Ives, Director of the Kokomo / Howard County Governmental Coordinating Council answered our questions (Thanks to him for his candor and cooperation!):

We asked where the subsidy money goes in the current First City Rider program, and who pays for what...

Mr. Ives replied:

We asked about records concerning the current taxi provider, and how well the service was performed...

Mr. Ives replied:

We asked whether other private providers were available in Kokomo / Howard County that could replace Rhino, if necessary...

Mr. Ives replied:

Finally, we asked if there were other uses for Kokomo's ARRA (American Reinvestment Recovery Act, or 'federal stimulus') funds...

Mr. Ives replied:

Ives also provided NIK with a copy of the Business Plan for the newly-proposed governmental program called K.A.T.S. (Kokomo Area Transit Service). You can download a copy by clicking here.

After reviewing the Plan, we had some more questions... which Mr. Ives also answered.

We asked why a 'public' transportation system owned and operated by governmental agencies is a better choice than a privately-contracted system...

Mr. Ives made this observation:

We asked why the administrative costs were so high in relation to what is spent actually providing the services...

Mr. Ives replied:

We asked what would happen to this program once federal funding runs out...

Mr. Ives replied:

We finally asked if Ives had any data that would demonstrate that Rhino cab is later or earlier than any other cab company or governmental service..

Mr. Ives replied:

Mr. Ives believes this service would best be provided by the government... that First City Rider would become less expensive, higher quality, and more responsive.

Foe?

On August 14, I posted a message on the Kokomo Tribune's Forum, Tribtalk, asking for comments regarding the proposal to do away with Rhino and start a government service.

You can find that thread by clicking here.


In a nutshell, I received over 300 replies to our NotInKokomo email. A quick review indicated none of those who responded would be pleased with a switch in providers.

About 72 percent are current First City Rider recipients, while the rest are simply customers of Rhino Cab.

There were several dozen heart-warming stories whose central theme indicated just how far Rhino drivers go to assist the elderly, poor, and sick. This company has a demonstrated, considerable amount of loyalty from the very people who use the program consistently.

Mr. Ives himself wrote a grateful letter of support for the company to the Kokomo Tribune upon the founder's death last May. Click here.

Before going any further, I'd like to tell you what the history of this company is...

Steve "Rhino" Wisehart retired from Delco in 1980 and began to try his spare time in many endeavors. Steve's Dad was a dispatcher for Kokomo's City Cab, and Rhino drove for City Cab quite a long time.

Folks who had the pleasure of riding with 'Rhino' in a City Cab still tell stories about what a caring man he was.



Steve eventually found a business in which he could both be successful and happy... Rhino's Cab.

One emailer told it like this:

From the email I've received, it looks very likely Steve's family is continuing his tradition of serving the Community well.

Folly?


In the government business plan, many questions remain.

For the money details, scroll directly to page 8.

We had five banking professionals and two wealthy investors (two bankers who are supposed to be transportation experts) review this 'plan'.

In all seven reviews, the City's plan would not stand up to the scrutiny of private (rather than government) funding.

Expert comments included:

Lack of sufficient maintenance costs being included. (The transportation folks say current wisdom is that AT LEAST $2,000 will be spent per vehicle after 1 year of service).

Lack of sufficient equipment and personnel. Rhino currently utilizes nearly twice as many vehicles in their fleet (19 vs. 10 in the City plan), and triple the driver-hours (1,500 versus 525 in the City plan). None of our experts could fathom how a company might provide better service with so fewer resources. One expert modeled the data and told us "Rhino currently has about 34 minutes of driver resources per trip. The City Plan would allocate only 11. How can an organization expect to perform 13,790 trips (** data Mr. Ives gave us on utilization from June 1 to August 19**) and only spend 11 minutes on average per trip?"

Woefully underestimated fuel costs. Experts say that making assumptions that the price of gasoline will not vary over three years is the type of error made by many novice business-people new to the transportation industry. "Fuel costs are the largest single operating expense a transportation company has. This plan, which arbitrarily throws around the $100,000 per year figure, is simply fiction or wishful thinking."

Lack of sufficient planning regarding building operation and maintenance. Our experts claim that spending only $10,000 to operate and maintain an $800,000 building is ludicrous. "I certainly wouldn't finance a building of that value which the business only plans to spend $10k a year heating, cooling, lighting and maintaining. If someone only spent that... the property would be trashed in just a few years."

Lack of Insurance cost risk-analysis. All of our experts realized the City is self-insured, and therefore the cost of vehicle insurance is easily overlooked. In this case, however, they were flabbergasted to see there was no cost or associated risk in the business plan AT ALL. The transportation specialists told us taxis are among the highest-loss vehicles in the transport sector... much higher than even police cars or fire trucks. They explained that's simply because there are generally more cabs on the road, and the drivers certainly aren't as well-trained as police officers or firefighters. The issue of huge liability exposure also made them wonder why there is NO cost in the government business plan for insurance.

In short, our 'experts' qualified this 'plan' as 'amateur-ish' and 'way, way too optimistic'.

The best quote from one banker... "Only the government would fund such a folly".

So now you know a lot more about this issue.

There are supposedly two public meetings scheduled for review and public comment.

Wednesday, September 2, 9:30 AM, Howard County Government Center, 120 East Mulberry. Click for map.

Thursday, September 3, 2:00 PM, Kokomo City Hall, 100 South Union, Kokomo. Click for map.

NIK
]]> notinkokomo http://www.notinkokomo.com/cms/blogs/notinkokomo/27-city-owned-taxis-friend-foe-folly.html New Feature Tour : User Blogs -- Highlighted on the main page http://www.notinkokomo.com/cms/blogs/notinkokomo/26-new-feature-tour-user-blogs-highlighted-main-page.html Sun, 20 Nov 2011 20:58:51 GMT A really cool new feature of this version is the ability of all registered users to create their own blogs and have them featured right on our front... A really cool new feature of this version is the ability of all registered users to create their own blogs and have them featured right on our front page. This is just such a entry for my new blog, which is where I'll post all of our articles from now on.

Here's a good tutorial from another VBulletin user on Youtube...



Enjoy,

NIK ]]> notinkokomo http://www.notinkokomo.com/cms/blogs/notinkokomo/26-new-feature-tour-user-blogs-highlighted-main-page.html <![CDATA["Downtown beautification"]]> http://www.notinkokomo.com/cms/blogs/sonny-s-girl/22-downtown-beautification.html Wed, 26 Aug 2009 22:09:47 GMT Instead of the city of Kokomo spending money on "bump-outs or bump-ins for the sidewalks around the courthouse or art work or monuments, should they not focus on giving business' an incentive to move downtown? Right now the majority of downtown is vacant with not even a restaurant in sight. Basically your just spending dollars to make it nice for city and county workers who spend their days there. Besides of course the people who are heading to court. Don't get me wrong I love the thought of having a nice downtown area but give people a reason to go there and see it. I remember as a child going to the dime store that used to be located downtown. It was thriving then. And I believe that with some incentive small business owners would look at it again. ]]> http://www.notinkokomo.com/cms/blogs/sonny-s-girl/22-downtown-beautification.html greentown is a sad sad place http://www.notinkokomo.com/cms/blogs/carla/21-greentown-sad-sad-place.html Wed, 06 May 2009 02:20:29 GMT it is a sad thing to see such a beautiful little town run by such dumn women .It is hard for me to believe that people have not made some changes ,I... it is a sad thing to see such a beautiful little town run by such dumn women .It is hard for me to believe that people have not made some changes ,I know she's big and looks pretty scarey but come on the two together couldn't figure out how to thread a needle, but they sure keep the boys in line must have something to do with that million plus grant.it's a good thing there is a few smart men on the boardor it'd all be spent on cheap hair dye and dime store make up.Thats ok girls you keep those reins tight . and you just keep believing there is no drugs in greentown and i believe cows do fly.
and someday lies will come true .good thing for the old timers you can't buy or bully .remember darlings elections are comming and you have made your beds. people don't have to go to meeting to know about you two it's all over town. bye bye now. ]]> carla http://www.notinkokomo.com/cms/blogs/carla/21-greentown-sad-sad-place.html Atheist Quotes Lincoln, Vonnegut, Delbert Blanton http://www.notinkokomo.com/cms/blogs/raskolinkov/20-atheist-quotes-lincoln-vonnegut-delbert-blanton.html Mon, 04 May 2009 01:09:16 GMT "It appears to me (whether rightly or wrongly) that direct arguments against christianity and theism produce hardly any effect on the public; and freedom of thought is best promoted by the gradual illumination of men's minds which follows from the advance of science." [Darwin]


"If we believe absurdities, we shall commit atrocities." [Voltaire]


"I cannot imagine a God who rewards and punishes the objects of his creation, whose purposes are modeled after our own -- a God, in short, who is but a reflection of human frailty. Neither can I believe that the individual survives the death of his body, although feeble souls harbor such thoughts through fear or ridiculous egotism." [Einstein]


"Faith means not wanting to know what is true." [Nietzsche]
"I cannot believe in the immortality of the soul.... No, all this talk of an existence for us, as individuals, beyond the grave is wrong. It is born of our tenacity of life – our desire to go on living … our dread of coming to an end." [Edison]


"The Bible is not my book nor Christianity my profession. I could never give assent to the long, complicated statements of Christian dogma." [Lincoln]


"Religion is a byproduct of fear. For much of human history, it may have been a necessary evil, but why was it more evil than necessary? Isn't killing people in the name of God a pretty good definition of insanity?" [Arthur C. Clarke]


"Religions are all alike – founded upon fables and mythologies." [Thomas Jefferson]


"Say what you will about the sweet miracle of unquestioning faith, I consider a capacity for it terrifying and absolutely vile." [Kurt Vonnegut]


"Religion is based . . . mainly on fear . . . fear of the mysterious, fear of defeat, fear of death. Fear is the parent of cruelty, and therefore it is no wonder if cruelty and religion have gone hand in hand. . . . My own view on religion is that of Lucretius. I regard it as a disease born of fear and as a source of untold misery to the human race." [Bertrand Russell]


To get deep into my idea of Christianity, and, thus, all religion, read my book, Small Town Bachelor available at amzon. Only Jesus has a chance to be Truth yet he comes from the deception of Jacob over Ezau. I explain this in my book. ]]> Raskolinkov http://www.notinkokomo.com/cms/blogs/raskolinkov/20-atheist-quotes-lincoln-vonnegut-delbert-blanton.html Small Town Bachelor Chapter One, Delbert Blanton http://www.notinkokomo.com/cms/blogs/raskolinkov/19-small-town-bachelor-chapter-one-delbert-blanton.html Mon, 04 May 2009 01:00:20 GMT CHAPTER ONE THE PLACE, JERRY, THE MEETING, THE DATE, IDA MAY, STICK MILLER, SURPRISE NUPTIALS AND THE ESCAPE Hello everyone! I am Delbert, and I... CHAPTER ONE
THE PLACE, JERRY, THE MEETING, THE DATE, IDA MAY,
STICK MILLER, SURPRISE NUPTIALS AND THE ESCAPE
Hello everyone! I am Delbert, and I live in Kokomo, Indiana. Kokomo is 50 miles north of
Indianapolis on U.S. 31. It’s a town of about 50 thousand. There are two big factories in
Kokomo. One is Delphi Electronics which makes stereos, electronic sensors and other gadgets
for automobiles. They mainly supply General Motors, but I’m sure in today’s international
world of capitalism, they sell a few products to Toyota, and maybe even Al-Qaida.
The other big factory is DaimlerChrysler Corporation. This is where I work. We make
transmissions. I make the rear carrier for the 604 front wheel drive automatic transmission. That
is about all I know. I know my job well, but I know little else about cars, trucks, engines,
transmissions or the company. They say the Germans own us now, Daimler, but I have never
seen one, a German, except for my friend, Jerry. Jerry is German, but he was born here in
Indiana, just north of Kokomo in Miami County. I guess that makes him German-American.
I’m Appalachian-American because my parents came from the Appalachian Mountains in Harlan
County, Kentucky. Jerry and I meet while we are working in department 9100. I am 23, and
Jerry is around 40. I am a new hire at Chrysler and work on the assembly line. Jerry has been
with the company for several years. He builds valve bodies.
It is floating around the department that I graduated from Indiana University in Bloomington,
Indiana. This intrigues some people, but it pisses Jerry off. Jerry doesn’t like IU. Jerry is a
Purdue University fan. His brother played basketball for Purdue. His nephew plays for the
Purdue football team. Jerry has a problem with his brain that makes him ask several questions in
succession before getting an answer to his first. Jerry approaches me and starts his interrogation.
He asks me why I am working on the line when I have a college degree. He asks me why I am
not in supervision. He asks me if I know this person or that person. He asks me why I don’t
move to Chicago or Phoenix or Denver. He says these cities are hubs for college graduates
looking for work. He asks me if I have a girlfriend.
“Not right now,” I answer quickly, getting in a word.
This freezes Jerry. He ponders.
“Hey, hey, would you like to meet my neighbor?” He responds.
“What does she look like?” I wonder.
“She’s tall like you, not bad looking.” Jerry says.
“What’s her number? I’ll give her a call.” I say.
Again, Jerry freezes.
“Hey, you give me your number and I will have her call you.” Jerry says.
I have always been an easy going person, pliable and naïve. Strangely, the assembly line stops, a
problem. I quickly jot down my phone number and give the piece of paper to Jerry. The
assembly line starts back up, and Jerry darts away.
That Saturday, I get a phone call.
“Is this Mr. Delbert?” A female voice asks.
I wonder why she is calling me “Mr. Delbert?”
“Yes,” I answer.
“Hi. I’m Ida May, Jerry’s neighbor. I’m not suppose to use a phone.” Ida May says.
I don’t know what to say to this.
“Would you like to meet me?” She asks.
“Sure, where do you live? I’ll come by and pick you up.” I answer.
“No. I’m not allowed to be in cars. We’re coming to town tonight. How ‘bout we come by to
see you?” She says.
“Who’s we?” I ask.
“Me and my daddy,” Ida May says.
“How old are you?” I ask.
“Twenty one,” she says.
What have I gotten myself into? I might as well see it through. I give Ida May my address. I sit
around trying to figure out the mystery. Is Jerry her father? She said she wasn’t allowed to be in
a car, but they are coming to town tonight. Are they going to walk to Kokomo from Miami
County? And Jerry, this coworker, what is up with this dude? Hell, I barely know the man.
Why did I give him my phone number and agree to this blind date?
I watch a football game and a couple hours pass as I wonder about Ida May, Jerry and the strange
phone conversation. Outside, in the distance, I hear a sound. One that I have heard before, but
one I don’t recognize.
Clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop, clip---clop, clip--------clop, clip------------clop, clip------
---------------------CLOP!
I raise the blinds and look outside my window. I see a horse and a black buggy. Two people are
inside. It hits me like a great discovery. This is my date.
“Oh my God! She’s Amish!” I scream.
I raise the blinds again. There they sit. I see a snoopy neighbor make her way out on her porch.
Another neighbor pokes their head out. I’ve got to do something. I walk outside. The horse
gives a loud nay and jerks its head. Then………it takes a dump. A huge, solid piece of horse
shit bounces off the street. Out pops a middle sized man about 50 years old. He wears some
gray bib overhauls and a black hat with a stiff, hard bill that circumvents his head. He has a
short gray beard that is cut along his chin and a bare upper lip, no mustache. He is a pilgrim. He
has ridden his buggy through time, straight from Mayflower to my front door.
“Hi ya! Hi ya! Don’t worry about tat. Don’t’ worry about tat.” The Amish man says.
How he knew the horse took a shit is a mystery to me. The Amish man reaches in the buggy and
grabs a miniature short handled shovel. He scoops up the log like a short stop backhanding a
baseball hit in the hole. He dumps the log in a bucket in the back of the buggy. He wipes his
hands on a rag and rushes over to me, reaching out his hand. We shake.
“Hi ya, I’m Stick Miller. I live next door to Jarry. You work with Jarry, right? You’re Delbert,
right?” Stick Miller asks.
“Yes,” I answer.
“Good, good. This is good. It’s a beautiful day. Isn’t it?” Stick says. “She’s inside. You want
to see her?”
I look and see a woman inside the buggy. She’s huge, all cramped up and hunched over. If this
is an auction, there is no one around to out bid me.
“Yea, uh, sure.” I say, completely lost.
Stick goes over and opens the buggy door. Out steps Ida May. When she straightens up, she has
to be six feet two. She is not heavy, but she’s not thin. She’s a power forward, big and sturdy,
big shoulders, big hands, big feet, and………big breasts. I’m sure she could kick my ass. Ida
May has blondish, brown hair that is tied up and sits beneath a white bonnet. She has on a button
down, long sleeve gray shirt and a long gray skirt with black boots. She might look good in
Broad Ripple. Maybe I could take her to this artsy Indianapolis community and get her a tattoo
above her huge ass.
“Hello,” I say.
“Please to meet you, Mr. Delbert.” Ida May says in very good English.
I look at Ida May and Ida May looks down at the ground.
“Ya, ya, this is good. This is good.” Stick says. “You kids want to get something to eat?”
Now Ida May looks up and gives me a little smile.
“Sure,” I say.
I look over at my car, and I look back at Stick. He gives me a frown.
“Let’s take the buggy.” He says.
Could I? Would I? If I say no, I will go back inside and watch another football game. If I say
yes, I might do an Amish woman. I give a wave to all my snoopy neighbors and hop in the
buggy.
“Let’s go Betsy.” Stick says and gives the reins a snap.
Betsy the horse starts a trot. I sit in front with Stick. Big Ida May is scrunched up in the back.
“Daddy, it’s crowded back here.” Ida May says.
“Ah, ya, let’s move the bench up.” Stick says in his German accent.
He reaches for a lever beneath the bench, and we pull our hind ends forward. The bench snaps
into place.
“This is a new buggy. It has all the modern stuff.” Stick says.
I’m a good sport and conversationalist, but I have no idea what to say. Sensing I’m in shock,
Stick does all the talking as Ida May and I sit quietly.
“So you work at Chrysler?” Stick offers as he turns Betsy onto Washington, the busiest street in
Kokomo.
“Yes, I work at Chrysler.” I answer.
Cars and trucks back up behind us. Betsy trots along. The cars and trucks slowly pull around
the Amish horse and buggy. No one honks. The Amish are not a strange site on the streets of
Kokomo. For me, though, this is a new view. I am inside the buggy.
“Do you like factory work?” Stick asks.
“It’s ok.” I say.
“Have you ever raised a barn?” Stick asks.
I glance over.
“You’re kind of skinny.” Stick says to me.
“Yes, I guess so.” I answer.
“Don’t you eat much?” Stick asks.
“Daddy, don’t ask him stuff like that. Sorry, Mr. Delbert. Daddy asks a lot of questions.” Ida
May says.
“Now, Ida May might not be the best thing to look at but she’s a good cook and that looks like
what you need, a good cook to fatten you up some, and she’s strong, can chop a cord of wood in
a couple hours. This will come in handy when having babies…..a strong woman. Don’t want no
skinny woman for babies. I guess you’re the skinny one.” Stick says, and gives a chuckle.
“Daddy, please!” Ida May says, raising her voice.
“OK, why don’t you two talk?” Stick says.
I don’t know what to say so I look out the side window. For some strange reason, my sister
Debbie is in her car in the next lane. I lean forward in excitement and knock on the window.
“Oh! Debbie! Debbie!” I scream.
“What is it?” Stick asks.
“My sister is next to us.” I say.
“You want her to come along?” Stick asks.
“No, no. I………… was just surprised.” I say
The light turns green. Debbie looks up at the buggy. At the sight of me, she lets out a shriek
and veers to her right almost hitting the car in the far right hand lane. Debbie straightens our her
car and pulls away on Washington Street as Stick turns the buggy left onto Markland Avenue. I
am alone again with the Amish.
“Let’s go to Noble Romans. I like their breadsticks.” Stick says.
He trots Betsy up Markland Avenue towards the Markland Mall. The front right wheel makes a
thump with each revolution. Strangely, I notice an orange electrical cord on the floor. I keep my
mouth shut.
Noble Romans is in the mall parking lot next to Sears. Stick guides Betsy into a spot far away
from any cars. I get out and Stick gets out and Ida May climbs over the bench somehow. She is
big, agile, a good athlete. We could make some huge babies.
Inside, we take a booth. Ida May sits on the side with her dad. If I look at her, she looks away.
Shy, I guess. We order some breadsticks, and Stick starts up again.
“Now, my granddad raised Big Ben.” Stick says.
“Big Ben?” I wonder.
“Ya, ya, Big Ben,” Stick says again.
“You mean the cow in Highland Park?” I ask.
Stick gives me an incredulous, condescending look
“We gelded Big Ben,” Stick says.
My balls tighten. I look at Stick.
“Big Ben was a steer, not a cow,” Sticks says, giving me a little frown, firmly realizing that I am
a city boy.
A picture comes into my mind, Big Ben, the world’s largest steer, weighing over 5000 pounds,
and an incredible 16 feet long. In 1910, Big Ben slipped on some ice and broke his leg. He was
put to death and his stuffed body resides in Highland Park in Kokomo, Indiana, minus what must
have been the biggest balls in the world.
“Are you sure? I thought those people were named Murphy.” I say.
“Ya, ya, I’m sure. The Murphy’s are on my mother’s side. We still have some of the meat from
Big Ben.” Stick says.
Ida May giggles. The waitress brings our drinks.
“I thought he was raised in Howard County.” I say.
“No, no. Miami County. On our farm. Come on out sometime, and I’ll show you. Why, we
could ride out tonight.” Stick says.
I think I have ridden enough in the black buggy. I only like horses from a distance, like when
they are racing in the Kentucky Derby. I think I want to go back to my car.
“Excuse me. I need to go to the restroom.” I say.
“When a man’s got to go, a man’s got to go.” Stick says and Ida May giggles.
Of course, I don’t have to piss. In the restroom, I splash some water on my face and look in the
mirror. I just need some reflection. I need to know if this is real or some dream. I go into the
stall and get some paper and blow my nose. I go back and look in the mirror. I blast out
laughing. HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! This Jerry guy is a real trip, setting me up on a blind date
with an Amish woman. I open the door to leave and see Ida May standing in the hallway against
the wall.
“What’s so funny in there?” She starts.
“Uh, what are you doing here?” I ask.
“I wanted to see you.” She says.
“I was coming right back.” I say.
Ida May is not shy. Ida May takes a step forward. I’m 6’4” and she is looking me straight in the
eyes. She takes another step forward, pressing her giant breasts gently into me. Ida May has me
pinned.
“We can’t talk out there in front of daddy.” She says.
“Uh, look, let’s just go back to the table, ok?” I say.
I duck down beneath the giant breasts and squirm away. I walk back to the booth and take my
seat. A moment later, Ida May shows. She sits next to her daddy. The waitress brings the
breadsticks, and things get extra weird.
“Would you like a little wine with your bread?” Stick asks me.
“They sell wine here?” I ask.
“I don’t know. I brought some home brew.” Stick says.
He reaches into one of the many pockets on his bib overhauls and pulls out a wine sack.
“This is made of goat skin.” Stick says.
He points the nozzle towards his open mouth and squeezes the wine sack together. A stream of
red wine shoots into the back of his throat. He passes it over to me. I hold the goat sack and
give it a strange look as I feel Ida May’s big boot going up my leg.
“Easy,” I say.
“Yea, that’s right, easy. You don’t want to shoot too much in.” Stick says.
“It feels good.” I say, holding the goat sack.
Ida May gives me a little smile.
“Now, that’s real goat skin.” Stick says.
“Where did you get it?” I ask.
“I bought it up in Shipshewana, ya, ya. It’s been very good to me. Go ahead. Have a
squirt……..ah, wait, have some bread first.” Stick says.
Ida May takes the top of her boot and rubs it on the inside of my leg. She must be double
jointed. Now, when I look at her, she smiles big, like Betsy the horse. I look at Stick to make
sure he isn’t smiling. Stick holds a breadstick out towards me and I break off a piece. I take a
bite and chew it up and swallow. Then, I hold the goat sack up and squirt some red wine into my
mouth. They watch me intensely. I take another squirt of red wine and hand the goat sack back
to Stick.
“Ah ha! There you go my boy! It’s almost done!” Stick says and slaps his knee.
“Yea, yea, daddy!” Ida May says.
“What’s almost done?” I ask.
“Now, just sit tight, my boy, ya, ya, it’s almost done, ya, ya.” Stick says.
I don’t like Stick calling me “my boy.” Stick stands up and pulls a Bible out of another pouch on
his bib overhauls. He opens the Bible and starts reading out loud in a foreign language. It
sounds like a harsh yodel.
“Is that German?” I ask Ida May.
“It’s Beachy, a German dialect, like Pennsylvania Dutch. We use it for all wedding
ceremonies.” She says. ]]> Raskolinkov http://www.notinkokomo.com/cms/blogs/raskolinkov/19-small-town-bachelor-chapter-one-delbert-blanton.html In Loving Memory of Robert Stanley Johnston, Jr. http://www.notinkokomo.com/cms/blogs/bob-and-denise/18-loving-memory-robert-stanley-johnston-jr.html Sun, 12 Apr 2009 01:06:47 GMT THE FOLLOWING OBITUARY WAS PUBLISHED IN THE KOKOMO TRIBUNE ON NOVEMBER 15, 2008. THAT VERSION OF THE OBITUARY DID NOT INCLUDE OUR SON’S PATERNAL SIDE...
THE FOLLOWING OBITUARY WAS PUBLISHED IN THE KOKOMO TRIBUNE ON NOVEMBER 15, 2008. THAT VERSION OF THE OBITUARY DID NOT INCLUDE OUR SON’S PATERNAL SIDE OF HIS FAMILY & ALSO GAVE AN INCORRECT NAME FOR HIS FATHER (HE IS NOT A "SENIOR"). TO PROPERLY HONOR & SHOW RESPECT TO EVERYONE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FAMILY, WE ARE PLACING THIS REVISED VERSION ON MYSPACE, FACEBOOK & KOKOMO FORUMS & MESSAGE BOARDS.

A MEMORIAL TO OUR SON WAS ESTABLISHED ON Making Everlasting Memories, worldwide memorialization, establish a living family history, WHICH ALSO DELIBERATELY LEAVES OUT ALL INFORMATION & PICTURES OF BOB’S PATERNAL FAMILY. WE WILL BE UPLOADING PICTURES TO MYSPACE AND FACEBOOK SHOWING BOB’S LIFE & ASKING FOR STORIES & MEMORIES FROM ALL HIS FAMILY & FRIENDS. NO ONE WILL BE EXCLUDED.

UNDOUBTEDLY, ALL OF YOU OUT THERE HAVE EXPERIENCED FAMILY PROBLEMS TO SOME DEGREE OR ANOTHER, & YOU KNOW THE SUFFERING THAT IS CAUSED BY BITTERNESS, ANGER, UNFORGIVENESS, ETC. THROUGHOUT 17 YEARS OF OUR SON’S MARRIAGE, WE TRIED IN EVERY CONCEIVABLE WAY TO LET OUR DAUGHTER-IN-LAW KNOW HOW MUCH WE CHERISHED & LOVED HER, BUT WE WERE REJECTED AGAIN & AGAIN. WE LITERALLY WENT DOWN ON OUR KNEES TO HER, BEGGING HER FORGIVENESS FOR ANY WAY THAT WE HAD OFFENDED OR HURT HER. WE HAVE NEVER HARMED OUR GRANDCHILDREN, ONLY LOVED THEM DEEPLY SINCE THEY WERE BORN & GRIEVED TO SEE THEM MANIPULATED IN ORDER TO PUNISH US. WE'VE SHOWERED THEM WITH CARDS, LETTERS & GIFTS EVEN DURING YEARS OF SILENCE WHEN WE DID NOT KNOW WHETHER THEY WERE EVEN RECEIVING OUR MAIL.

WE ARE GREATLY COMFORTED IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT OUR SON NOW KNOWS THE TRUTH ABOUT ALL DECEPTION, MISUNDERSTANDING, ETC. DURING ALL THOSE YEARS & THAT HE KNOWS HOW MUCH WE LOVE HIM & EAGERLY ANTICIPATE SEEING HIM AGAIN SOMEDAY. OUR BLESSED HOPE! WE HAVE AN ENTIRE CHURCH FAMILY HERE IN OUR HOMETOWN THAT IS PRAYING FOR OUR DAUGHTER-IN-LAW & FAMILY TO LET GO OF THE HATRED THEY ARE CARRYING & LET GOD'S LOVE FILL THEIR HEARTS. GOD ANSWERS THE PRAYERS OF HIS CHILDREN!

SEE OUR MESSAGE TO BECCA & TO OUR PRECIOUS JOSH AND MEGGIE, WHO WE LOVE WITH ALL OUR HEARTS, ON OUR MYSPACE & FACEBOOK PROFILES (Bob and Denise Johnston), WHICH WILL SOON BE UPDATED WITH MANY MORE PICTURES OF OUR SON & FAMILY. WE’RE HOPING OUR GRANDKIDS WILL FIND ALL OF THIS INFORMATION SOMEDAY, AS WE HAVE NOT BEEN ALLOWED TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEM SINCE OUR SON’S DEATH. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ THIS & FOR YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS.

IN THE LOVE OF CHRIST, BOB & DENISE.

Our Beloved Son, Bobby

Robert S. Johnston, Jr., 42, Kokomo, passed away on Tuesday, November 11, 2008, at Howard Regional Health System. He was born June 14, 1966, in Los Angeles, California. On April 7, 1990, he married Rebecca Holt in La Palma, California, and she survives.

He graduated from Cypress High School and Long Beach State College in California. He was Vice-President at Union Bank in California. He was a member of the Project Management Institute, and attended Fresh Start Ministries. He was an avid golfer, and he enjoyed boating, water skiing, watching his son play basketball, and having tickle fights with his daughter. He loved his family.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his son, Joshua Johnston and his daughter, Meghan Johnston; parents, Robert and Denise Johnston and Kathleen and Buck Holmberg; sister, Tisha Stickley; grandparents, Harvey and Marion Peterson; grandmother, Ruth Johnston Hines; father and mother-in-law, Bob and Kaye Holt; sisters-in-law, Rachel Youngman and Eva Holt and her husband Paul Minaker; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins in all the families.

He was preceded in death by grandfather Richard Stanley Johnston and grandparents George Edwin & Eleanor Wilcox.


"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints" ]]> http://www.notinkokomo.com/cms/blogs/bob-and-denise/18-loving-memory-robert-stanley-johnston-jr.html Harrison Township Volunteer Fire Department http://www.notinkokomo.com/cms/blogs/spongebob/17-harrison-township-volunteer-fire-department.html Mon, 09 Feb 2009 21:47:50 GMT It"s time for a change at the fire dept.We need new leadership.Mr. Harbaugh needs to take over the dept. and remove the chief.Harbaugh needs to run the dept. like he is supposed to do. ]]> spongebob http://www.notinkokomo.com/cms/blogs/spongebob/17-harrison-township-volunteer-fire-department.html democrat chair http://www.notinkokomo.com/cms/blogs/half/16-democrat-chair.html Tue, 13 Jan 2009 22:37:02 GMT i think we need a democrat chair like someone like rick ward who is cap chair now for howard county we have to work with both the party and the local... i think we need a democrat chair like someone like rick ward who is cap chair now for howard county we have to work with both the party and the local labor unions so we can build on the party and make it stronger and raise more funds:):) ]]> half http://www.notinkokomo.com/cms/blogs/half/16-democrat-chair.html Clean your property! http://www.notinkokomo.com/cms/blogs/breeze1/15-clean-your-property.html Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:32:08 GMT Does anyone know what the latest is on the property located at the corner of Boulevard & S. LaFountain? Looks like another city clean-up needs to happen there again! ]]> Breeze1 http://www.notinkokomo.com/cms/blogs/breeze1/15-clean-your-property.html Global Economy http://www.notinkokomo.com/cms/blogs/retired-army/14-global-economy.html Fri, 22 Aug 2008 01:00:12 GMT The recent announcement coming out of Kokomo Sanitary Pottery further emphasizes the fact that America is going to have to compete in a global... The recent announcement coming out of Kokomo Sanitary Pottery further emphasizes the fact that America is going to have to compete in a global economy. Planned economies are products of government intervention and subsequently do what ever it takes to produce. In America open competition primarily determines the economy. The time has come for our government to come up with a way to compete and not sacrifice ideals in a bipartisan endeavor. ]]> Retired Army http://www.notinkokomo.com/cms/blogs/retired-army/14-global-economy.html A Real Look at Annexation http://www.notinkokomo.com/cms/blogs/notinkokomo/13-real-look-annexation.html Mon, 30 Jun 2008 23:50:03 GMT Someone here recently suggested that Kokomo adopt a new anthem as championed by the sometimes-appearing-clueless Mayor. It was further suggested... Someone here recently suggested that Kokomo adopt a new anthem as championed by the sometimes-appearing-clueless Mayor. It was further suggested someone design a bumper-snicker... so here it is:



The anthem's theme was "Wow..Really...Wow!".

This clever bit of phraseology pokes fun at quotes brought forward in the Kokomo Perspective recently.

Well, I thought it was about time someone really looked into Kokomo's vaunted Annexation 'Plans'. You can see them here and here (East and West side, respectively).

These things are so full of discrepancies and holes I wonder if the Mayor and his staff really know what they're getting themselves into....

More on that....

First, let's talk about PROPERTY TAXES.

On page 7 of BOTH of the plans, it very clearly lays out 'Net Tax Rate Conversions' for the various Townships targeted. The Mayor's own data predicts property owner taxes in these areas will increase anywhere between 47 to 61 percent. INCREASE!

Of course, the administration is also quick to point out this little carefully-worded tidbit:

...homeowners may not see the above increases in property tax, as these increases exceed the 1% property tax cap.
Well... the Mayor must certainly be disappointed that our Governor and Republican Legislators pushed that through this year, much to the chagrin of both himself and Democratic yes-man Ron Herrell.

Here's the deal: Currently, your property taxes are likely to go DOWN. That was the intent of the Governor and the State legislature, and it was the will of the people in Indiana.

If these folks in the County are annexed, they'll never see that intended tax cut. In fact.. it is very likely... their taxes will instead spiral upward.

I suppose the Mayor believes he's more clever than the Governor, most of the Statehouse, and virtually all the people living in Indiana.

After all.. it would be a GREAT deal if the County homeowners would only look at the 'Big Picture'.

You'd get all the wonderful benefits of Kokomo citizenship... like high property taxes, deteriorating infrastructure, various city departments literally under siege and confronted with multitudes of moral or operational troubles, ever increasing fees for services...

Why, the list of 'benefits' to living in the city limits just goes on and on. Come on folks, you're getting a super deal :(.

All kidding aside, annexation is not a good move for Kokomo right now. It's a money grab and that's all... and someone always loses when the grabbing is done.

That 'someone', of course, would be the County... a governmental unit already so strapped they're scrutinizing car wash receipts and fretting about how in the World they'll continue to pay for locking up Kokomo's miscreants.

Has Mr. Goodnight even considered how his plans might drive the County into more chaos? That's doubtful, as he just recently began even discussing the situation with them. That alone smacks of Greed and not a desire for the best welfare of everyone in the area.

Now, on to the holes in these 'plans'.

The East side plan says 46.8 percent of the land is agricultural... the West side 54.1. Why in the World does an incorporated 'City' have any business sucking up a bunch of Ag farmland into its borders? Does the Mayor believe there will be some major housing or industrial boom in the area that would necessitate this move? I don't see it.

The City's own policy, as outlined in Council Resolution 2341 and adopted in April of 2000, recommends annexation for areas in proximity, being developed in ways that make them 'urban' in character and create a need for municipal services.

I find it unlikely that nearly 5,000 acres of agricultural land is 'urban' in character... unless cows and chickens have taken to illegal drug use or robbing non-existent convenience stores on their country corners.

When analyzing anything, I tend to also look for specifics and try to 'prove them out'. Since I already had some data on Police operations, I chose to examine 'facts' the Mayor and his staff told us about in their Annexation plans.

They've based 'predictions' on Law Enforcement cost(s) with information that doesn't seem to add up. I used a comparison with the Noblesville Police Department just because the data was readily available.

After looking over everything, I find their basis-data a little hard to believe.

Comparing population counts, calls for service (as reported), department personnel, and budgets... it seems like Kokomo's numbers are way, way over inflated.

Adjusted for population, Kokomo claims a Police Department budget 21.48 percent higher than Noblesville (per citizen), Noblesville officers perform 9.11 percent more calls (per sworn member), while Noblesville has 18.3 percent FEWER officers per resident than Kokomo.

Does this look like somebody 'cooked the books'? It sure does to me.

In the end, Kokomo will need to annex some land one of these days. The 'pockets' in the City certainly make sense, and so does land to the East where the new 31 will proceed.

What doesn't make sense... right here and right now... is this poorly-planned scheme.. the only goal of which may be to delay Kokomo governmental demise at the expense of County services.

Sorry.. the numbers don't add up to me.

Wow...Really?... Wow!

NIK ]]> notinkokomo http://www.notinkokomo.com/cms/blogs/notinkokomo/13-real-look-annexation.html City Employees http://www.notinkokomo.com/cms/blogs/nancy/9-city-employees.html Wed, 18 Jun 2008 13:55:56 GMT Why is it a mayor who was such a stickler for saving his fellow employees jobs in his old union now wants to lay off City employees? First they want... Why is it a mayor who was such a stickler for saving his fellow employees jobs in his old union now wants to lay off City employees? First they want to take away some more of their insurance (while city councilmen enjoy their own insurance) and now wants to lay off a lot of employees. I guess the new city manager, Randy Morris, must enjoy that part of his job. This adminstration yells about not having a lot of money but intends to spend a lot on extending city limits. What about all the loyal employees that he plans to dump? ]]> Nancy http://www.notinkokomo.com/cms/blogs/nancy/9-city-employees.html KPD simmers... as the City waits... http://www.notinkokomo.com/cms/blogs/notinkokomo/5-kpd-simmers-city-waits.html Mon, 09 Jun 2008 04:29:27 GMT In recent weeks, the Kokomo Perspective has published several articles that serve to shed some light on problems within the KPD. The controversy... In recent weeks, the Kokomo Perspective has published several articles that serve to shed some light on problems within the KPD.

The controversy began with twin suspensions... and later demotions, it seems... of two very experienced and well-educated senior Police officers after they took evidence of department wrongdoing to Federal authorities.

The two officers have now been sitting at home for several months while a supposed 'inquiry' takes place and waiting their turn before the Kokomo Board of Works... or a Court of Law.

Meanwhile, their information has spawned other Federal investigations which may-or-may-not ever have satisfactory results. The Feds are purposely quiet about such matters.

In my view, Chief Rob Baker is not a bad guy... he was just placed into a position for which he was ill-equipped and unsupported... eerily similar to previous Chiefs during the McKillip reign.

Baker walked into a Police Department enthralled with controversy, and dissension, and even perhaps corruption. He simply had no idea how in the World to deal with it all. He didn't have the experience, or the training, or the formal education to conquer KPD's demons.

The Mayor, similarly disadvantaged... was no help at all.

So... now.. the once-proud Kokomo Police Department faces a cross-roads. The direction chosen has major implications for the City, its Police Department, and the citizens they're sworn to protect.

Quite honestly, and directly due to this controversy... the citizens have lost faith in their Police Department. I hear it in emails, I saw it on our previous forum posts, and I even have personally spoken with folks who would swear the entire KPD is crooked.

Of course, that's not the case. The KPD still has a MAJORITY of very fine and dedicated professionals who go into your streets every day and try to make things right.

Baker, too, would just like to forget about the two officers supposed 'violations of policy' and go on, I suppose.

So one has to ask... why can't the KPD try to heal this wound rather than allowing a local newspaper to pick at sore scabs? Why are two of the KPD's most respected, well-educated, and experienced Police officers sitting at home while criminals rampage the streets? Why isn't someone 'fixing' this mess?

My guess is Rob Baker would like to... but he can't. He doesn't know how...and he's cow-towing to the Mayor's agenda (and who can guess what that might be).

Political agendas have no place in Law Enforcement, folks. Examples abound, from the ugly legacy of former Attorney General Janet Reno to wild corruption cases here in our own Hoosier state.

Citizens could care less who's sitting in the corner office when they need a cop who will defend them from the evils in our World. They need an officer they can trust, and respect, and even look up to.

At this odd point in history, the citizens in Kokomo don't have that security... and that problem needs remedied... soon.

How is this 'fixed'? Well, Kokomo has some very skilled cops hanging around (like Kirk, Davis, current and retired officers) who could put this train back on track and restore the Kokomo Police Department's image.

The question is... will Chief Baker and the Mayor listen?

NIK ]]> notinkokomo http://www.notinkokomo.com/cms/blogs/notinkokomo/5-kpd-simmers-city-waits.html NIK back on-line! http://www.notinkokomo.com/cms/blogs/notinkokomo/1-nik-back-line.html Sat, 07 Jun 2008 23:46:04 GMT After having received over a hundred emails from folks around Kokomo telling us how much they enjoy NIK, and how much a good many people believe our... After having received over a hundred emails from folks around Kokomo telling us how much they enjoy NIK, and how much a good many people believe our forum can do for Howard County, Pattiwaq and I have decided to re-launch NIK as of today.

As promised in a message to our users, NIK has had a complete overhaul, including dumping over 22,000 posts that had accumulated for three years.

We've also added VBulletin 3.7, which allows registered users to maintain Blogs of their own... much like the one being used to write this post. I would encourage our users to start their own... as everyone has something to contribute.

Here's a link to the VBulletin manual on Blogs.

You'll also notice a new 'look and feel' for the NIK website. Local news headlines will appear on the right side of our main page. You can read more, or go the actual news article by following links provided.

In the coming week(s), we'll also add community calendar features and other interesting content.

Many users have inquired as to 'why?' we pulled the forum off-line. Well, NIK was becoming something a whole lot different from what I had envisioned when starting this adventure several years ago.

Disrespectful, anonymous name-calling had become the norm, and it became quite a burden for us to decide what was worthwhile content.

This forum... your forum... is meant as a place where people can come and post... or read... things that are helpful and have meaning.

It is my hope we can return to that level of service.

We will retain our 'Free-for-all', but content within that area will be highly moderated and posts that we feel do not meet our 'Terms of Use' requirements will be deleted quickly and without comment.

I would encourage any 'Unregistered' users to review this document before posting.

Thanks to those of you who sent encouraging emails, and understanding.

We, our forum 'community'... clearly believe NIK can serve its intended purpose.

Thanks,

John ]]> notinkokomo http://www.notinkokomo.com/cms/blogs/notinkokomo/1-nik-back-line.html