Sunday, November 20, 2005
Sunday Morning - Coffee and the Journal-Gazette
A few noteworthy things from the Sunday morning Journal-Gazette:
- BIG has a Big Rebuttal - Chuck Bodenhafer of Bodenhafer Insurance & Investment Group writes a rebuttal to the Journal-Gazette's column questioning BIG's commissions on Allen County government's insurance and Bodenhafer's campaign contributions.
Bodenhafer Insurance & Investment Group (BIIG) has served as Allen County government’s insurance agent of record since 1983. Over that time, BIIG has worked diligently to build an insurance program that is effective and innovative. Our efforts have been very successful, resulting in just one increase in the cost of insurance to the employees in the past 21 years. That is a result that many envy and few can match.
- Orchard Ridge Country Club on the Cliff's Edge - Orchard Ridge is about to go under. The Journal-Gazette obtained a copy of a letter sent out to the Country Club's membership regarding the financial woes of the Club. Options may include sale to a private company.
Related golf news - Indiana Parley previously noted the recent acquisitions of golf courses in northeastern Indiana made by the R. H. West Group of Indianapolis.Orchard Ridge’s Board of Directors met Thursday night and its bank stated it was requesting the deed or it would begin foreclosure proceedings.
A copy of a letter e-mailed to Orchard Ridge membership was obtained by The Journal Gazette and its accuracy was verified by two members. In it, the board wrote it was not turning over the deed and it has “reviewed approximately four separate proposals to purchase the club and supply working capital.”
- Editorial Unwittingly Points Finger at Itself While Complaining about County Policy - The main J-G editorial criticizes the County Commissioners for eliminating payroll deductions for county employees which meant less collected for United Way. The decision to change the policy, the editorial notes, took place two years ago. The editorial stated:
This shockingly poor decision, made about two years ago with little attention, was a direct result of Allen County government’s one-party rule.
Why so little attention not only then but throughout the last two years? The editorial doesn't note that the lack of attention might have something to do with weak coverage by the newspaper itself over that period. After all, there had been an ongoing lawsuit against the County over the issue.
The editorial stated that the United Way was informed at the time the original decision was made. The County has since made the payroll deductions about submission of a request from individual employees.
