hansaGruber

  1. Seriously, Dude, this is an extraordinary piece of PR writing. Harmony with nature? Seems we are glossing over a few details. When Beverly Shores residents pass away and the obituary lists "deer cull management" as a highlight of their life actions, one must wonder about all that harmony with nature. Guess it all depends on your definition of "harmony" and "nature." It's a beautiful place to live - if you are human and enjoy killing things. For nature? Not so much. In fact, the square footage consumed by monster homes (and cottage home makeovers) far exceeds the damage done to ornamental plants and jack in the pulpits. The land consumed by homes, will NOT be recovered. So - great for real estate sales (very important, ya know) - but not so great for nature.
    December 30, 2012 12:18 pm on Beverly Shores a community in harmony with nature
  2. Knock it off with the starving deer bit - even the DNR and the Beverly Shores and Dune Acres kill folks have dropped that old line. There are no starving deer in our area. NONE. Non corn fed deer look different in Spring than noncorn fed deer. Let us know when you see a NW INdiana deer dying by the roadside (or on your porch) from starvation ... please. Call us. We will film it for the archives. However, there are photos of BS and DA deer dying from thirst/infection due to impaling. Look up following blood trails ... that will explain everything you need to know about that sort of thing. Those who plant non native decorative landscaping on real estate situated in a heavily forested area abutting a state and federal park - (which, by the way, they pay extra for) and then expect the wildlife to pack up and move to condos in town, are a bit off the mark. If you want tulips and hostas and the other pretty things Home Depot and Lowes displays, please move into heavily populated urban areas. Wildlife live in the woods - they eat these delicacies. Frankly, I think your warriors for tulips should be fined for planting "attractive nuisance" plants. There are several lovely highrise condominiums offered for a good price in Chicago these days - ticks usually don't go up to the 25th floor (unless you carry them in on your person and don't shower) and not too many deer, ride elevators, either. Now - those deer mice that actually HOST the ticks - I don't know about that. I understand that mice can stow away in your luggage, backpacks, etc. - so when you move to your highrise condo - check for mice and roaches, bed bugs and those other things and if you find them, call your concierge or condo management group and ask for a cull. If they can't help you with a cull, call the state DNR and suggest a new depredation hunting permit for mice or whatever ails you. ( I would suggest not using rifles but, whatever.) However, I am quite positive you will find no deer hidden away among your valuables. And - some of these lovely condos have patios that you can keep a tulip or hosta or two on ... hey, give it some thought. Unless, of course, you just want to fight for the deer kill for the sake of fighting for a kill. Then, all of this back and forth is useless because it isn't about deer, or an intense passion for tulips, anyway.
    August 16, 2012 11:54 am on Pro-cull councilmen don't care that humans aren't threatened
  3. Thank you for making my point exactly. There are some serious ego issues involved with this shelter - it ain't all about the animals.
    I am not a board member. Never was a board member. Am a citizen who does not have a million dollars to donate and has no political career path. By assuming that this was a board member posting, you confirm my suspicions of politics trumping animal advocacy. I posted exactly for that reason - to make sure that the proffered money and planning cannot be disappeared once elections are over. When offers are made "anonymously" they can also "anonymously" be taken back for any convenient reason.
    No one is bashing the donor - in fact, the donor is to be praised for making such a generous offer. The citizens of this county are looking towards the leaders in this community and those with the resources and good intentions, to make this happen. Those of us who have used the shelter services and seen the difference a well run shelter can make for the homeless pets in the area, are grateful for the work done in the past year. It is a huge undertaking and the fact that someone in the community is willing to put down a substantial sum towards a new building - is wonderful. But - only if it happens.
    Do not assume that only board members and politicians follow this issue and care about the outcome. Regular folks who are not part of the backroom crowd are also concerned and watching. One does not need to be a "board member" to care about the condition of the current shelter. Regular taxpayers of this county will applaud anyone who makes this project happen for the county. It is long overdue. However, let's make sure it happens - even after the elections in November.
    God bless the person who takes the initiative and follows through with this shelter plan. We are fortunate to have an "anonymous" donor with these resources in our community.
    July 08, 2012 9:31 am on Whitten was right to question fast track on animal shelter
  4. One more observation for those community members who are following the political "drama" of the animal shelter:
    Will the "anonymous" donor pull back the carrot money if -
    1. There is no political payoff for the "donation?"
    2. If the public demands that a TRANSPARENT shelter advisory board be reinstated?
    With no political payback and a transparent advisory board reinstated, there seems to be a very good chance that the "anonymous" donor will disappear the promised substantial donation. All sorts of reasons could be given to the public for this removal of the promised money, but consider this a heads up to what the real reasons might be. The more transparency, the less likely that money stays on the table. Of course, I might be completely wrong and this donor is operating out of the considerable love of the animals which makes one ask - where was this donor over the past ten years as the shelter disintegrated? Watch and wait.
    July 07, 2012 10:29 am on Whitten was right to question fast track on animal shelter
  5. Thank you for pointing this out. Once again, county politics operates to take care of special constituents, and the shelter's purpose for the animals is lost in the hype. There is a back story to this sudden desire to operate the shelter by Ms. Sommers and friends - congrats to those council folks who are sharp enough to see the big picture. Mr. Evans could not wait to scrape this responsibility off his shoe - once the primary was over, he came up with yet another miracle, backroom deal. (How many backroom deals does he have stored away, anyway?) Time to stop the backroom discussions. Time to get some transparency into a shelter advisory board that is not handicapped with a few stooges for the commissioner. Let's support the folks who have done the dirty grunt work - silently and honorably for the success of the shelter - not their own political profiles.
    July 07, 2012 8:55 am on Whitten was right to question fast track on animal shelter
  6. Any reason this particular reporter is chosen to cover these wildlife stories? Just wondering ...
    May 13, 2012 9:30 am on Deer management plan approved for Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
  7. Seriously? Very seriously? What you see is not always what you get with candidates - in the case of Mr. Evans who is very, very, oh so very polite with the Trout and Company, but unless you have a finger in the construction business, are blatantly wealthy or dead, he has no particular interest in you. That is not easy to spot if you are on the right side of finances. Maybe Mr. Biggs was being polite - maybe Mr. Biggs knew of your friendship with Evans, maybe he was just avoiding conflict, maybe he had no idea how Mr. Evans would handle the county finances. Yes, Mr. Biggs DID serve as commissioner. However, now that he has seen the service that Mr. Evans offers, he has decided it is time to get back in the commissioners seat to protect CEDIT money and other matters. No doubt, Porter County's affluent crowd would rather have a commissioner who has short term views re money distribution because that is the best way for those who feed at the CEDIT trough to do well. So - I am sure that Trout and Company will be out in full force for Mr. Evans and those like him. Big money loves Mr. Evans. Unfortunately, there are also the 98% of the other of us plain people schlubs in the county. We need representation, too. So - I vote for the guy that looks out for all the people in the county - not just the rich and dead ones. I will vote for Mr. Biggs. And - will continue to support him in the Council as he looks out for our money.
    May 04, 2012 4:17 pm on If Biggs loses, he should resign from County Council
  8. Beware of politicians who suddenly develop an interest in wildlife, domestic animals and the corresponding photo ops during a year they are primaried. Mr. Biggs has been around for the long haul. He has come to meetings of citizens for over a decade - whether the group was a group of 12 or a group of 300+. That cannot be said for Mr. Evans who has developed a very recent interest in the shelter and has shown no interest in four footed critters except when running for office. Mr. Biggs talks to folks whether they are big or small donors - even when it is NOT an election year. One does not have to be an affluent community member, country club resident or owner of a construction company, to get the attention of Mr. Biggs. The campaign fundraiser invitation sent out by Mr. Evans listed check boxes for contributions from $250.00 - $2500.00. Mr. Biggs hosted a fundraiser for $25.00 each. Get it? Mr. Biggs does not run hot and cold depending on the political climate. Mr. Evans is quick to pass out "to do" lists to the folks who actually work on projects - Mr. Biggs could be found over the last 15 years actually doing the dirty gritty work for critters - without publicity. Whether it is building birdhouses, making sure that backyard wildlife is not clubbed to death when injured, or concerned with state management of wildlife so that policies are not skewed in favor of special money interests, Mr. Biggs has been a four legged advocate for years - quietly and sincerely. And - before you label him a bleeding heart - Mr. Biggs is a hunter (free range, not state park as Dr. M's veterinarian does)- so drop the name calling. Using the shelter as political cover is ridiculous for Mr. Evans - he is very late to the game. He simply allowed the "no kill" label to be applied with no interest in how that could actually be accomplished. In fact, he does not even understand the concept of no kill. If he did, he would not have merely made a name change, but delved into what is required to maintain a correct no kill policy. And - that is money, staff and training. Animals suffered miserably under the "no kill" days of John Evans - he only "fixed" that when the dire condition of overheated, dying cats came into the public notice last summer. Before that, Mr. Evans did not care how many were sick, stacked upon or each other or cared for. He never asked for the money needed to have the shelter run as "no kill." He could have asked - he never did. In fact, the local veterinarians were not being paid for services until the spotlight was put on the issue (recently) and Mr. Evans suddenly found the money to pay them. In the meantime, animals were turned away for treatment by our locals because of nonpayment. That's the story Mr. Evans does not reveal. Be careful, Evans Supporters, before too much is revealed - Mr. Biggs has been there for the long term. So - individual Evans donors may be of the country club variety, the 1% variety, or the quick buck at the long term expense of Porter County variety - or - they can be at the $25.00 each variety. Go figure which one is looking out for the interests of regular people? It is Mr. Biggs.
    May 04, 2012 7:06 am on Keep Evans in charge of Porter County Animal Shelter
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