About Vanderburgh County, IN

EVANSVILLE - The Evansville Fire Department has received two prestigious awards at the 2009 Emergency Response Conference in Indianapolis.

The awards are the Basic Life Support Provider of the Year Award and the Emergency Medical Technician of the Year, which goes to Evansville Firefighter John Riggs who's been with the department for 15 years. Riggs is a 15-year member of the Evansville Fire Department and active with the Hazardous Materials Team and the Rope/Confined Space Rescue Team.

"The Evansville Fire Department is comprised of great men and women who put their lives on the line every day for the citizens of this community. I commend them for the work they do to keep us safe and I applaud their efforts off the job as well," said Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel. "I want to congratulate the entire department for earning these well-deserved honors."

The conference is for Indiana's fire and EMS personnel and is sponsored by the Indiana Fire Chiefs Association.

"The Evansville Fire Department is proud to have a group of such good hearted and dedicated men and women. They are very deserving of this honor and are to be commended for another job well done. We are glad that they have been chosen for recognition," said Chief Keith Jarboe, Evansville Fire Department.

Congratulations to all in the department.

Source: http://www.news25.us/Global/story.asp?S=10975028

An Evansville eatery has been named the "Manliest Restaurant in America." The men's lifestyle Web site Asylum.com, which is operated by AOL, says the Hilltop Inn has won the honor for 2009 in an online vote. The Web site's editor says the fried brain sandwich helped put the restaurant over the top. He says there's something about it "that's guaranteed to put hair on your chest."

Our partners at the Evansville Courier & Press reports the owners say they sell 13,000 pork brain sandwiches a year.

The Hilltop Inn captured nearly 67 percent of the 50,000 votes cast online.

It beat out restaurants from San Francisco, Boston and Arlington, Virgina in the final round of the competition.

Source: Asylum.com, Evansville Courier & Press http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?ID=37403

New U.S. home data out Tuesday suggests the U.S. may be easing out of its 3-year housing slump.

The U.S. home prices index is made up of home prices in the 20 largest U.S. cities, and while Evansville isn't one of them, an Evansville mortgage banker says home sales here are following suit.

The for sale signs still litter neighborhoods, but the housing market is busy making its comeback.

"We have definitely seen a big increase in the number of purchase transactions we're doing over the last few months," says Shannon Curry-Bartnick, President of Mortgage Masters.

Curry-Bartnick says part of this "rise from the slump" comes as people's fears subside and they take advantage of the many incentives out there. The most talked about one being the 1st Time Home Buyer Credit.

"It's a really great opportunity to get a tax credit back, get yourself into a new home, and right now, there are historically low interest rates," Curry-Bartnick explains.

To be eligible, you either have to be a first time home buyer or have not owned a home in the last three years.

The credit is worth ten percent of the home's value, up to $8,000.

Home buyers have to close the deal by November 30th to get their credit.

If you're anxious to take advantage of the first time home buyer credit, but have a less than stellar credit history, Curry-Bartnick says you're not completely out of luck.

"There is more leniency there for things that may have happened in your past but that you may have remedied or overcome. You would potentially still be eligible," she explains.

In addition to the first time home buyers credit, Curry-Bartnick lists off dozens of other deals and loans that can save a buyer money.

"There's the FHA loan, Rural Housing loans, VA loans, and conventional loans," she explains.

Not to mention bank-owned and foreclosed upon homes coupled with low rates. Buyers can walk away with a steal.

"We look at each person individually and find out what's well suited for their situation," Curry-Bartnick says.

To find out what you qualify for, Curry-Bartnick recommends sitting down with a mortgage banker. She says consultations are typically free.

But as NEWS 25 also learned, the Evansville housing market is not problem free, and there are hurdles that are keeping many deals from closing.

NEWS 25 will investigate those hurdles in a follow up story Wednesday.

Source: http://www.news25.us/Global/story.asp?S=10990592

A bill that helps home buyers afford energy improvements and encourages banks to offer a discount on loans to pay for reducing energy usage passed the U.S. House in June and could pass the Senate in the fall.

The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 requires Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to offer discounts on mortgages that include extra cash for making a home more energy efficient.

These discounts, which are already in effect at some lenders like J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. and Bank of America, include savings on closing costs for homes that have Energy Star appliances.

The Federal Housing Administration is offering a plan through its approved lenders that allows borrowers to add the cost of making efficiency improvements into the mortgage, but the extra money doesn't count toward determining how much loan a borrower can qualify for. For instance, a borrower who adds $5,000 to a $100,000 loan to afford new Energy Star appliances would only have to qualify for $100,000 - not $105,000.

Source: The Wall Street Journal (08/24/2009)

Source: http://www.realtor.org/RMODaily.nsf/pages/News2009082404?OpenDocument

Does your wooden deck need refinishing? There is an easy way to tell: sprinkle a few drops of water on your deck. If the drops bead on the surface, your deck is fine. If they sink into the wood, it's time for new finish.

These eight tips can show you how to refinish your wooden deck quickly and easily.

1. Start with a clean deck. A pressure-washer can remove all the debris from your deck, even the stubborn dirt in those tight corners. For smaller jobs, use a stiff bristle brush and a good commercial cleaner.
2. Protect the plants. To protect the grass and plants around your deck, douse them generously with water before you work with any chemicals. When you're done with the job, don't forget to rinse the plants and grass thoroughly to remove any chemical residue that might have landed on the foliage.
3. Remove the old stain. To make this job easier, consider using a chemical stripper. It tends to work better than power washing on the areas where the old deck stain is harder to remove, such as on railings and in corners.
4. Replace warped or discolored boards. Remove any problem boards and replace them with new ones. Check for protruding nails and hammer them down. If rough spots exist on the boards, sand them. Make certain your deck is clean and dry before proceeding to the next step.
5. Consider your method. You can apply some stains with a paint roller, but smaller areas may need the help of a paintbrush. Another option is a sprayer, which should transfer the stain quickly and evenly, even in hard-to-reach areas.
6. Choose and apply the finish. Remember that clear or tinted products should last about a year before they have to be replaced, while solid and semitransparent stains can last for two to four years.
7. Apply more than one coat. One coat of finish is usually not enough. Keep in mind that you may have to allow drying time between coats, so it could take a week before the deck is completely refinished.
8. Be patient. Your finish should dry thoroughly before you touch it or walk on it. Once the stain is set, you won't have to worry about refinishing your desk for at least another year.

Refinishing your wooden deck is a necessity to keep it looking nice, and especially important to avoid splinters and cracked wood. The nicer your deck looks and feels on your feet, the more likely you are to spend time on it and enjoy the fresh outside air.

About the author: Shannon Dauphin is a freelance writer based near Nashville, Tennessee. Her house was built in 1901, so home repair and renovation have become her hobbies.

Source: http://ideas.reliableremodeler.com/Article.aspx?Title=Easy-Steps-to-Refinishing-Your-Wooden-Deck&ID=2818&AC=2&PID=15&VID=EMAIL15&utm_source=RR-Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=RR-Vol9-8