Waxing self-congratulatory, the 'Bama newspaper's Susan Duncan lauds her government watchdog, which never seems to bark here in New Albany.

The News and Tribune's new editor took time this weekend to praise her team's heroic performance, and it sent me scurrying to the thesaurus to find synonyms for "delusional."

Among them: deception, fantasy, hallucination, illusion, and pipe dream.

Unfortunately, we don't see much of Duncan's imagined watchdog here in Floyd County, especially in New Albany. Furthermore, we recall the entire year that passed without a reporter in New Albany to ask questions like these.

Duncan's words merely reinforce the perennially Clark-centric performance of Bill Hanson's advertising vehicle. We're left to surmise that it's all about the money, so allow me to extend my smudgy alms cup to Duncan as she passes on the street:

"Excuse me, ma'am, but mightn't we get just a few farthings of your fierce watchdog commitment for the starving New Albanians?"

DUNCAN: Clark County Council shuffle deals residents a bad hand

... Our forefathers, wary of government overreach and oppression, also noted the importance of a freely functioning press in the First Amendment. As your local newspaper, we embrace that responsibility first among all others.

The story that appeared at the top of Friday's News and Tribune is a prime example of our commitment — and why it's important.

Tony Bennett cannot — at this time — serve on the Clark County Council, despite being tapped by a GOP caucus Wednesday to complete the unexpired District 2 term vacated by Brian Lenfert.

Bennett is ineligible; he doesn't meet the residency requirements outlined in state statute. The law says officeholders must have lived in the district they represent for at least six months and within the county for at least a year. Bennett falls short on both counts. He's only lived in Clark County since early September, something he readily admitted when the newspaper asked him the question.

Had we not fulfilled our role as a watchdog over government by educating ourselves on the legality of Bennett's appointment and inquiring as to his residency, I suspect Bennett would still be a councilman.

C-J does the impossible by immediately hiring a new Indiana reporter. 320 days later, the News and Tribune can't say the same.

It fairly boggles the mind. The Courier-Journal has managed to hire a new Southern Indiana reporter in a matter of days.

Madeleine Winer hired as CJ Indiana reporter

Meanwhile in New Gahania, the Green Mouse has been told that the debut of CNHI Jeffersonville's 11-months-delayed New Albany beat reporter will be August 22.

If so, the duration of the gap will prove to have been an even eleven months, during which the paper's shrinking violet management has consistently hewed a passive-aggressive path as to the rationale for it negligence, claiming first that reporters are hard to find; second, that it has been the intention all along to hire last year's intern; third, it's in no way harmful to deprive an entire city of in-depth coverage during this length of time; and fourth, that they'll simply not discuss such matters publicly.

But what does Bill Hanson care? He lives in Sellersburg, right?

Iamhoosier said it best on Facebook.

The N and T has always tried to make us believe that they are our "local" paper.

Really?

Bill Hanson, bring this 9-year-old reporter to New Albany -- only if Eastside, 1Si and CNHI agree, of course.

Note the byline.

Staff (aged 36) and agencies

Send her this way, please.

Nine-year-old US reporter defiant after critics say 'go back to playing with dolls' (The Guardian)

Hilde Lysiak, whose coverage of a suspected murder in Pennsylvania prompted outrage from some locals, says her age won’t stop her from ‘doing a great story’

On Tuesday, Hilde responded to the criticism.

“It kind of gets me angry because, just because I’m nine doesn’t mean I can’t do a great story,” she said. “It doesn’t mean I can’t be a reporter.”

In a video posted on her website she said: “I know this makes some of you uncomfortable, and I know some of you just want me to sit down and be quiet because I’m nine.

“But if you want me to stop covering news, then you get off your computer and do something about the news. There, is that cute enough for you?”

In the video she read some of the negative comments aloud, including: “I am disgusted that this cute little girl thinks she is a real journalist. What happened to tea parties?” and “Nine-year-old girls should be playing with dolls, not trying to be reporters.”

Wearing a badge reading “I love free speech”, she giggled as she read out the comment: “You are nine fucking years old. Seriously, what the fuck is going on?”

One week later, the newspaper reluctantly diverts its attention from cooking school and learns that "park site in New Albany draws concerns."

Each day, we see the ramifications of the News and Tribune's ongoing inability (unwillingness?) to hire a reporter for the New Albany city beat. It isn't just that the newspaper proves late to the table on the Cannon Acres/Native American story.

Many questions that might have been asked and should have been asked aren't, because staffers filling in aren't as familiar with the running story. That's why beat reporters cover a beat. Bill Hanson has a lot to answer for. Unfortunately, he emulates Jeff Gahan as it pertains to openness.

City Hall's case rests on architect Larry Timperman's openly stated reliance on a letter from the state of Indiana delineating what lies where at Cannon Acres. The letter references stages of archaeological examination conducted more than a decade ago. Timperman told WHAS-11 that planners in his position always trust the most recent letter.

But what if different, newer instructions were to be issued by the state? That's the crux of it. I'll have more on this later today in "Shane's Excellent New Words." If you're just tuning in, see NAC's "previous story" links below.

Park site in New Albany draws concerns, by Chris Morris

NEW ALBANY — Julia Youngblood and city officials agreed to disagree Tuesday morning as she walked out of the City-County Building.

Youngblood, Floyds Knobs, is concerned that the proposed dog park planned for Cannon Acres, which is off Budd Road, will disturb ancient Native American historic sites which includes artifacts and possible burials. But the two historic mounds identified by Indiana Department of Natural Resources Archaeologist Cathy Draeger-Williams won't be disturbed, according to David Duggins, director of Economic Development and Redevelopment for New Albany.

Duggins explained to Youngblood after the meeting that only fencing will be placed around the area designated for the dog park. He said there will be no digging or excavating on the site. There will also be gravel paths built to the dog park area at the park.

"We have have been respectful of the historic significance of the property," Duggins said.

Youngblood and Duggins, along with architect Larry Timperman and city engineer Larry Summers, talked for several minutes following Tuesday's Board of Works meeting.

---

Previously at NAC:

In unprecedented act of territorial pissing, outraged dogs gather to protest Native Americans.

Belatedly addressing the Cannon Acres dog park fiasco, Mayor Gahan insists he watched "Dances with Wolves" on the VCR over the weekend.

Tony Nava on WDRB: "Would we want to use a church grounds as a dog park?"

4:00 p.m. today: Citizens trying to save a Native American church from being used as an inappropriate and unnecessary dog park.

Commentary: Amid quintessential City Hall arrogance, a petition to "save the Cannon Acres Native American site."

Dog crap on a sacred area: Jeff Gahan moves timeline forward, with the desecration of a 3,000-6,000 Native American site to begin Monday.

An AWOL Jeff Gahan evades Native American activist seeking dialogue about potential site destruction at the dog park.

The city of New Albany may soon try to destroy a 3,000 to 6,000 year old Native American site to build a dog park.

Dear Bill Hanson: Put down that colander, give NA some equality, or just change the damn name back to Evening News.

Last week:

154 days since we had a News and Tribune reporter in New Albany, but look: Cooking School! In Jeffersonville!

Make that 163 days.

It's quite possible that the length of last evening's meeting prevented the News and Tribune's reporter of record from filing the story to meet deadline.

But exactly who was the newspaper's reporter last evening?

Analysis: Gahan and the rental ordinance, or the emasculation of the once-powerful Oz.

Neither Jerod Clapp nor Chris Morris was in attendance. A few tweets sneaked into the newspaper's primary Twitter feed, and it finally occurred to me that Jenna Esarey, a local free-lancer, likely was providing coverage.

Let's reprise: The News and Tribune was down a city beat reporter throughout the conclusion of the 2015 New Albany election cycle.

There hasn't been a New Albany-centric columnist since Matt Nash left to run for council.

On most days, the ratio of Clark-to-Floyd articles is 60% -- and I'm likely being charitable.

Recently, every ounce of the newspaper's vigor seems devoted to touting its self-aggrandizing cooking school in Jeffersonville (how very ... something), even as ...

Chef Gina Brown offers all-ages friendly cooking class (Insider Louisville)

... in New Albany.

Finally, when it came to one of the most important city council meetings of the year, who was out there digging out the rental property ordinance for all (pro or con) to see, pointing to the mayor's unprecedented statement yesterday, and live tweeting the meeting last night?

That's right: NA Confidential, a mere pro bono blog.

I'm not tooting my own trumpet, just spewing a few facts. This situation has long since become an embarrassment.

Is Bill Hanson still publisher? Why not level with us, Bill? Are you beholden to directives from 'Bama? Waiting for the journalism schools to disgorge a few freshly graduated (read: acceptably salaried) newbies? None of the above?

The newspaper is quick to let us know when it receives an award. Unfortunately, the current prize is a Golden Raspberry -- and the newspaper is the proud recipient.

If you can't do any better than this, then please just change the name back to Jeffersonville Evening News -- you know, fair advertising and all that.

City Council Thursday: These are your luminaries. Cherish them.

Incoming 5th district council person Matt Nash on Twitter:

He's referring to lone Republican council member Kevin Zurschmiede, though it's worth noting that nominal pretend-Democrat Bob Caesar voted against recycling AND the homeless.

It even rhymes: "You folks in District 2 ... my, my how YOU'RE screwed." 

Read all about it: New Albany joins homelessness coalition, by Jerod Clapp (That Jeffersonville Newspaper).

Meanwhile, of the last 25 tweets at the News and Tribune's Twitter account, 17 dealt with locales in Clark County or were links to columnists.

Of the 25 tweets, four were devoted to New Albany and/or Floyd County.

And another four were about ex-chain restaurant spokesman Fogle's sex crimes.