Jeffersonville, Schmeffersonville: A jealous Gahan commissions "Hymn to Myself."

That's right, Jeffersonville has its own hymn.

This no doubt comes as a relief to the homeless population and those scraping through below the poverty line. They'll be whistling the tune while they visit the food kitchen.

But we can always count on the local chain newspaper to (a) swallow self-glorifying press releases whole, and (b) entirely miss the irony therein.

Progressing On: New Jeffersonville hymn, artwork revealed, by Tara Schmelz (Hanson's Folly)

JEFFERSONVILLE — Jeffersonville High School senior Zachery Abrams observed the crowd that gathered along Riverside Drive on Monday afternoon from his location down at the Ohio River bank.

He felt nerves, but took a deep breath to relax as he prepared his baritone to play the new hymn of Jeffersonville.

"Once you see the drum major counting off, you go into professional mode and play with your heart and soul for the band and for the community," Abrams said.

Community members filled the chairs and bleachers along Riverside Drive, sweating in the September heat, to be among the first to hear the first official hymn of Jeffersonville, titled "Progression." More than 100 students in the JHS marching band played the seven-plus minute song from the riverbank following the formal dedication of a new sculpture, called "Circum."

City council bickers, I yawn.

Happy Hour
60 minutes with your flask before the council meeting starts.

Post-Partum Depression
Induced by the empty flask AFTER the meeting.

Last evening the council chamber Internet access once again disappeared, and when all was said and done, I was too tired and disgusted to post notes. I may or may not do so in the coming days.

The best news to report is that council chieftain Dan Coffey publicly uttered his intention not to serve as president in 2010. This was greeted with applause, which in turn led him to hiss loudly and state that moving back to the table would permit him to actually say what he thinks, although of course he's been doing so in the council chair all year, anyway, with the remainder of his compatriots content to sit on their hands as he besmirches rules of order, council and the entire city -- but hey, who cares, right?

I sure don't, at least today. Consequently, here is by-the-numbers coverage of another legislative debacle staged by political munchkins. Discuss if you wish.

It hits the fan: City Council rejects 2010 budget, argues over private meeting held last week, by Daniel Suddeath (News and Tribune).

New Albany council scrambles to plug $1.6 million budget hole, by Grace Schneider (Courier-Journal).