Task force visits unsafe properties as Tribune emits a head-scratcher.

As NA Confidential first reported approvingly on Tuesday morning:

Officials tour unsafe buildings; Mayor examines 3 candidates to replace Roberts, by Eric Scott Campbell (News-Tribune).

At 309 E. 10th St., (City operations director Tony) Toran said, the unsafe building has been recently bought, and the new owner plans condominiums on the property. But at 1018 E. Spring St., violations such as rodent infestation, unsafely kept animals and an improperly gravel-covered driveway are now costing owner Ronald Niehoff between $100 and $1,000 a day in fines, Toran said.

The photo of 309 E. 10th is old; the windows have since been covered with plywood.

The article by the Tribune’s newest staffer goes on to assess the departure of recently resigned building commissioner Paul Roberts, and concludes with a useful odds-and-ends listing of “other city business.”

Meanwhile, Tuesday's edition of the Tribune revealed a surreal and bizarrely self-congratulatory milestone, as the crisp bunting was unfurled, marching band trumpeters blew spit out of their horns, and hundreds of yellow ribbons shone on oak trees outside the newspaper’s headquarters:

Welcome back Jeff; New Albany columnist returns to Tribune, by Jeff Roudenbush (Local columnist).

Where’s he been, Buenos Aires? Laos? Alabama?

Anyway, Jeff celebrated his “return” with a medley of chart smashes, a biographical sketch, and a relatively benign assessment of the state of New Albany, and took care to emphatically agree with his boss, Tribune Publisher John Tucker, while not writing anything that would cause a stir in the teletype machines of the GFNA (Gang of Four News Agency).

The genetically predetermined blarney cells will commence ideological multiplication soon enough, we suspect. It should be fun.

Previously in NA Confidential:

March, 2005: Latest issue of Jeff Roudenbush's "The Forum" mailed to NA Confidential.

Speaking only for itself, NA Confidential knows and appreciates the sweet caress of the rhetorical stiletto, but nonetheless is delighted and honored to be one of the neighbors permitted to discuss the local news.

November, 2005: Police Chief Harl to Roudenbush: “You should get your facts straight.”

Unfortunately, NA Confidential does not have access to Roudenbush’s publication at this time, as it is not archived on line. As we continue to urge Roudenbush to join us in the present, digital century, let it be understood that we will gladly update this article to include his original comments if he or other readers will kindly provide them to us.