03.07.08 Friday Working for the Weekend

Muppet Mike had a little get together with his former friends in South Omaha. The puppet road show appeared at the Larietzen Gardens in an effort to justify the new Downtown Ballpark. The show has added a couple of new performers in Ken Stinson who plays the nervous friend and Jack Diesing who appeared nervous and ashamed at times.

The people who attended the show were treated to the same act as before. You know “We haven’t raised taxes in 7 years” (Just the valuations so we get more money.) “Trust us”

The show was greeted to a chorus of Boo’s and catcalls throughout. Not much new information was released with the exception of a hint that a former food processing plant at 10th and Capitol would be raised to build some temporary parking.

The show has two more programs scheduled, one at North High and the other at Westside. Wonder why they didn’t travel out to Elkhorn?

James Martin Davis is asking for a plea deal for Kelsy Peterson. JMD says the one thing she is guilty of is statutory rape and she has not been charged with that. The Judge has Ok’s a pre-trial conference and said if an agreement is not reached by April 18th a trial date will be set.

Dawson County Attorney Liz Waterman plans to prosecute Peterson no matter what the fed’s decide. She says because most of the crimes took place in Dawson County that the locals should handle most of this. Does Dawson county ban public flogging? Liz sounds like she would be in favor of water-boarding Peterson.

Davis wants to depose the young man Peterson fled with and his mother saying he has information that mom knew they were going and gave them the addresses of relatives in Mexico. He said the boy also drove part of the way and never made any attempt to escape.

The Mayor and the Firefighters are hung up on a couple of details in the contract dispute and now it is in the hands of a labor relations board.

The Firefighters are asking for a cost of living raise of 3.85% and the Mayor is asking for 3.5. The big issue is heath care benefits. The Firefighters have conceded that they will have to share the cost but want similar co-pay and out of pocket cost as they have now.

Also at issue is the way pensions are arrived at. The Mayor wants a formula that limits overtime calculated into the salary at 250 hours, the Firefighter want 300.

And there is the issue of 6 million owed the Firefighters from back in 2004 from a pay freeze and back holiday and vacation pay the firefighters held off on to help the Mayor pay some city bills. The Mayor wants the payment to not have to be all in one year. Were guessing he doesn’t have it but has the money to start the new stadium.

The Mav’s beat Alaska 4-3 to take a 1-0 lead in the Best of Three playoff series. Tonight they face Kieth Urban, wait, Saturday they square off again.

Mongo sent in a note to remind you all that tonight is the rematch between Omaha and Cedar Rapids. This time it’s the Lancers and the Rough Riders though.

The Lincoln Stars are in town Saturday.

Creighton kicks off Mo-Valley Tournament play this afternoon against Bradley at 2:30.

That’s all I got for now….More later……Hey has anyone seen Andrew ? No? He must be in Elbonia scouting players.

Bugs Manderson