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NOTE: The information I received and included in this email turned out to be partly in error. The Elks did not close at 6:30 because they were ordered to. They had planned to do so previously because Popcorn Festival is a very long day and the members & employees chose not to make a long night of it as well.

Sent: Sun 9/18/2005 9:07 PM
To: Jon Costas
Subject: RE: The Popcorn Fiasco-val


Hello Jon,

Thank you for your response and investigation into this matter. I do appreciate it.

. . .

In questioning various persons involved, from several of the some of the affected establishments, I found one additional piece of information that you may find interesting:

Apparently, sometime on or before the Popcorn Festival, Valpo Chief of Police Mihael Brickner allegedly contacted the bars and clubs in and around the downtown area, telling them that they were to lock their doors at 6:30pm the day of Popcorn Fest. Subsequent to that, I am told, the establishments that refused to do so, were either closed or (at best) admonished by the IEP. The Elks took it seriously and closed at 6:30 as ordered and were mostly left alone (although they did receive a visit). The others got nailed. If this is true it sounds to me like some variation of restraint of trade. (and I'm no lawyer, but...)

Thanks for taking the time from your busy week and I hope to see you at the meeting you mentioned.

Also, I am attaching a photo of the agent who made the statement about you in front of Wendi and the other NST employees. Perhaps this is not Officer Taylor? (The image is reduced in size for email transport. If you would like a larger version, my camera does produce poster size resolution.)


NOTE: Taylor is the one in the middle wearing a blue shirt. Here, we see him being grilled by the VPD (They didn't seem to understand why this was happening either. The cop looking away into the crowd was shaking his head in disgust.) ALSO, there was one additional response, but I am not showing it as there is no additional useful information.
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