Public Eye - Sunday, April 27, 2008

By KEN de la BASTIDE and SCOTT SMITH

Zirkle getting all the (bad) publicity

Republican 2nd District congressional candidate Luke Puckett is more than a little frustrated at all the press his opponent, Tony Zirkle, received for speaking at a Nazi rally this past Sunday.

Of course Puckett was the one who sent out links to the neo-Nazi Web site where Zirkle’s appearance was first reported. Puckett’s press secretary said he discovered the site via a Google alert on Zirkle’s name.

“The most disappointing thing about the entire situation is that we even HAVE to use Zirkle’s antics as a tool to push Luke’s positive message of lower gas prices and health insurance costs,” Puckett campaign manager Kyle Bailey said. “The news and print media are more concerned with lending publicity to a man whose biggest political goal is to defeat the great porn dragon.”

Meanwhile Zirkle, who told the Tribune Friday he was involuntarily separated out of the U.S. Naval Academy because he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, has continued to trumpet the fact he attended the Academy.

In his latest press release, Zirkle again brought up his abbreviated military service.

“Those who criticize me should also be complaining about President Jimmy Carter, another Naval Academy ex-Midshipman, who laid a wreath at Arafat’s tomb and who has spoken to Hamas recently.”  

How to spend your tax rebate

Sometime during the month of May most residents of Howard County will be receiving an economic stimulus check from the federal government.

The federal government is providing $600 for each adult and $300 for each dependent child as a way to encourage Americans to make purchases of durable goods to boost production.

Howard County Treasurer Martha Lake told county council members on Tuesday that local property owners were being encouraged to use the money as a partial payment on the spring property tax bill.

Lake said the county is delaying property tax collections from May 10 to hopefully sometime in July because the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance has not approved the 2008 budgets and set property tax rates.

The partial payment will be credited to the property owners tax bill and can be made by check, credit card of cash at the Howard County Treasurer’s Office.

“It would be wise to consider sending in a partial payment,” Council President Dick Miller said.

A voter’s decision

Included on the November ballot in Center Township will be a referendum question asking township residents to vote yea or nay on keeping the position of township assessor an elected position.

Auditor Ann Wells said because Center Township has more than 23,000 parcels, the fate of the elective office will be determined by voters.

Indiana lawmakers this year voted to eliminate the position of township assessor, unless the township has more than 15,000 parcels.

Wells said Center Township is the only township in the county to qualify for a referendum vote.

Sheila Pullen, Center Township assessor, has indicated in the past that she will campaign to keep the position elected in the future.

Speed Racer

Craig Dunn, chairman of the Howard County Republican Party, might have a new moniker after taking part in the Richard Petty Driving Experience at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway last week.

Dunn’s top speed around the famed 2.5-mile oval was a reported 144.06 mph.

“WOW,” Dunn said in an e-mail. “The most fun I’ve ever had with my clothes on. What a rush!”

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