bob the butler

Silverchair and Powderfinger share the record for the highest number of ARIA Awards - 14. Amazingly, they have never gone up against each other in the same year.

But this year the bands, who are touring the country together with co-headliner status, are going head-to-head in the same four major categories. So it will be interesting to see how the industry compares their albums and hit singles, Straight Lines and Lost and Running.

"As long as the wins are split evenly so we come out with the same amount, I don't care what the award is," Silverchair's Daniel Johns recently joked to The Age.

Ten years ago, these much loved bands would have been expected to scoop the pool. But this year, they will be challenged by diverse acts such as dance trio Sneaky Sound system (six nominations), roots group the John Butler Trio (five), and electronic one-man-band Gotye (four). Nascent bands Operator Please, Airbourne, Architecture in Helsinki, Something with Numbers, Small Mercies, Expatriate, Art of Fighting, New Buffalo, CW Stoneking, Foreign Heights, Jackson Jackson and Justice and Kaos also represent the new crop of artists receiving their first ARIA nominations.

Butler says that this reflects the diverse music scene.

"It's an honour to be in such great company for the ARIA nominations," he said. "It means a lot to be recognised by our peers and we are really proud to be part of such a thriving and unique music community."

Josh Pyke's stunning album Memories and Dust won two awards yesterday, for engineer and producer of the year. He is also up for three awards on the big night, for Best Male Artist, Best Adult Contemporary Album and Breakthrough Artist - Album. But he told The Age that the album nominations are closer to his heart.

"I'm not a celebrity kind of guy. I'm more interested in the ones that reference the record."

In the Best Male Artist category, Pyke is up against Gotye, John Butler and two Kellys - Paul and Dan - which is the first time that an uncle and nephew have been nominated in the same category.

Is Pyke worried that being nominated in the "adult contemporary" field suggests no-one under 20 years of age listens to him?

"It was weird at first, but I didn't really fit into the pop, rock or roots categories so it kind of makes sense. My good friend Bob Evans won the award last year, so he made it cool. I'll call it the 'contemporary cool award'."

The ARIAs are as much about who is not nominated as who is. And the biggest surprises this year are the snubs to previous ARIA darlings Jet and Missy Higgins - despite their current releases being better critically acclaimed than their breakthrough albums.

Jet received only one nomination - for Best Rock Album - while Higgins received two, for Best female Artist and Best Pop Release.

Both missed out in the coveted Best Album Release category, which is all the more amazing considering Gotye was nominated for a remixed version of an old release.

But surely the biggest cheer of the night will be reserved for the most unlikely nominees - the homeless singers who make up the Choir of Hard Knocks.

The 900-Hated, home or away: Sparkman

Hostile territory: Birmingham (Brown: "Playing two hours away from home makes it hard for players to keep focus on the long bus ride. Although at Bob Jones we have great fans, it's MARION ― Marion Mayor Robert Butler announced at Monday's City Council meeting that the council would continue one seat short.

The tie between two candidates was not broken during the past week and therefore he decided to leave the seat open that came about as the result of the death of Commissioner Bob Boyt. The seat will remain open until a municipal election in the spring of 2009.

The remaining council was split two and two on the naming of the new commissioner and no one was willing to shift their position.


"We will split the duties that Bob had among those who remain," Butler said. "I am confident that we will be able to conduct business in an efficient manner."

Eight individuals had either indicated an interest or been nominated to fill the vacancy.

"I am sure that anyone of the candidates was qualified to fill the position, but we could not come to agreement."



A simple majority was needed to approve the individual.

According to Butler, the municipal code calls for the filling of a vacancy within 30 days. The code does not mandate that the position must be filled, so he has decided since there is no clear agreement on one individual the council will remain the same.

The mayor and remaining commissioners declined to name the two candidates.



"I do not think it would serve any constructive purpose to name the two individuals," Butler said.

In other business, the council approved a noise ordinance that makes the use of "Jake braking" illegal within the city limits. The breaking technique is used by semi trucks to slow a truck down by shutting down part of the engine. It causes and extremely loud popping noise that also vibrates the surrounding area. The council also set the fine at no less than $100 and no more than $250 for a violation. Signs will be placed on streets entering the city limits.

The council also voted to reinstate a four-way stop at the corner of Monroe and Union Streets and voted to purchase two used diesel trucks and equipment for the city street department.



The Veterans Monument is one step closer to reality as the council awarded the bid of $14,550 to American Monument. Additional costs will be incurred for flag poles and concrete work around the monument.

The city passed the animal control ordinance that will place a uniformed officer, answerable to the Chief of Police, will head animal control.

Water lines will be upgraded in the Parish Park area using money acquired through the sale of part of the Wye Water District.



Commissioner Robert "Dog" Connell reported that the city lake was three feet below the spillway and that his department will be monitoring the level closely. If water is needed from the Herrin Lake, work will need to be done on connecting water lines.













FAWNSKIN - Hundreds of weary firefighters waved farewell to the Butler II fire Wednesday after the flames died, leaving just an eerie, smoldering ruin of a landscape.
Fire officials predicted full containment of the fire today as long as strong winds don't stir up embers.

The blaze was 93 percent contained as of Wednesday evening.

As fire crews headed down the winding mountain roads away from the fire zone, other people were allowed to return.

Officials lifted the mandatory evacuation of Fawnskin at 6 p.m. Wednesday, allowing residents only to return to their homes.

"Even if we get a black ring around the whole fire, there's still a lot to do," said Lee Bentley of the California Interagency Incident Management Team, which is supervising fighting the fire.

Hand crews had dug containment lines - or a black ring - around 93 percent of the blaze by late Wednesday and held the fire at 14,039 acres.

But there is a huge difference between dubbing a fire contained or controlled, fire officials warned.

Controlling the fire could take up to a month after crews go into mop-up mode - a term to describe the removal of remaining vegetation and dousing remaining hot spots.


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Commanders assigned 1,997 firefighters to continue their efforts to keep the flames at bay, down from more than 2,500 on Tuesday.

The cost of battling the blaze was estimated at $7.05 million.

Firefighters labored to dig nearly two miles of containment line around the northeast side of the fire, which lingered on a sheer ridge that drops down into Lucerne Valley.

About 20,000 gallons of water from Big Bear Lake were dropped onto the dwindling flames. Most of the attacks were made by air tankers.

"It's a steep, rocky terrain and some areas are not accessible for hand crews," said Beth Goodman, a fire expert with the National Park Service.

Focus also remained on spot fires ignited along Highway 18, which caused several more rockslides in the Arctic Circle on Wednesday. A handful of hotshot crews struggled to back the fire at least 100 feet away from containment lines north of the highway and in Fawnskin.

Caltrans posted signs in the middle of town, warning residents that mud and debris flows are possible below recent burn areas.

The mandatory evacuation that was in place until Wednesday evening didn't stop stubborn Fawnskin residents who stayed behind from posting signs of thanks to the firefighters as they rumbled through town or stopped at the Gold Pan restaurant for a free, hot meal.

A wood carving placed beneath a fire information map posted outside the local fire station had accumulated more than 20 scrawled notes filled with gratitude and admiration.

"We thank them so much for saving our little town," said Bob Balsam, 60, a longtime resident.

Barbara Aker, owner of the Gold Pan, has shown her appreciation by dishing up between 80 and 200 plates of food to hungry fire personnel from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.

"They're here in our town, they're away from home, and I'm here to take care of them," she said.

Many crews hadn't received word on when they would be going home.

Some were hoping they wouldn't get an early release from the blaze.

"I don't want to go home," said Fresno firefighter Dustin Simmons, explaining that he loves his job and wants to see it through to the end.

The Fresno Fire Department, which had five engines on the blaze as part of a strike team, had one engine released Wednesday morning. The rest will remain until at least today.

The coming storm, expected to bring high winds to the area, remained an issue for firefighters left battling the dying flames.

Weather forecasters issued a wind advisory through Friday morning, expecting 35 mph gusts in the mountains and deserts. The advisory was to remain in effect until 11 a.m. Friday, the National Weather Service said.

"The winds will test our lines," said incident commander Rocky Opliger of the U.S. Forest Service.

Gusts of 40 mph were expected on the ridgetops Wednesday night, and slopes could see 20 to 35 mph winds.

Rain, which is expected to fall late today, could help with fire prevention, but may also cause rock and mudslides along Highway 18.

The general public is expected to be allowed to visit Fawnskin as of 6 p.m. today, but anyone driving there will have to use Highway 38.

Highway 18, where several boulders have fallen into the roadway, is set to be closed at least through the weekend. Officials don't yet know if the highway will be safe for motorists after an expected storm.

"Anything could happen with the rain," Bentley said.



Comments
Comments are limited to 200 words or less.

C.O.Jones wrote on Sep 19, 2007 3:30 PM:

" A man's true character is revealed by whether or not he does the right thing when not required to do so. Butler's action may not be strictly illegal, but it does fly in the face of the intent of the applicable IL Statutes( 65 ILCS 5), and ignores the vox populi as demonstrated in the most recent election.STINKO! "



Voice of Reason wrote on Sep 19, 2007 12:58 PM:

" The trucks are loud and need to be controlled but one of the biggest problems is loud exhaust on motorcycles. Motorcyclists also need to be put on notice in the law. It seems that if your hobby is "popular" and "stylish", then the law doesn't apply to you. If motorcycles are not included, then I see no purpose in harassing the truck drivers. "



Sheik Yerbouti wrote on Sep 19, 2007 10:03 AM:

" Who will be the tie breaker when the council is deadlocked? Looks like a filthy power grab to me. "



Noise wrote on Sep 19, 2007 6:17 AM:

" Just how much noise do they think the large trucks making? Someone better tell them about all the thump and bumping coming from the cars that routinely run up and down our streets. Or why bother just another law that won't be enforced... "


hard to get people out for long away games.'')

Unwind after a home game: Brown: "It takes me untill 1 or 2 in the morning to unwind regardless of a win or a loss. I just try to get home to my wife and kids before they go to sleep to help me put things into perspective. My wife and my kids do not care if I win or lose, they are just glad dad is home to give hugs and kisses. I talk to my wife for 30-45 minutes about this and that and finish unwinding by playing the game over and over in my head and channel surfing on the TV. Once I finally go to sleep I play the game again in my dreams
strong voting academy, comprised of media, retailers and record company staff will now vote again, with the winners announced at a gala ceremony in Sydney on October 28.