“IS IT TRUE” MARCH 13, 2018

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We hope that today’s “IS IT TRUE” will provoke honest and open dialogue concerning issues that we, as responsible citizens of this community, need to address in a rational and responsible way?

IS IT TRUE that the Ford Center had a capacity crowd of over 10,500 paying customers for an NCAA basketball game on Saturday night for the championship of the Ohio Valley Conference?…the winning team was the Murray State Racers that took the first automatic entry to March Madness 2019 over Belmont to finish their regular season with a record of 27 wins and 4 losses?… Murray State has a large local fan base and enjoys a very gifted player that is expected to be chosen in the top 3 of the NBA draft?…the semifinal game with Murray against Jacksonville drew over 8,500 fans to downtown Evansville?…this proves that a winning team with a shot at the NCAA tournament can draw fans to Ford Center and that lesson should not be lost for the University of Evansville Purple Aces who once drew capacity crowds to Roberts Stadium?…the Aces have no reason not to expect seasons with 25 wins and when they do the crowds will follow?  ..the City-County Observer has always stated that a winning record will bring more to fans to the Ford Center?

IS IT TRUE the other games in the Ohio Valley Conference did not fare so well at the box office drawing only between 400 and 900 fans per game?…that is because there is no fan base locally for the other teams and Murray States women’s team was eliminated early?…these lessons should be learned and we do congratulate the Evansville Sports Corporation creating two nights of exceptional basketball at the Ford Center?

IS IT TRUE that some legislators just stand out?  …there are times that our local legislators deserve a big “thank you” and sometimes we fail to acknowledge them? …the City-County Observer would like to thank Senators Jim Tomes and Vaneta Becker for standing up and speaking against the “Sports Book” gaming bill that was just passed by the State Senate? …we totally agree with them that this legislation discriminates against the taxpayers of Evansville?  …posted below is a link to this bill:

Indiana Senate passes ‘major expansion’ of gaming allowing Terre Haute casino, sports betting

IS IT TRUE  last week an overflow crowd attended the  “Meet Your Legislators” meeting and only two (2) legislators attended this important community event?  …we want to thank State Senators, Vaneta Becker and Jim Tomes for attending this important governmental meeting? …it’s obvious that Senators Becker and Tomes realizes the importance of having direct and open communications with the people they represent?  …since this meeting was planned many months in advance one would expect that the majority of our State Legislators would have made advance plans to attend this extremely important public forum?  …we are told that at least one (1) State Representative couldn’t attend this gathering because of a funeral and another one went on vacation?  …that the remaining members of this group went to a breakfast meeting in Posey County?

IS IT TRUE we are told that the University of Evansville is attempting to get the State of Indiana to drop the zoning restrictions on property they own at Lloyd near Stockwell Road next to Wesselman Woods?  …we are told that University wants to build a new health center in that area and the rezoning of this property is important to those plans?  …people that oppose the rezoning of this property feel that if this legislation is passed it would encroach on the pristine and valuable Wesselman nature preserve?
IS IT TRUE  we congratulate State Senators Vaneta Becker and Jim Tomes for strongly opposing the “Payday Lending” bill?   …we are pleased that Senators that Tomes and Becker also had harsh words when they voted against this ill-advised Senate-approved bill? …It passed the Senate 26-23 and now is before the House.  …attached below is the link of the ‘Payday Lending ” bill that we urge you to read?
IS IT TRUE last year that the Evansville DMD leased a dilapidated, vacant block building to the Davita Dialysis Center?  …right after the Davita Dialysis Center signed a lease with the Evansville DMD for a nominal monthly payment someone started to do extensive and expensive renovations on this building?  … last week we couldn’t officially verify who paid for the extensive and expensive renovations of this property?   …it’s now alleged that the costs of renovation ($350,000 t0 $400,000) of this building were paid by the Evansville DMD? …we have attached a link from the Vanderburgh County Assessor concerning the sales transactions and old and new appraisals of this building? …we look forward to getting your take on this entire transaction?

 

http://vanderburghassessor.org/Default.aspx?PID=82-06-20-026-091.008-029

IS IT TRUE that the City of Evansville made a dubious list compiled by the National Council for Home Safety and Security and the results are not flattering?… Evansville ranked at number 40 in the Top 100 nationally for the most dangerous large cities in America?… Evansville also checked in at number 45 in large cities with the highest increase in violent crime and number 38 in large cities averaged violent crime rate increase in violent crime?…as far as the most dangerous cities list is concerned, Evansville got the worst score in the State of Indiana including Indianapolis that came in at number 41?…South Bend came in at number 49 to round out the Hoosier cities that made this Hall of Shame?… Gary, Indiana which has been a perennial leader on the violent crime list did not make this list as Gary has gotten so bad that there has been an exodus large enough to remove them from the list of large cities?…the most dangerous on the list was Springfield, Missouri that is known as a center for meth as Evansville was several years ago?…to put things into perspective that longtime violent drip hole called St. Louis came in at number 99?

Todays“Readers Poll” question is: Are you disappointed that not one City Council member made a request to the City Controller to give them a detailed financial accounting of the Evansville Thunderbolts?

Please go to our link of our media partner Channel 44 News located in the upper right-hand corner of the City-County Observer so you can get the up-to-date news, weather, and sports. We are pleased to provide obituaries from several area funeral homes at no costs.  Over the next several weeks we shall be adding additional obituaries from other local funeral homes.  Please scroll down the paper and you shall see a listing of them.

If you would like to advertise on the CCO please contact us at City-County Observer@live.com

FOOTNOTE:  Any comments posted in this column do not represent the views or opinions of the City-County Observer or our advertisers.

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13 COMMENTS

  1. All of that OVC talk is a distraction. It was all local Murray fans that skipped town after their 2 games. The only thing set up down there was a lousy white tarped tent. The rest of the games were completely dead as the CCO correctly pointed out. It’ll be a completely different story when Morant is gone.

  2. Is it true the Kelley Coures DMD about to lose $700,000+ on the old CVS Building at 800 N Main St.?

    On 12/9/14 the Kelley Coures led DMD bought the old CVS Building at 800 N Main St. for $535,000

    The old CVS Building at 800 N. Main St. is now has an assessed value of $893,100,as follows:

    Valuation Record
    True Tax Values:
    Land: $69,800
    Improvements: $823,300
    Total: $893,100

    http://vanderburghassessor.org/Default.aspx?PID=82-06-20-026-091.008-029

    At the March 5, 2019 meeting of the Evansville Redevelopment Commission, there was 1 bid to purchase 800 N Main St. for $178,000. Play video starting at 16:30 to end

    http://vanderburghassessor.org/Default.aspx?PID=82-06-20-026-091.008-029

    $893,100 – $178,000 = $715,000 loss by the DMD if the 1 bid is accepted.

    • Great coverage and breakdown, Norm. A few observations:

      One of the problems with the Evansville Redevelopment Commission is that it is primarily a “checkbook” for Mayor’s office since the vast majority of Evansville Redevelopment Commission members are only from Mayor

      Evansville Redevelopment Commission is not required to accept a bid if it is vastly under what can be expected

      If the Evansville Redevelopment Commission votes to accept such a low bid, I am thinking a taxpayer could bring suit to stall such a loss on the project

      • When is the next Redevelopment Commission meeting? Where are the written minutes of their meetings?

  3. I find it to be telling that Winnecke has gone completely silent on this North Main CVS fiasco. That guy’s never met a microphone he didn’t like. If there was any excuse he could make for this he’d already be out there telling the good news. Instead he’s going on and on about this stupid boat race that’s so bad it’s now free because they have complete Kelley Coures like morons running it. How much longer is this town going to take this?

  4. ABOUT HUD, OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
    The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Inspector General is one of the original 12 Inspectors General authorized under the Inspector General Act of 1978.

    Over the years, we have forged a strong alliance with HUD personnel in recommending ways to improve departmental operations and in prosecuting program abuses.

    We are committed to our statutory mission of detecting and preventing fraud, waste, and abuse and promoting the effectiveness and efficiency of government operations.

    Here’s the link of the Inspector General Office if anyone wants to file a formal complaint against the Evansville DMD or Evansville Redevelopment Commission.

    https://www.hudoig.gov/report-fraud

  7. Illegal Arrested for Murder After Sanctuary Policy Protected Him from Deportation NINE TIMES

    Today’s episode of “not a national emergency” has a tragic ending.
    ………………………………………………..
    An illegal alien whom Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) tried to deport nine times has been arrested for murder in California.

    “Suspect Carlos Eduardo Arevalo Carranza, a Salvadorian national, was arrested Monday and booked into jail for murder,” according to NBC Bay Area. “U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said agents tried to deport Carranza nine times before, but their detainers were not honored in both Los Angeles and Santa Clara counties.”

    The report said that ICE was not notified any of the times that Carranza was released from custody, which is typical of sanctuary city policies. Carranza already has several felony convictions on his criminal record.

    “In Santa Clara County alone, Carranza has prior convictions for kidnapping, drug possession, battery on a police officer, trespassing and burglary. Carranza was diagnosed with psychosis back in 2016, according to a source,” the report said.

    He allegedly murdered 59-year-old Bambi Larson, who police found stabbed multiple times in her South San Jose home.

  8. Steve Schaeffer and Wayne Parke always seem to be social media mouthpieces for the mayor. Surely they will explain this to us since they’re so much smarter.

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