And the Story Continues

WORK AT NEW ALBANY SITE INVESTIGATED

Not too far back in the past, I got a bit of a sucker punch from a fellow "blogger" and local community activist for daring to say something about the SEJ neighborhood area receiving so much attention when our area of town had been largely ignored regarding a fight we had been fighting for nearly a decade now.
When I commented on that sucker punch by saying "nice jab", the person said something along the lines as " it wasn't as much of a jab as it was a counter punch". Since then there have been references made in posting about how certain people think its unfair that any part of the city get help as long as pet peeves are not attended to.

It would appear now that the pet peeve of mine, and about 150 other families has garnered the attention of Federal Agencies.

Story after story is pouring out regarding the illegal and immoral actions of CCE, inc and its owners. Council members are speaking out, the Mayor has reversed his position on supporting the move to 111 south saying in essence not in my backyard.

The more the stories come out, the more I am left to wonder, why is it such a big deal that some things have occurred on 111 south, and the media, and politician are all up in arms vowing to fight this to their last breath, yet the same violations are occurring every single day over on Silver Street, and there is no uproar in city hall?

Reports of the City still awarding this business contracts, and the land being owned by a certain real estate icon, whose business practices are questionable at best.

Folks its always the same names, time and time again....

And What of the Current Situation?

Stories have been floating around in the local media regarding CCE inc. and its continual and flagrant violations of zoning and environmental laws.

stories linked below:
http://www.newsandtribune.com/floydcounty/local_story_188135850.html

http://www.newsandtribune.com/archivesearch/local_story_185214400.html
A search of the tribune

Coffey has rallied the troops to protest the potential move.
IDEM has cited the company for messing with a flood plane before he had permits
The mayor in his own words said “I don’t want him building behind my house,”

Hundreds of households have been fighting this company for years, generally with little or no help from the city, and our council Representative have been virtually absent through out all of it.

Once the intentions we made that the company planned on moving elsewhere in the city, all hell breaks loose. basically saying, keep that shit hole where its at, but don't you DARE let that business or that man anywhere near OUR part of town.

Meanwhile, it is still business as usual out at CCE, mountains of waste tires and shredded tires piled high, against city ordinances, as well as against IDEM permits. No word on the "lawsuit" against the company from the city.
Waste tires are still showing up in alleyways through the neighborhood, and CCE has started its old tactics of pulling themselves from the agendas when opposition is ready, and they will sneak it in when interest in them dies down. (this is a game they have been playing with us for years)

So now that the Mayor KNOWS what a shitty, irresponsible "neighbor" this company is, Will he move to have them shut down and fined for every single day that the property is in violation of Light industrial zoning laws?
The last three Administrations made promises that were never kept, should we expect More and better from this one?

Good days at the nature preserve

Some Cold Coffey over grounds

http://www.newsandtribune.com/floydcounty/local_story_175111736.html

So what about the people who have to live with this mess for 8 years now?

One thing is for certain, The west end does not want Jeff Eastridge and this company over there either....

Why the city is letting this man and this business do anything in this city is beyond me.

BIO-BLITZ!!

Taking a 3 day week end to get away from work, we found ourselves immersed in some work, but it was definitely fun!
Brown County State Park was having its inaugural "bioblitz", a cataloging of all the plants and animals that inhabit the 15,696 acre park.
Volunteers, professional ornithologists, entomologists, herpetologists, botanists, colleges, Scouts, all gathered together for 72 hours of nearly non-stop crawling, netting, scooping, photographing, GPS tagging, and sampling of all manner of living things in the parks borders.
At our time for departure mid sunday, the break down was roughly:

20 different Amphibian species
300 insect species
18 species of mammals
19 species of reptiles
200 different species of flowers, weeds and shrubs
dozens of tree species
17 species of fish
dozens of bird species from the tiny runy throated Hummingbird to the Great Horned Owl, and all manner of birds in between!

This also happenned during the final transition of life for toads, and the woods and trails were covered in thousands of baby toads, that had just finished morphing from tadpoles to toads. The miniature little boogers were no bigger then the diameter of a pencil eraser coming out of every pond, creek and puddle!

I know for a fact next year we will be back for this, and anyone interested in nature should keep their eyes peeled for the date of the next one as well.

What "Shops" would you like to see move in to downtown?

As for me it would be the following;

1.) A photography and camera store with REAL cameras, film and digital, processing, and studio space to rent to photographers who need space for a shoot.

2.) a Dance supply store for all the kiddos in theater, dance lessons, etc. (have to go out in metro louisville now)

3.) a Small theater company (small scale plays put on by local actors)

4.) A locally owned and operated hardware store (yeah I know we have ace hardware)

What about you guys? What would be on the top of your lists?

A Special Thanks

A special thanks to Mr.Kozarovich of the New Albany Tribune for taking the time to get in contact with me regarding the Floyd County V.F.W. Mens Auxiliary Post #3281 offer to replace the U.S. flag that was stolen from the front of our home.

The one thing about our community, is that when something bad happens, there is ALWAYS people out there willing to do what they can to make it right.

THANK YOU MR. MARTIN, from my wife, daughter and myself.