01.25.08 Friday

State Senator Pete Pirsch has introduced a bill that has passed the first round of debate, that will increase the fines and lost points for anyone exceeding the speed limit by more than 35 mph.(Lets see  70 + 35 carry the one  whewwww Im still ok).

The law now only allows for a maximum fine of $200 bucks or $400 if in a construction zone. Apparently police are writing over 3 tickets a week for excessive speed on the Dodge Street expressway. Ya know it does kind of look like a Hot Wheels track.

Bail was set at $25,000 for the Bellevue teen accused of shooting his two friends with a “Romanian Deer Rifle”. His attorney expects his father to post the required 10% sometime later today.

Police in Bellevue are seeking a man who called a local florist and claimed to be a police officer investigation stolen credit cards. The man asked for the names and credit car numbers of people making recent purchases and the clerk gave him 4 sets of information. The numbers were then used to make fraudulent charges.

Ok did anyone take this clerk out back and beat her with a bouquet of azaleas for giving out that information without a warrant? Over the phone? This just has “DUH” written all over it.

An Omaha Firefighter battling a vacant house fire near 31st and Charles narrowly avoids serious injury. Kevin Mandina had entered the house and had the floor give way underneath him. He fell through the hole,stopping at his shoulders and other firefighters pulled him to safety. He continued to fight the fire after that.

Mr Public Safety Dan Welch said this potential tragedy could have been avoided if the city had followed his study guidelines which would have eliminated this firefighters position from the engine thus he wouldn’t have been there to fall through and if they would have just let this place burn out all of this publicity could have been avoided.

We are glad Kevin is safe and that our fire crews are staffed properly.

That’s all I got this morning. Looks like a dead news day. More later………………..

Bugs Manderson

Bucket Trophy Belongs to the Hoses

The annual Guns vs Hoses Bucket match Hockey game between OPD and OFD was won this year by the Hoses 7-2.

The game played at the QWEST Center raises money for Muscular Dystrophy.

Wed. 12.12.07

Fire Chief Robert Dahlquist announced he is retiring from his post on Dec 14th. Knowing Bob for many years we can tell you he is a good man who dedicated his life to helping others. Thanks for many good years Bob.

Mr Public Safety,Dan Welch was quoted as drooling over the idea that he could be able to run around a Fire Station wearing his Jr Fire Chief badge if someone would consider him to fill the position.

County Commissioner Mary Ann Borgeson said that the State dropped the ball when they disallowed a $10,000 landscaping project attempted by Brew Burgers at 108th and L. State Employee and complete moron Tim Weander said by letting the business construct logos of 3 of the State’s University’s it would open the door for others to do something else in the Right of way. We guess the weeds and trash are more appealing Tim. Our bad.

Two complete idiots fell through the ice on Lake Candlewood yesterday. A neighbor saw them on the ice right before they fell through and ran to help but his rope wasn’t long enough. The two teens managed to pull themselves out of the water and roll across the ice to shore. 

The City Council is considering a ban on two Mexican Style Rodeo events, Steer Tailing, where the steers tail is wrapped around the cowboys leg and the animal is pulled to the ground and Horse Tripping where the horses legs are roped and the horse falls to the ground.   Jim Suttle questioned if we shouldn’t include a few American Rodeo events. Is Teacher-Illegal Alien Bed Wrestling still a banned event. Just Checking.

I see the comment line is lighting up.

Were making a decision on if we should pull the Q & A page here in a few.

More Later

Bugs Manderson

10.21.07

Morning Everyone

Slow news day again.

Top Story   Police are investigation a shooting at the Siena-Francis house they are calling “Homeless with Handgun”. One person was taken to Creighton Medical Center in critical condition around 10:30 last night.

The City Council approved the 40k for a study on snow removal. It should be ready in 3-4 months or just in time for Spring. The Mayor said he still preferred The God method. God put it there, God can take it away. Dan Welch commented “If only fighting fires were that easy I could get rid of all of em.”

Update 7:50 a.m.  I just got done reading a very heated email from someone wanting to set the record straight about the O.M.A.H.A. website. This person would be in the know so I am going to say it is good information.

It seems that all the Team Mangers have passwords that allow them to update their team information and that it is up to them to do so. There is a tag under every team entitled team news and they are responsible for that content. That explains why the Bantam A-1 team has info (Nice Job Ann) and others don’t. So there you go, managers people are asking for the information, if you can’t do it, appoint someone who can. Granted it might cut into the gossip hour, but there are enough people roaming around at practice with laptops, put em to work.

We are glad to continue to provide the information here as well and have been getting many email’s expressing thanks for doing so. One person’s comment was that it was a nice way for people from the other organization to send well wishes to the O.M.A.H.A. team’s and vise-versa. We are glad we could be the olive branch (however we are sure someone will be a Hawk and swing by and eat the dove at some point).

So there’s one answer to the O.M.A.H.A. information dilemma. Thanks for the update.

Our Holiday Schedule is this….

Tomorrow A.M.

Friday as usual

Weekend   Hit and miss.

We wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. Be safe and remember to Click it or Ticket. We want everyone to come back safe.

Bugs Manderson

Patches Castelar

Geno Pinkney

Timothy ColeCreek

Boots Sheldon

Rebel Shurburne (Come back soon)

Mongo Torrey

10.26.07

Who called Mongo ?

At least we got him to comment on hockey even though he changed his name for it but everyone here caught his handy work.

On with the rest of the show.

Last night a home invasion resulted in three shooting victims, one in the face, near 41st and L around 9 p.m.  Looks like the NO-K coral has a some new competition with the SO-K coral anymore.

A fatal accident at Underwood and J.E. George Blvd leads to the citing of an Omaha bartender for serving alcohol to minors. 3 counts were issued to a person working behind the rail at O’Briens Lounge off 74th and Pacific. Hate to tell this lady that the tickets are the least of her worries, the liability lawyers are circling .

The save Rosenblatt committee has asked Muppet Mike for a seat on the Stadium task force. Yesterday the City Council passed a non binding resolution asking the Mayor for just that. Mayor Landow speaking through Muppet Mike had not comment.

Speaking of the Council and Muppet Mike and company. Mr Public Safety himself Dan Welch sent a letter to the Mayor listing his demands for changes in the police and fire contracts being negotiated at this time. He also requested to be a part of the process or the send Jim Vokal in his place due to his(Welch) animosity toward fire protection.

We managed to obtain a copy of his letter and in his demands he listed

Have the fire fighters and police pay for some of their health insurance premiums.

Changing the pension program.

Reducing the fire fighters on a truck from 4 to 3 (Let it go Dan)

Using garden hoses from Wall-Mart clearance on the fire trucks instead of them fancy expensive jobs we use now.

And paying 350,000 for a study on the effects and cost savings of having the Fire House dog put down.

Dan your still an idiot.

OK the phone are ringing….back later…

Bugs Manderson

Patches Castelar

Geno Pinkney

9.4.07

A 21 year old woman was forced from her along with her 10 month old infant near 25th and Corby.

3 very low class pieces of crap assaulted the woman and removed the infant from the 88 Cavalier, bruising the child in the process.

3 juveniles are now in custody, hope we make sure to hug them before we turn them loose again.

A $350,000 study comes back with a $200 million dollar price tag for the redevelopment of North O. The plan calls for focusing on the intersections of 16th, 24th and 30th and Cumming, 30th and Ames, 30th and the Sorensen Parkway along with expanding and reworking Adams Park which will also include the Malcom X birthplace.

A job training facility would be developed at Metro Tech as well as an Arts and History corridor centered around 24th and Lake.

Former city planners Marty Shukert and Steve Jensen worked on the project. Shukert has a great track record with ambitious plans for redeveloping blighted areas, this one could work as long as they can convince private investors to join in rapidly.

We got a kick out of this story, with Omaha changing the names of some streets in the newly annexed Elkorn area, someone has chained up some signs in the Skyline Ranch neighborhood apparently making a statement they don’t like the idea.

On the other side, someone has removed some of the street signs before the city could get out and change them. People say calls to the city have gone unanswered. Welcome to the party, bet you can’t wait for the first snow and you can enjoy the Mayor’s take on snow removal. “God put it there, god can take it away”. Can we hear a chat coming from out West? “Take a hike, Muppet Mike  Take a hike Muppet Mike” ahhhh the good life and better yet, Dan Welch is your City Councilman. Good luck asking for adequate fire protection service. Dan seems to have the philosophy that it will stop burning when it runs out of fuel. You better chain up more than signs out there.

Saturday 9/8/07

Word from the Republican camp is Senator Chuck Hagel is calling it quits. ( A pause while we sniffle) This should lead to a storm of candidates running for his post. Handshake Hal has got an exploratory trip in the works and I’m sure a few other familiar faces will pop up in the race.

No truth that Hagel has accepted a position as Democratic Party spokesman for Nebraska.

Some jackass stole the pickup belonging to the Assistant Fire Chief of the Irvington Volunteer Fire Dept. Friday from the parking lot at Belevdere Elementary School where he is a teacher.

So if anyone spots some fool driving a Blue Dodge Ram Quad-cab, wearing a fireman’s getup and yelling “I need more hose”, beat him with one.

This was one long week here at the Eye on Omaha and it was even a holiday week.

Without rehashing the old turmoil we made a few changes, requested by some of our readers, and so far only a slight dip in views. It hasn’t helped us that it has been a slow news week in general and there wasn’t a City Council meeting nor a County Board meeting so we could comment on something stupid being done by our elected officials.

The hockey scene has settled down a bit so we shall hold our breath and see how that goes. Maybe now that some people are getting together with their teams and getting ready to start practice shortly they will calm down a bit. Thanks again to President Pat Meschede for clearing the air and the forum is always here if he needs to reach those of us who don’t or can’t attend the monthly Board Meeting. (again Pat the Hooters girls on Monday Night Football nigh are far better looking and you don’t serve wings and Bud Light, but that might get attendance up at the meeting if you did).

Now for me , the weekend Editor while the others are off running around the country(what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas unless someone tells a story and it will end up here), its a day of yard work,watching Husker football, and keeping an Eye on any breaking news around town.

Enjoy the beautiful weather…back later

Here’s Where We Go From Here.

Who’s idea was Buffalo Wild Wings because they have a hot spot ? Blech…one of us will be easy to find, check the bathroom for the next few hours.

Here’s what we came up with. Due to an outpouring of support, we are sticking around…with these conditions. We are going to clear the card a bit and start over. We will leave an open letter we got up for now just so people can see it and maybe understand, however shortly all hockey related material will be eliminated and we can get a fresh start.

Some city posts will be eliminated as well.

Hockey items will be limited to legit questions and insults only lobbed at people with a sense of humor or not enough money to hire an atty.(At 12,5k Dave, your not off the hook)(that was a joke by the way). Comments will still be reviewed and we will go back to making complete and satirical fun of any dumb ones. Don’t write if you can’t take it.

The city side of this will carry the most edge.

We are working on a disclaimer for the site so you know what your getting in to.

If you disagree, feel free to comment but do so at your own risk. We are not FOX and we are not fair and balanced. Never claimed to be.

With that we will finish up at lunch and start working on the future of the Eye On Omaha.

Thank you for your continued support, thank you to all the non hockey people that wrote in.

Thank you all the hockey people that wrote in and called us every name in the book, and to the ones that said they liked us, they really really liked us.

We won’t win any awards here, but we will have alot of fun.

Quiet Night Again in the NO-K Coral

Things seemed quiet again in the No-K. Maybe its a sign of things to come.

Kuduo’s to Omaha police on two arrests in the Creighton Greene murder. A woman from Crete Nebraska and a man from Florida with a very violent past were taken into custody.

A car was is being held today at the McDonalds at 30th and Ames to help the Greene family. Were sure Boots will be around so say hi and go get your car washed and help these people a little.

Jim Suttle released another feel good plan to reduce the violence and gang activity in North O, while there are some good ideas, overall its the same political crap being tossed around.

Here’s a plan. Take some of that new money we seem  to have for Bridges to vacant lots, trails all over town, stadiums that are to small and put it into a youth athletic activity program that will keep the kids busy and adults involved in their everyday lives. City wide football, baseball, basketball leagues. And have it set up so everyone gets to play. Keep them busy and active. Just an idea. We know the city would mess it up somehow anyway but theres an avenue to start down. We’d rather our tax money went for paying for something like that than paying to jail some kid till he is 18 because we turned our back or our BMW around because it was to close to the wrong part of town.

And with that we are off to the Diversity Rally. Hope to see you there.

Morning Edition

Seems, but not confirmed as of yet ,that there was no action in the NO-K Coral yesterday. I didn’t see Boots on the way in,so maybe he got a decent nights sleep for once.

Do you ever wonder what the citys per capita murder rate would be if some of these people were better shots. We know that sounded terrible but we want you to really think about it. How sad is it not but how sad could it really be.

Muppet Mike was looking to church leaders for some help with the situation. That’s a start. But along with that,we need some community leaders that can find a message that gets to these people. It’s that or have a “Were taking our neighborhood back open up a can a whoopass weekend”.

Dan Welch is still kicking and screaming he didn’t get his way. And now Dan is telling the people of Omaha that we are stupid and uneducated and he will educate us because some group did a study.

Hey Danny, How about we pay for a study on why paying for all these studies is costing the taxpayers up the ass in the long run. I can do a study that says what I want it to say. Toss me 500 k and in 6 months I’ll come back and tell you “Yep we confirmed it Dan, your an idiot”.

Would I feel safer with a bare bones Fire Department ? Uh NOOOOO!!!!!!

Would I rather see my tax money go to better Fire and Police Protection and maybe tossing the people who put their life on the line daily for public safety a few extras ? YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Where was your vote on the Bridge to nowhere Dan? Where do you stand on building a New stadium downtown that for the price would resemble a Motel 6?(Stadium’s bring revenue, bridges ,unless toll, do not. No matter what all the bike/trail people say) So we have exceptional fire protection, isnt that better than sub standard.

Dan you dont know what were willing to pay for and what were not. Great city services and things that improve our living standards were pretty much OK with. In fact if there were a way to buy some surplus military gear and arm up the police force for one big sweep through the NO-K on thug round up, we’d pay for it. Hell I’d give a years salary to see a HumVee with Frank Brown sitting in the gun torret yelling “Get the hell outa my hood and don’t never come back” as they chased these little pricks across the pedestrian bridge into the Bluffs them blew the bridge to keep them there. That would be money well spent and Frank would look good in the Camo too. He is the best dressed Councilman around. He be like a NorthOman Swartzkoff.

So Danny,go do your “They Won’t Listen to Me So I’m Gonna Cry ” soapbox tour and we will keep watching and wondering how you got elected President of the City Council. Did you throw yourself on the floor and kick and scream till you got your way ?

Ok we kind of lost trac with Dan there.

In other things, the countdown to Husker mania continues. A head up from the Herald and the Nebraska State Patrol, with both the fair and the game going on, traffic will be very very heavy heading to and from Lincoln. There still is a dangerous construction zone at the Platte River so leave early (like Friday, even if you have to sleep in the parking  garage. Boots will give tips on that tomorrow) and take it easy getting there.

Look for kickoff weekend stories in our weekend edition (That looked like one of them stupid news teasers that the tv people do)

Let us know if there are any can’t miss functions this Labor Day weekend as we get ready to say good bye to summer.  

Also there may be a slightly different format shortly. We have been trying to write and edit from the WordPress site however their spell checker doesn’t work most of the time and most of us are typing these posts out really fast. In the computer age we are no differnt than the rest and have fallen on the spell checker crutch to catch our typo’s and what not. So were looking at a way to edit and paste with ease. And for the teacher that was making fun of us for poor grammer and spelling, take notice we did not post your comment nor did we pick on you or yell at you. We laughed at your comment because it was very funny however we respect you for what you do and the tough job you have so we will not pick on you and take the poor grade you gave us like big boys and girls home to our parents and have them sign it like you told us.

We wont name this person but if they ever wanted to join the staff here and be sworn to the secret handshake we would welcome them. (Pssst  you know where to reach us)

Till later….Theres a fresh pot of coffee at the coffee bar and the big guy with B.O. is nowhere around so I’m outa here.

 Almost forgot….We set another record yesterday for number of views and rumor has it someone mentioned our material on a radio talk show. No Stealing our lines without proper credit.

No-K Coral Gunfire Again

Did someone not get the flyers out ? Is it wild west days down in the No-K.

Another shooting victim has died after gunfire in the No-K coral. The shooting happened near 33 and Laurel last night around 9:00. We tried to get Boots to check it out for us but someone was on the pay phone at Big Jim’s so we couldn’t get ahold of him in time.

:::::UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE::::

Boots Sheldon just called in that word on the street is , the address of the latest shooting was also the scene of another shooting earlier this year in which a woman received a non life threatening shot to the head.

No word yet if Mayor Landow and Muppet Mike will go in front of the City council with their road show and ask for a law that destroys any location where more than one shooting takes place.

No arrests have been made in any of Omaha’s last 3 homicides .

Senator Chambers Crime Tape Ball Collection is starting to create its own ozone due to size.

More on yesterdays heated Cit Council session. We’d like to thank Councilman Brown for reminding Council President Welch the City ordinace call for 4 fire fighters on a truck.

A little suggestion to Mr Welch. Your never going to win an argument when somewhere in it you compare Omaha to Council Bluffs. You don’t get out much do you ?

Maybe when we finish this Pedestrian Path to the Promsied Land better known as the Bridge to the Vacant Lot across the river, you can be the first to cross over and want to stay forever.

There is no truth to the rumor that Mr. Welch got his law degree at Mary Moppets. However he is begining to act a bit like good ole Mike Boyle who thought the Bar Exam meant staying at the Dubliner till close.

Frank Brown is winning us over more and more every day. We like the way he is stepping up to the plate more often and not to mention he is the best dressed councilman. When ever your ready to trade districts with Mr. Welch, Frank, just let us know.

The pre game hype has gotten into full swing before  the first Nebraska game of the football season. The World Herald has a 4 page spread on Sam Kellers hangnail including pictures.

Its only Nevada folks, wake us when the USC bus gets in to town.

After hearing Muppet Mikes push for a new stadium downtown we can’t help but ask, What kind of dump are you going to build for 50 Million. You couldn’t build a vacant lot for that little. Who are these guys kidding. What are you going to build it out of, cardboard and fishing line ? If your going to bother, then for god’s sake (sorry Bible Beaters) do it right. Build something that holds the College World Series. Let the Royals play in the lot across the river from the Pedestrian Bridge. 50 million, I can’t wait to see the company that can build a decent ballpark that will hold the CWS for 50 million. This will have to be one of thoes companys the Kewitt boys laugh at when they drive there equipment by. “There goes the looooooowww bidder”.

We are going to loose the CWS with these clowns in charge.

50 million, this thing would look like a video game across the street at In-Play. Heres an idea. See if the Bluffs will sell you the MAC for 49 million, knock off the roof and back a truck up to the hitch (its in Council Bluffs  it has to have a trailer hitch, you know it does) and pull it over here and park it downtown.

And we finally got through on the pay phone to Boots. He reported alls well at 30th and Ames and no waiting in the McDonalds Drive Thru window.

Sorry for the late post this morning. Someone took my parking spot in the garage so I had to hover around looking for a vacant spot.

Council Approves Budget-Firefighters Remain Staffed

In a 5-2 vote the World Herald reported today that the City Council approved the 2008 Budget without cutting fire protection.

Voting against the measure and for endangering the residents of our city were (No Surprise) Dan Welch and Franklin Thompson.

Welch the continued to pout through the rest of the meeting .

After the vote Council President Welch was quoted as asking for a study to study the reason the vote didn’t go his way.

Will someone please put a sticky note on Mr. Welchs lunchbox reminding him to bring his blankie and rug to the next Council metting. That way when you get tired and cranky we can lay you down for a nap.

Also today, a posse rounded up a Bellevue robbery suspect after a chase led them to the NO-K Coral.

The suspect was nabbed after the car he was driving hit a curb and he was ejected sort of and police had to lift the car off him.

No word if he looked anything like Gary Coleman.

Afternoon Post Another Record Set Here

Even on a slow news day who would have thought. The Eye has raced past its previous number of views again and continues to be one of the fastest growing blogs in Omaha.

The big hitter Today, THE “Boots” Sheldon update posts on Jr. Mav’s Roster selections. Looks as if the debate has started in one division, can’t wait for the evening rush to see how that works out.

Had we know Boots was going to have this kind of inpact we would have gotten him on board a long time ago. Look for more items from Boots as our man on the street in the NO-K.

Another shooting in the No-k Coral this morning. An employee of the Show 24 store was shot during an attempted robery the World Hearld is reporting. We asked Boots if he wanted to wander down and check it out but he said that wasn’t his turf and he wasn’t going there. Looks as if Senator Chambers Crime Tape ball will continue to grow.

Also in the news, Mayor Landow used Muppet Mike to make a pitch to the NCAA about a new under sized un needed stadium near the Qwest center.

Witnesses report NCAA officals were amazed they couldn’t see the string and were mildly amused but are waiting for the Costner Commercials before giving a response.

When asked where the money would come from to pay for the project, Muppet Mike responded, well if we get rid of the Fire Department, the Police Department, Trash pick up and electricity in the city county building we think this projects do able.

City Council president Dan Welch also said “And if we can collect enough copper from the new houses being built out west that we wont have on our tax rolls for years…this will be easy money.”

Thats it for the afternoon report.

Watch for breaking posts and cat fighting in the comments section later.

Calls For Fire Fighter Cuts Absurd

Just a quick note on the report that OFD has too many captains and could use civilians in some positions.

We have a way for the city to save hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. Stop hiring places like Matrix Consulting to do overpriced studies. Maybe Matrix should do a study on how they can cut cost of a study by using high school kids and a social studies extra credit project.

Seriously, do they think that after time the civilian workers would start asking for more money, unionizing to get more benefits and before long we are back to the same spot.

There is no room for budget cuts in the place of public safety when your building a bridge to a vacant lot across the river and telling everyone we need it. Sorry we’re not buying it and you can’t make us.

Dan Welch Wants To Put Residents At Greater Risk

Today City Councilman Dan Welch proposed a reduction in our firefighter by 105. Dan ? Are you out of your freaking mind. Did or did we not just annex another town ?  You moron, if you have your way we will be down to one guy on the truck trying to do everything. What did a firefighter ever do to you or do you think we should just let the fires burn out ?

This idea is so stupid we had to read it 3 times to see if our eyes were deceiving us.

Wanna cut the budget Danny ? Give back your salary, your not doing anything to earn it. With ideas like that you should be paying the city to go to the Council Meetings. We bet you even voted to build that stupid bridge to the vacant lot across the river and you want to cut fire protection ?  Next thing you will propose is to bring back the bucket brigade, volunteer of course.

The only thing that scares us more than this idea is the fact that the other Council Members voted you president.

Forget the Bridge Pay the Firefighters

Well reports in the World Herald say were about to experience a mass exodus of veteran firefighters as they move to claim the pension benefits they have in their contract at this point.

We say more power to you firefighters. You put your lives on the line every day to make us safe and do a damn good job at it. Any benefit you people earn is money far better spent than some bridge to Council Nowhere.

So what if some are getting more than they earned at their regular salary. We pay our Mayor more than he earns now. I do have to say that Mayor Paul is getting better at not moving his lips when he has Muppet Mike gives a speech.

So hats off to the Firefighters, to the ones leaving , a million thank yous, to the ones still staying on the job, thanks ahead of time and sorry our city would rather build a bridge to bumpkinville than give you a little something for risking your life every time that alarm goes off.

Till we meet again…………….