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Scratch 'Harry Baals' off list of names for government center
Associated Press ^ | Staff

Posted on 02/09/2011 8:33:19 AM PST by Nachum

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — A former Indiana mayor who won four terms in the 1930s and 1950s is proving less popular with modern-day city leaders, who say they probably won't name a new government center for him because of the jokes his moniker could inspire.

Harry Baals is the runaway favorite in online voting to name the new building in Fort Wayne, about 120 miles northeast of Indianapolis. But Deputy Mayor Beth Malloy said that probably won't be enough to put the name of the city's longest-tenured mayor on the center.

The issue is pronunciation. The former mayor pronounced his last name "balls." His descendants have since changed it to "bales."

Supporters said it's unfair that the former mayor can't be recognized simply because his name makes some people snicker. But opponents fear that naming the center after Baals would make Fort Wayne the target of late-night television jokes.

1. More weird news 1. Ex-mayor's name too funny for Ind. center 2. Elderly woman foils heist with handbag 3. Burglar takes time out for computer porn 4. Updated 111 minutes ago 2/9/2011 2:33:39 PM +00:00 Backyard snow stunt gone bad 5. On Facebook, headlines we can't run here, and more

"We realize that while Harry Baals was a respected mayor, not everyone outside of Fort Wayne will know that," Malloy said Tuesday in a statement to The Associated Press. "We wanted to pick something that would reflect our pride in our community beyond the boundaries of Fort Wayne."

An online site taking suggestions for names showed more than 1,300 votes Tuesday for the Harry Baals Government Center. That's more than three times the votes received by the closest contender.

(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: baals; harry; off; scratch
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I'm going to vote for Woodrow Pecker....
1 posted on 02/09/2011 8:33:26 AM PST by Nachum
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To: Nachum

We’ve all heard the jokes about Ball State University and Beaver College. Sheesh, are we adolescents who snicker at those types of jokes???


2 posted on 02/09/2011 8:35:02 AM PST by Dilbert San Diego
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To: Nachum

You should hear the local radio reporting this. LOL


3 posted on 02/09/2011 8:35:31 AM PST by dforest
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To: Nachum

Uhhh huh huh huhuhuh that would be cool


4 posted on 02/09/2011 8:35:35 AM PST by Ace of Spades (Sed quis custodiet ipsos custodes?)
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To: Dilbert San Diego

Um...Yes?


5 posted on 02/09/2011 8:36:57 AM PST by dblup
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To: Dilbert San Diego

I know a Dick Shrivels from Coldwater Michigan and I used to work with Richard Burns.


6 posted on 02/09/2011 8:37:01 AM PST by cripplecreek (Remember the River Raisin! (look it up))
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To: Dilbert San Diego

Got to laugh at something these days.


7 posted on 02/09/2011 8:38:24 AM PST by Nachum (The complete Obama list at www.nachumlist.com)
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To: Nachum

Once knew a urologist named “Ball”. Good man.

Then there’s that Asian guy working at Home Depot, sporting the name tag that reads “Hi, I’m Hung.” No joke.


8 posted on 02/09/2011 8:39:08 AM PST by RexBeach
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To: Nachum
I love it when an elitist liberal has to do a piece about flyover county:

Fort Wayne, about 120 miles northeast of Indianapolis

The Fort Wayne metro area has a population of over a quarter of a million, yet the AP reporter(ette) felt compelled to tell his(her) readers how to find it. :)

9 posted on 02/09/2011 8:40:44 AM PST by TonyInOhio ( Live free or die: Death is not the worst of evils.)
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To: Dilbert San Diego

Of course we are.

Two nights ago on Top Gear the Brits made fun of the welcome sign to “Intercourse, Pennsylvania.”

It’s human nature. No way Fort Wayne is going to let you buy some Schwetty Balls at the Harry Baals Center.


10 posted on 02/09/2011 8:41:29 AM PST by henkster (Before we make any more "investments" we ought to be shown the prospectus.)
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To: RexBeach
-- Then there's that Asian guy working at Home Depot, sporting the name tag that reads "Hi, I'm Hung." --

Now that's funny.

I lived in Ft. Wayne during some of my, errr, formative years, and know of this Harry Baals - even know Harry Baals Avenue.

11 posted on 02/09/2011 8:44:28 AM PST by Cboldt
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To: Nachum

I think that more govt buildings need to be dedicated to “BAALs”. Oh wait, aren’t they already?


12 posted on 02/09/2011 8:49:53 AM PST by Seruzawa (If you agree with the French raise your hand - If you are French raise both hands.)
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To: Nachum
Dr. Harry Beaver has his practice in Fairfax, VA.

Oh, and he's a gynecologist.

13 posted on 02/09/2011 8:52:10 AM PST by paddles ("The more corrupt the state, the more it legislates." Tacitus)
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To: Nachum
Scratch 'Harry Baals'

Editor wanted in Column 1!

14 posted on 02/09/2011 8:52:44 AM PST by Fido969 ("The hardest thing in the world to understand is income tax." - Albert Einstein)
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To: Nachum
Scratch 'Harry Baals'...

Headlines by Beavis and Butthead. And I thought the 'Beaver' thread was bad...

15 posted on 02/09/2011 8:53:40 AM PST by Noumenon ("We should forgive our enemies, but not before they are hanged.")
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To: Nachum
City spokesman Frank Suarez said the city has no regrets about opening the name selection up to people online.

"It is a new way of reaching out to the community,"

And telling them to get stuffed.

16 posted on 02/09/2011 8:54:41 AM PST by Fido969 ("The hardest thing in the world to understand is income tax." - Albert Einstein)
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To: cripplecreek

When I lived in Michigan the Lieutenant Governor was named Dick Posthumous. Always thought that was the worst name I’d ever heard, but this thread may top it.


17 posted on 02/09/2011 8:56:50 AM PST by Buckeye McFrog
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To: Dilbert San Diego

Yep. We are.

}:-)4


18 posted on 02/09/2011 8:57:33 AM PST by Moose4 ("By all that you hold dear on this good Earth, I bid you stand, Men of the West!")
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To: Nachum

Non-problem: just name it the H. W. Baals Center.


19 posted on 02/09/2011 9:00:40 AM PST by Stosh
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To: Nachum
Photobucket
20 posted on 02/09/2011 9:01:57 AM PST by BubbaJunebug
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