My home town's web page is a disaster

[edward]

I have been on a quest in recent weeks to try and save my small home town. They have hired a Public management firm to do everything for the town council One of the things the PM firm did is to provide a web page for the town named "My Waterloo Indiana."

This should not be a problem except for some small details. One of the things that shot to my attention was the town Departments on the side bar. There is a place to click " Chamber of Commerce" , the town has no chamber of commerce! Clicking there leads to a page that appears to be Asian.

I can't get any kind of reply out of the public management firm.

Can anyone tell me where this weird looking Asian website is coming from. Is it dangerous? It doesn't appear to affect my computer. I really need to get this straightened out. I do have a city official I can call if I can identify what is going on.

http://mywaterlooindiana.com/

 

[SteamKing]

I have been on a quest in recent weeks to try and save my small home town. They have hired a Public management firm to do everything for the town council One of the things the PM firm did is to provide a web page for the town named "My Waterloo Indiana."

This should not be a problem except for some small details. One of the things that shot to my attention was the town Departments on the side bar. There is a place to click " Chamber of Commerce" , the town has no chamber of commerce! Clicking there leads to a page that appears to be Asian.

http://mywaterlooindiana.com/

Maybe your town's Chamber of Commerce has been outsourced.

 

[Mark44]

I have been on a quest in recent weeks to try and save my small home town. They have hired a Public management firm to do everything for the town council One of the things the PM firm did is to provide a web page for the town named "My Waterloo Indiana."

This should not be a problem except for some small details. One of the things that shot to my attention was the town Departments on the side bar. There is a place to click " Chamber of Commerce" , the town has no chamber of commerce! Clicking there leads to a page that appears to be Asian.

I can't get any kind of reply out of the public management firm.

Can anyone tell me where this weird looking Asian website is coming from. Is it dangerous? It doesn't appear to affect my computer. I really need to get this straightened out. I do have a city official I can call if I can identify what is going on.

http://mywaterlooindiana.com/

The web page immediately above has this HTML code about halfway down the overall code for this page, and the 3rd link below:

<ulclass='xoxo blogroll'>
<li><ahref="[PLAIN]http://www.dekalbcountyedp.org">DeKalb[/PLAIN]  County Economic Development Partnership</a></li>
<li><ahref="[PLAIN]http://www.sturtzpmg.com">Sturtz[/PLAIN]  PMG</a></li>
<li><ahref="[PLAIN]http://www.waterlooinchamber.com">Waterloo[/PLAIN]  Chamber of Commerce</a></li> <<< this line
<li><ahref="[PLAIN]http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WZ9L36G">Waterloo[/PLAIN]  Indiana Amtrak Passenger Survey</a></li>
<li><ahref="[PLAIN]http://www.waterloo.lib.in.us">Waterloo-Grant[/PLAIN]  Township Public Library</a></li>
</ul>

The link to the chamber of commerce goes to a URL that apparently is owned by a Chinese company, and is not linking to the correct site. That line needs to be fixed.

 

[edward]

The web page immediately above has this HTML code about halfway down the overall code for this page, and the 3rd link below:

<ulclass='xoxo blogroll'>
<li><ahref="[PLAIN]http://www.dekalbcountyedp.org">DeKalb[/PLAIN]  County Economic Development Partnership</a></li>
<li><ahref="[PLAIN]http://www.sturtzpmg.com">Sturtz[/PLAIN]  PMG</a></li>

<li><ahref="[PLAIN]http://www.waterlooinchamber.com">Waterloo[/PLAIN]  Chamber of Commerce</a></li> <<< this line
<li><ahref="[PLAIN]http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WZ9L36G">Waterloo[/PLAIN]  Indiana Amtrak Passenger Survey</a></li>
<li><ahref="[PLAIN]http://www.waterloo.lib.in.us">Waterloo-Grant[/PLAIN]  Township Public Library</a></li>
</ul>

The link to the chamber of commerce goes to a URL that apparently is owned by a Chinese company, and is not linking to the correct site. That line needs to be fixed.

Thanks a million Mark44 , Sturtz is the public management company that charged the town for that web site. I'll call the city manager tomorrow.

 

[DaveC426913]

It's more likely that the domain expired and Waterloo did not renew it. The Chinese company bought it up.

 

[Evo]

Here is the information for the website.

Domain Name: MYWATERLOOINDIANA.COM
Registry Domain ID: 1615564848_DOMAIN_COM-VRSN
Registrar WHOIS Server: whois.enom.com
Registrar URL: www.enom.com
Updated Date: 2014-09-11T07:53:41.00Z
Creation Date: 2010-09-13T18:20:00.00Z
Registrar Registration Expiration Date: 2015-09-13T17:20:29.00Z
Registrar: ENOM, INC.
Registrar IANA ID: 48
Registrar Abuse Contact Email: abuse@enom.com
Registrar Abuse Contact Phone: +1.4252982646
Domain Status: clientTransferProhibited
Registry Registrant ID:
Registrant Name: DEWAYNE NODINE
Registrant Organization: TOWN OF WATERLOO
Registrant Street: 280 NORTH WAYNE STREET
Registrant City: WATERLOO
Registrant State/Province: IN
Registrant Postal Code: 46793
Registrant Country: US
Registrant Phone: +1.2608377428
Registrant Phone Ext:
Registrant Fax:
Registrant Fax Ext:
Registrant Email: DAJATUMEDIA@GMAIL.COM
Registry Admin ID:
Admin Name: DEWAYNE NODINE
Admin Organization: TOWN OF WATERLOO
Admin Street: 280 NORTH WAYNE STREET
Admin City: WATERLOO
Admin State/Province: IN
Admin Postal Code: 46793
Admin Country: US
Admin Phone: +1.2608377428
Admin Phone Ext:
Admin Fax:
Admin Fax Ext:
Admin Email: DAJATUMEDIA@GMAIL.COM
Registry Tech ID:
Tech Name: DEWAYNE NODINE
Tech Organization: TOWN OF WATERLOO
Tech Street: 280 NORTH WAYNE STREET
Tech City: WATERLOO
Tech State/Province: IN
Tech Postal Code: 46793
Tech Country: US
Tech Phone: +1.2608377428
Tech Phone Ext:
Tech Fax:
Tech Fax Ext:
Tech Email: DAJATUMEDIA@GMAIL.COM
Name Server: NS1.AKMAI.NET
Name Server: NS2.AKMAI.NET
DNSSEC: unSigned

http://www.networksolutions.com/whois/results.jsp?domain=mywaterlooindiana.com

 

[edward]

It's more likely that the domain expired and Waterloo did not renew it. The Chinese company bought it up.

That is probably correct Dave. They hired a private party who then hired a third party to design the web page. I have talked to several residents of the town who said the error has been that there for a long time. I can't decide if this town is worth saving. It is a typical Midwestern small town, but the more I find out the more it sounds like dumb and dumber.

They moved and restored the old train depot now Amtrak wants it back. They demolished a 110 year old double red brick historic town hall and put up a tacky metal building on the lot to house the fire station.

 

[edward]

Evo, the line that is incorrect is; http://www.waterlooinchamber.com I can give the city manager the email address you provided so they can hopefully look a little less mentally challenged in the future. You guys are great.

 

[jtbell]

It's more likely that the domain expired and Waterloo did not renew it. The Chinese company bought it up.

More precisely, the Waterloo chamber of commerce didn't renew it. The town government and the chamber of commerce are separate entities, surely?

A Google search for "waterloo indiana chamber of commerce" doesn't seem to find a site for the c of c, whether at waterlooinchamber.com or elsewhere; only references to the c of c on other sites. So for now at least, the link to the c of c on mywaterlooindiana.com should probably be changed to point to a page on that site, that contains old-fashioned physical contact information, e.g. address and phone number of the c of c office.

 

[Mark44]

More precisely, the Waterloo chamber of commerce didn't renew it. The town government and the chamber of commerce are separate entities, surely?

A Google search for "waterloo indiana chamber of commerce" doesn't seem to find a site for the c of c, whether at waterlooinchamber.com or elsewhere; only references to the c of c on other sites. So for now at least, the link to the c of c on mywaterlooindiana.com should probably be changed to point to a page on that site, that contains old-fashioned physical contact information, e.g. address and phone number of the c of c office.

Or the link should be removed. In the first post, the OP said that there is no Chamber of Commerce for that town.

 

[jtbell]

no Chamber of Commerce

Oops, I missed that!

Maybe edward should offer to start one, and a website for it!

 

[edward]

Oops, I missed that!

Maybe edward should offer to start one, and a website for it!

I am actually thinking about doing that jtbell. I am in Arizona and the town is in Indiana so I am trying to recruit a group of people who will do more than sit around and wait for something to happen. I joined a small existing Facebook group of residents that has now grown to over 100 members.

 

[edward]

Just a little update on this town's situation. The town council hired a public management firm to handle most of the council's work. There is now no longer an open retail store in the historic downtown area. The link to the Asian website is still on the town's homepage. The link actually goes to a Japanese website that translated roughly explains how to purchase a wedding or engagement ring.

The plot thickens; All town officials are now aware of the website being incorrect yet they refuse to change it. People in the group I formed are indicating to me that this is politically motivated. There is a former town council member who lives out of wedlock. He is saying that he will run again. His opponent will be the son of a local preacher who is also an IT. Could this be a stealth attack by this good Christian fellow against his opponent. It would at the least be a bragging point at his church.

Is it legal for the town's hierarchy to keep a mistake on their official web page intentionally? Is it even a mistake? Could this have been set up intentionally by an IT?

I have the local group back in my home town up to 200 people now, but I made a big mistake. I allowed existing members to invite new members. The town's official IT tech is now a member of the group.

During the last town council election of three members the preacher's son had the highest vote count with 164 votes. The council under the leadership of Mr. Christian Good fellow then started rescheduling open meetings to times when working people could not be there. The people have given up and aren't even voting apparently. I keep telling them not only to vote but to start a recall petition against the guy who turned the town over to a private management group.

I am now thinking about calling the local news media.

The dying small town scenario is nationwide, but this town has potential because it is in a strategic location with a railroad and two major highways. It even has an Amtrak station that serves 100 people per day. Those people wait in a plexiglass shelter that is open on the front! The town even refuses to provide them with a bathroom. They claim it is Amtrak's problem.

But wait a minute, in 2009 the town was given a federal grant for $1.8 million to provide a suitable depot. They refused to spend federal money and ended up losing the grant.

If any mentor wants to move or even lock this thread please feel free. I have put a lot of time into this and I am just frustrated at the lies and deceit. I also I feel like I am trying to fix stupid.

 

[DaveC426913]

It could make a juicy story for some news station. That would get it the attention you seek.

 

[edward]

That is now on my agenda Dave. There is also a lot of money that is not accounted for. The media can demand to see all records, including cell phone records about changing the dates and times of open meetings, a lot easier than I can.

 

[DaveC426913]

Cute town. Is it possible if it's dying because they didn't put the train depot anywhere near within walking distance of the rail line? I can't even find it!

(I found it. It's across from the park)

 

[SteamKing]

It appears that the website for the town of Waterloo, Indiana has now been fixed:

http://mywaterlooindiana.com/

A picture of what appears to an old train depot now is shown on the site's Home Page.

Another PF Miracle!

 

[edward]

They moved the depot to a place near the town hall when Con- Rail said that they were going to tear it down. Then they tore down the double red brick historical Town hall that still had a usable dance floor in it.

The powers that be keep saying that a new depot would solve everything even though they turned down a golden opportunity. They can't have 100 people per day leaving that town thinking of it as a community that didn't even provide them a place to pee. They need to give those people a warm place to wait for the train along with donuts and coffee.

I do have some good news . The Town's internet tech told me that he joined my group because he is on my side. I know quite a few people who know him so I trust him. That is one good thing about small towns.

Thanks for the comments Dave.

 

[edward]

It appears that the website for the town of Waterloo, Indiana has now been fixed:

http://mywaterlooindiana.com/

A picture of what appears to an old train depot now is shown on the site's Home Page.

Another PF Miracle!

The Town's website works Ok. The problem is that when someone clicks on "Chamber of Commerce" they end up on a Japanese web site. The translated Japanese website tells about how to purchase a wedding ring or engagement ring. I might have buried that info in my long rambling post about those idiots.

 

[B0b-A]

Your website http://mywaterlooindiana.com/ uses software called "WordPress" which apparently is a target for hackers, who redirect links to other sites ... https://www.google.com/search?q=wordpress+redirect+hack

e.g. https://wordpress.org/support/topic/blog-hacked-redirects-to-some-asian-website

Your site is using an outdated version of WordPress ... http://sitecheck.sucuri.net/results/mywaterlooindiana.com