OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW

What can I say about 2008? It will certainly not go down as a stellar year for anyone that I know. The economy tanked, financial institutions were given billions of dollars but won't tell what they did with all of that cash.

As always, I look to the new year with hope. Hope that my family and friends will stay healthy and employed. Hope that either myself or someone close to me will win the lottery. Well, a person can dream, can't they?

I am not going to make any predictions myself so if anyone wants to make a few predictions about New Albany or the country, or the world for that matter please do so.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, NEW ALBANY!!

HAVE A BLESSED CHRISTMAS

Like just about everyone else I have been running around trying to find the perfect gifts, shopping at the grocery for food to prepare the perfect Christmas meal, in general, trying to make this a perfect Christmas for my family.



Every year I tell myself that I won't try to be Martha Stewart, and every year I try and fail. I also try to simplify my life during the holidays. This year I did succeed in that goal.



Tonight I will join my family in the Christmas Eve service at my church. We will sing hymns and celebrate the birth of Christ.



However you celebrate this wonderful holiday season I wish you joy and happiness. And hopefully we will all have a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2009.

HE'S AT IT AGAIN

Gov. (not my man) Mitch Daniels has decided to "streamline" government.

According to a Tribune article by Rick Callahan Daniels wants to eliminate the three county commissioners and replace them with one county administrator who will appoint the county treasurer, recorder, assessor, surveyor and coroner. And commissioner Steve Bush agrees with him. Mr. Bush thinks this will help insure that we will have qualified candidates.

As for myself, I cannot think of any way to make Floyd County become more corrupt. If one person has that much power how can they stay honest? No matter how good one's intentions, we all know that power corrupts.

We the citizens should decide which candidates will hold these positions. The last thing we need is less power for the citizens. It is bad enough that our Federal Government still has the Electoral College. Floyd County has a lot of concerned people who take an active part in our elections. We should not be forced to live in Daniels' little fiefdom.

Let's not let this happen.

UP AND RUNNING

Hi everybody.

I have been absent from the blog for a while, mainly because we moved last week and it took forever to get my system set up again. Then I had an eye infection. The last week was pretty much a washout but things are looking better.

There is so much going on now that I don't know what to write about. The disgraceful way Barbara Sillings was treated at the council meeting, the death of the LOIT tax, (yea). But I will think of something soon.

Thanks,

Shirley

HAVE A LITTLE RESPECT

I am extremely upset over an article published in the Tribune 11/26/08 concerning our Township Assessor, Barbara Sillings. There was a special meeting of the Floyd County Council to determine Ms. Sillings future.

Since the majority of voters decided to eliminate her office she has been in limbo concerning her status. What bothered me about the article was the way she was portrayed as either a petulant child or a greedy politician. She is neither. Barbara Sillings is an honorable person who would not draw a paycheck for doing nothing.

Larry McAllister, the President of the council was quoted as saying, "I know she wants to work because she wants to run for office again." He went on to say, "I know she would not take a salary and not work, her political future would be in jeopardy." Please, Mr. McAllister, I don't think you meant that the way it sounded. That would imply that Ms. Sillings would draw a salary and not work if it were not her intention to run for office in the future.

Another disturbing part of the article was how Ms. Sillings and Ms. Egge were told to work things out. We are talking about two office holders here, not two kids on a playground. Ms. Sillings and Ms. Egge are adults, Mr. McAllister. They will be able to work together and get through these next two years with with a positive attitude.

I respect Ms. Sillings a great deal. She handled her loss election night with dignity and grace and will continue to act the same way during the rest of her term in office.

THANKSGIVING WISHES

I want to wish everyone a happy, healthy, joyous and blessed Thanksgiving.


Shirley

HIGH BILLS/LOW BANK BALANCE

As you probably know, the city council passed the budget. The Courier Journal and New Albany Confidential have all of the details so I won't repeat them.

As for myself, I'm just glad we have this behind us. Now that we know what we have, or don't have to work with, we can try to solve all of the rest or our fair city's problems.

Readers, what do you think?