Our town

The City Council voted 6-2, with one abstaining, against rezoning that would allow a Lassus Brothers gas station and convenience store at the corner of Bass and Hillegas roads. I'm more in agreement with the position of Councilwoman Karen Goldner than I am with that of Councilman Tom Smith:

The News-Sentinel's Sarah Jensen has a nice story in today's paper about the last day for Fort Wayne Community School custodians. In writing about how some of the custodians will work for Sodexo, the company to which custodial services were outsourced, she captures the special relationship between janitors and their schools:

Must be more loose money floating around Fort Wayne than I realized. i saw an ad for this on TV yesterday and looked it up on the Web just to make sure I didn't dream the whole thing:

Have your BREAST AUGMENTATION COMPLETED BY AUGUST 31, 2010 and receive a 10% DISCOUNT on the surgeon and facility fees, excluding anesthesia, implants, or products. Availability is limited, so please call today!

I have a friend facing a medical emergency, so my blogging will be spotty for the next few days. Take care of yourselves and be kind to friends and family.

Oh, swell:

INDIANAPOLIS — State officials expect more backyard fireworks shows this year because budget problems have forced many municipalities to cancel large professional fireworks displays.

The Indiana State Fire Marshal's office says it's issued nearly 200 fewer fireworks permits this year compared to last year.

A West Virginia native now an editor of The Journal Gazette explains why the "King of Pork" sobriquet for Robert Byrd always made her angry:

Byrd tirelessly steered millions of federal dollars to West Virginia

Is this a good idea?

The city of Fort Wayne has hired a consultant from South Carolina in an effort to make a stronger pitch to hold on to 1,000 or more jobs at the Navistar design center.

[. . .]

The contract with Williams calls for him to be paid up to $95,000 for helping in the “Navistay” effort.

[. . .]

Hear, hear: Under an ordinance proposed by City Councilman Mitch Harper, R-4th, city government would have to post online a monthly report on its spending for goods and services.

If enacted, the measure would continue a tack toward compelling greater disclosure this council has pursued.

Juxtaposition of the day: On our home page, this is the top story,

GARY — The childhood hometown of Michael Jackson is planning a tribute Friday at his former house to mark the one-year anniversary of his death, and the mayor says his mother is among the people expected to attend.

and it's followed immediately by this one:

Eighty percent of success, Woody Allen said, is just showing up. William Boeckmann seems destined for a successful life:

Boeckmann, 19, is a 2010 graduate of Homestead High School. In his 13 years of education, Boeckmann has achieved a rare accomplishment: He never missed a day of school.

[. . .]