POLL-Kruse Auction

[Mrs.Slotz]

Am wondering if any locals are going to the auction.

[matt_s]

My son asked nicely if he could go see all the neat old cars. So I'm probably taking him on Sunday.

[Mrs.Slotz]

I work by 4 Crowns Tavern in Auburn so I can see a lot of the neat cars.
I also live on 427 around the corner from the auction and have the privilege of seeing many cars go by the house.
So, we try to remain at home and enjoy the scene from our front porch.

[nathandiehl]

It's free after 6 p.m. or something, isn't it? Can't remember what I read.

[matt_s]

It's free after 6 p.m. or something, isn't it? Can't remember what I read.

I've heard that too and I think I saw someone post it on here somewhere but I don't remember where or when.

[jennyk]

I'll be going tomorrow in my official capacity as a reporter. I believe my husband, his parents and some out-of-town guests are going to go tomorrow, too. Before I worked for the paper, I had only been there once or maybe twice. It's really pretty cool!

[Thorman]

Not to hijack thread, but....how many of you would be able to not pay your creditors for several months, blame your failure to pay on other people because they have not paid him despite the fact that he is a rich person, have banks trying to foreclose on your business, and still be considered a pillar of the community? Sounds like another McNaugton to me.

[blue adept]

Not to hijack thread, but....how many of you would be able to not pay your creditors for several months, blame your failure to pay on other people because they have not paid him despite the fact that he is a rich person, have banks trying to foreclose on your business, and still be considered a pillar of the community? Sounds like another McNaugton to me.

I think you have stated it very clearly.

[Mrs.Slotz]

Wow, you should see all the cars lining up around the court house. It is awesome. Making me a little anxious. I want to go outside and check it all out.

[james_t]

I'll be shooting video at the Parade of Classics tomorrow.

The Star had an article that admission to the auction will be free each day after 6 p.m.

[HoosierHelen]

My favorite day is Saturday Parade and then when they park the cars all around the court house and you can visit with the owners if you choose to.

Thorman,

I do believe Kruse has brought far more to the Auburn community through his promotions than McNaughton ever brought to his community with his dealings. If there are obvious financial advantages that McNaughton has left in his wake to his community (even with his absence), please point me to them. Maybe I'm just short sighted?

Truthfully, I hope Kruse is able to pull some magic this weekend and save his enterprise. IF that doesn't happen, I sincerely believe he has built such a strong historical event for Auburn and for these car collectors, someone or some group will take this torch and carry it forward.

I don't recall McNaughton having left such a legacy?

[evilkumquat]

I have to agree with Thorman on this one.

Kruse is starting to sound an awful lot like McNaughton.

And before we start elevating him to sainthood, how much has Auburn given to Kruse?

I seem to recall people complaining about all the tax breaks and other deals Kruse was afforded when he put in his little park. Is there any truth to any of this talk?

Could Kruse have made his fortune without the help of DeKalb County and its citizens?

[Mrs.Slotz]

My favorite day is Saturday Parade and then when they park the cars all around the court house and you can visit with the owners if you choose to.

Thorman,

I do believe Kruse has brought far more to the Auburn community through his promotions than McNaughton ever brought to his community with his dealings. If there are obvious financial advantages that McNaughton has left in his wake to his community (even with his absence), please point me to them. Maybe I'm just short sighted?

Truthfully, I hope Kruse is able to pull some magic this weekend and save his enterprise. IF that doesn't happen, I sincerely believe he has built such a strong historical event for Auburn and for these car collectors, someone or some group will take this torch and carry it forward.

I don't recall McNaughton having left such a legacy?

The cars are parked all around the courthouse right now. I saw a few of my friends and went outside to talk to them for a minute. The owners of the cars are outside too. It is real nice.

[michael medeski]

Not to hijack thread, but....how many of you would be able to not pay your creditors for several months, blame your failure to pay on other people because they have not paid him despite the fact that he is a rich person, have banks trying to foreclose on your business, and still be considered a pillar of the community? Sounds like another McNaugton to me.

a good intern is expensive.

[HomeyG]

Anyone know how much revenue for Auburn, DeKalb County, Northeast Indiana is generated by the ACD Festival? Would there be an ACD Festival of this magnitude without Kruse International? Sure Kruse is going to benefit but are we not also benefiting. Its been reported that Auburn's population will swell up to 130,000. If they spend a mere $10 per person, that equates to $1,300,000. Looks like a classic case of "I'll scratch your back, you scratch mine."

[HoosierHelen]

Anyone know how much revenue for Auburn, DeKalb County, Northeast Indiana is generated by the ACD Festival? Would there be an ACD Festival of this magnitude without Kruse International? Sure Kruse is going to benefit but are we not also benefiting. Its been reported that Auburn's population will swell up to 130,000. If they spend a mere $10 per person, that equates to $1,300,000. Looks like a classic case of "I'll scratch your back, you scratch mine."

And...the visitors spend far more than $10 per person. Hotel rooms, dinners out, parking at the auction, tourist trinkets they pick up adds up to far more than $10 per person.

Look, I'm not defending Kruse and his financial transactions, I don't like what I have read. However, I have also learned that many of our local employers and companies report their financial earnings and status to the local news with many untruths included in them. So, I take all that with a grain of salt. No offense intended to KPC. They can only report the information made available to them.

However, facts are the facts and we would not have the Duesenberg Festival drawing visitors annually from across the nation and international visitors to Auburn, IN if it had not been for the Kruse promotions.

I'm convinced that if Kruse should go bankrupt, this tradition that he has started will continue under new ownership and continue to draw for many years to come. That is a positive fingerprint he will have left on Auburn.

What is McNaughton's positive fingerprint?

[Thorman]

Please check my original posting, I did not suggest that the ACD Festival and Kruse has not been an asset for the Auburn area, I just mentioned some questionable issues regarding Kruse. In fact, I believe that the ACD Festival and Kruse International have benefited the Auburn area; however, I just am concerned that we have allowed the financial benefits to blind us to the fact that there are some major questions regarding Kruse's financial dealings (as reported in the papers) that would not be acceptable for the average citizen. This is similar to how the McNaughton was treated in Steuben County. Now am I incorrect?

[evilkumquat]

Please check my original posting, I did not suggest that the ACD Festival and Kruse has not been an asset for the Auburn area, I just mentioned some questionable issues regarding Kruse. In fact, I believe that the ACD Festival and Kruse International have benefited the Auburn area; however, I just am concerned that we have allowed the financial benefits to blind us to the fact that there are some major questions regarding Kruse's financial dealings (as reported in the papers) that would not be acceptable for the average citizen. This is similar to how the McNaughton was treated in Steuben County. Now am I incorrect?

I'm still waiting for Federal charges to get leveled against McNaughton.

Where the hell are they?

But yes, EFM was certainly treated with kid gloves (which must have done a good job of keeping the grease on the palms inside from showing).

All we need now is a crooked appraiser and a ethically-questionably real estate agent to align themselves with Kruse and we've got a McNaughtonganger.

[HoosierHelen]

Please check my original posting, I did not suggest that the ACD Festival and Kruse has not been an asset for the Auburn area, I just mentioned some questionable issues regarding Kruse. In fact, I believe that the ACD Festival and Kruse International have benefited the Auburn area; however, I just am concerned that we have allowed the financial benefits to blind us to the fact that there are some major questions regarding Kruse's financial dealings (as reported in the papers) that would not be acceptable for the average citizen. This is similar to how the McNaughton was treated in Steuben County. Now am I incorrect?

Thorman,

I'm not disagreeing with you on the Kruse financial issues. I don't believe Kruse himself would disagree that those exist. He talks pretty openly about the problems.

The McNaughtons in Steuben County received special treatment just as Kruse has here in DeKalb County. You are correct.

The only point I was trying to make is that if Kruse bankrupts tomorrow, Auburn still benefits from his legacy he will leave that another investor will pick up. I can't see where McNaughton left such a legacy to Steuben County.

[Thorman]

McNaughtonganger? Nice.