HOT WARS AND COLD SEATS
GAVEL GAMUT
By Jim Redwine
www.jamesmredwine.com
(Week of 19 December 2022)
HOT WARS AND COLD SEATS
Each morning I look off my apartment balcony at the ships floating on the Black Sea that lies between the countries of Georgia on the southeast and Ukraine to Georgia’s northwest. So far the ships have remained of the merchant variety, but I always look first to make sure. Georgia is a country of four million people with virtually no way to defend itself. The Georgian government that fears Russia on Georgia’s northern border and the citizens of Georgia who fly Ukrainian blue and yellow flags are in constant yang and yin over the war being waged just across the Black Sea. The government worries about poking the Russian bear and the citizens publicly rally and demonstrate in support of the Ukraine population.
Recently Russia has been stirring up its long held relationship with the country of Belarus that lies between Russia’s western border and Ukraine’s northern border. Belarus is in the same military condition as Georgia. Belarus, as led by the politically embattled president Alexander Lukashenko, with its nine million citizens, is even more supine to Russia’s might than Georgia. Therefore, Belarus does not pretend to resist Russian moves to use Belarus as a staging ground for Russia’s military and probable invasion of Ukraine. At the very least, Belarus provides Russia with a vital logistical path for re-supply of its military.
This morning, December 15, 2022, I am gazing at the tankers and grain ships right outside my window and, as we humans often experience, a totally unrelated memory of a simpler time comes to mind. In 1954 my family had a new Ford automobile, the kind with front fenders. Some of you will remember fenders and maybe will have even ridden on them to deliver newspapers as my brother Philip and I used to when we could wheedle Mom into driving us along our paper route. In 1954 the Korea War was over and our generation’s war in Viet Nam had not yet begun. The hero of the Normandy Landing of WWII, Dwight Eisenhower, was president of the United States and America was keeping the Soviet Union on its heels, not with bombs but with the humanitarian Marshall Plan.
In those halcyon days in Pawhuska, Oklahoma the Pawhuska Journal Capital newspaper was owned and operated by Glen Van Dyke and Phil and I had one of the delivery routes. We would go to the Journal Capital office on Kihekah Avenue and get bundles of papers. Phil and I would fold them into five-point throwing projectiles and fill two canvas bags that we hung over the Ford’s hood ornament. We each sat on a fender and competed for distance and accuracy as we banged the papers off the porches of our neighbors who sometimes complained to our parents.Â
I did not read the Journal Capital then and never had any inclination at age 11 to write a column in it. However, I do remember my mother and father sitting at the kitchen table and laughing at Glen’s witty sayings in his regular column. I still remember Mom and Dad laughing out loud when Glen complained that modern science seemed to be able to create hand warmers and foot warmers but for some reason could not come up with a toilet seat warmer. Gentle Readers, that was almost 70 years ago and, while we are now on our way to Mars, we still have not cracked the code on toilet seats. However, we seem to still be sending vast amounts of aid to keep the Russians on their heels.
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Officer Involved Shooting
 Around 10:35 a.m. officers were dispatched to the 1300-block of N. Third Avenue for a 911 hang-up. A male called Central Dispatch saying ‘they are killing people’ and refused to answer further questions from the dispatchers. An EPD officer arrived and spoke with a female at the door about the condition of the caller. When the officer entered the residence, he located the male in a bedroom. The male had a knife in his hand and refused to put it down after the officer gave him numerous commands to do so. The male then went into an adjacent room and sat down on a chair with the blanket covering the knife in his hand. The officer continued to tell the male to put the knife down; the male refused to put the weapon down and appeared to be in a state of distress. An assisting officer arrived on scene at that time. After refusing to put his knife down the male lunged toward officers. One officer deployed his taser at that time in an attempt to subdue the subject but the taser was unsuccessful. The subject then advanced at one of the officers with the knife still in his hand. A second EPD officer fired his duty issued handgun at least one time, striking the male.Â
Officers attempted life-saving measures, prior to AMR arrival but were unsuccessful. The male was pronounced deceased at the scene. The officer who fired his duty weapon has been placed on administrative leave pending further investigation, which is standard protocol following an officer involved shooting. The officers involved in this run were not physically injured. The name of the decedent will be released by the Vanderburgh County Coroners Office pending an autoÂ
On December 17, 2022 USI To Hold Two Commencement Ceremonies To Honor Fall Class Of 2022
WHO: USI students from the Fall Class of 2022 will be recognized at USI Commencement Ceremonies.
WHAT:Â USI will hold two Commencement Ceremonies to honor the Fall Class of 2022.
WHEN:Â Ceremonies will take place Saturday, December 17. A schedule of Commencement Ceremony times follows:
- 10 a.m.: College of Nursing and Health Professions, Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education and School of Graduate Studies
- 1 p.m.: Romain College of Business, College of Liberal Arts and School of Graduate Studies
WHERE: Both Ceremonies will be held in the Screaming Eagles Arena. A map of the USI campus, featuring the Screaming Eagles Arena, can be found at USI.edu/map. Media should enter through the front doors of the Arena and will be escorted to the media platform, section 104, accessed from the second level. Elevators accessing the second level of the Arena are available if needed.
*Doors open one hour prior to each ceremony. Access to students lining up for Commencement will be cut off 10-15 minutes prior to each ceremony. Please arrive early to setup and/or interview students, faculty or staff.
House Democrats Announce Full Leadership Team For 2023 Legislative Session
House Democrats Announce Full Leadership Team For 2023 Legislative Session
(Ryan Hatfield, D-Evansville Will Serve As Assistant Minority Leader)
“It’s an honor to announce the selection of these outstanding Hoosier Democrats to serve in caucus leadership positions during the 123rd Indiana General Assembly,†said GiaQuinta in a statement. “These dedicated state representatives are ready to roll up their sleeves in service of the caucus and state as the legislature enters a biennial budget session.â€
Assisting Pryor in her role as Democratic floor leader is Rep. Earl Harris Jr., D-East Chicago, and Rep. Matt Pierce, D-Bloomington.
The Democratic caucus chair and assistant caucus chair are Rep. Carey Hamilton, D-Indianapolis, and Rep. Ed DeLaney, D-Indianapolis. Hamilton’s main duty is to preside over the meetings when all of the House Democrats come together to caucus.
“Their proven expertise, unique backgrounds, and commitment to our beloved state have earned the respect and support of their colleagues and constituents,†GiaQuinta’s statement continued. “Indiana House Democrats remain united in our pursuit of a better tomorrow, and if this group is any indication of our potential for success, a better tomorrow is on the horizon.â€
Also taking a leadership role is Rep. Justin Moed, D-Indianapolis, as Democratic whip, while both Rep. Mitch Gore, D-Indianapolis, and Rep. Carolyn Jackson, D-Hammond, will be assistant Democratic whips. The role of the whip is to rally support and votes for party-backed bills.
As the ranking minority member in the Ways and Means Committee, Rep. Gregory Porter, D-Indianapolis, is also on the leadership team. Focused on the budget and fiscal matters, the committee is very influential—especially in a budget year.
Over in the Senate, Democrats announced three leaders last month. Sen. Greg Taylor, D-Indianapolis, is the Senate Democratic leader, Sen. J.D. Ford, D-Indianapolis, is the caucus chair, and Sen. Shelli Yoder, D-Bloomington, is assistant Democratic leader.
Republicans announced leadership positions in November.
Vanderburgh County lawmakers To Serve On Key House Committees
STATEHOUSE (Dec. 14, 2022) – Area lawmakers recently received appointments to serve on key House standing committees at the Statehouse.
House standing committee appointments are made by the Indiana House Speaker biennially after the November election and are in effect for the duration of members’ two-year terms. State Rep. Tim O’Brien (R-Evansville) will serve as vice chair of the House Government and Regulatory Reform Committee, and as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Financial Institutions Committee.
“It’s important for state government and local government to work together in order to best serve Hoosiers,” O’Brien said. “I’m committed to advancing policies that make government at all levels more efficient and effective on behalf of the people they serve.”
State Rep. Matt Hostettler (R-Pakota) will serve as a member of the House Employment, Labor and Pensions Committee, the House Natural Resources Committee and the House Public Health Committee, which will all begin their work with the start of the 2023 legislative session.
“Supporting hard-working Hoosiers and local, small-business owners remains a top priority for me,” Hostettler said. “I’ll continue to look for ways to reduce the size of government, and cut regulations and red tape for Hoosiers.”
State Rep. Wendy McNamara (R-Evansville) was reappointed to serve as chair the House Courts and Criminal Code Committee and to serve as a member of the House Financial institutions Committee. McNamara said committees are responsible for vetting bills, including hearing public testimony and considering amendments.
“The Courts and Criminal Code committee has been successful in vetting bills that reduce recidivism rates, reform juvenile justice policies and strengthen the state’s criminal justice system for the safety of all Hoosiers,” McNamara said. “As chair, I look forward to continuing that momentum in the upcoming legislative session and leading the charge.”
House lawmakers are scheduled to convene for session at 1:30 p.m. on Jan. 9. Hoosiers can visitiga.in.gov to find legislation, view calendars, and watch committee meetings and session.
Indiana State Police Lieutenant Graduates from FBI National Academy
Indiana State Police Lieutenant Brian Bunner is back home in Indiana following his graduation from the 284th session of the Federal Bureau of Investigations National Academy in Quantico Virginia on Thursday December 8th.
Lt. Brian Bunner was among a chosen group of law enforcement officers from departments across the United States to attend the FBI National Academy. Bunner has been with the Indiana State Police for 22 years leading the technology section. “The training we received was not about how to be an FBI agent, it is all about leadership and current policing in America.†The training he received at the academy he will bring back to the ISP.
This National Academy 284th session included two hundred and thirty-seven law enforcement officers from 48 states and the District of Columbia. The class included members of law enforcement agencies from 25 countries, five military organizations, and five federal civilian organizations. Internationally known for its academic excellence, the National Academy offers 11 weeks of advanced communication, leadership, and fitness training. Participants must have proven records as professionals within their agencies to attend. On average, these officers have 21 years of law enforcement experience and usually return to their agencies to serve in executive-level positions.
FBI Director Christopher Asher Wray delivered remarks at the ceremony. Class spokesperson William Lexton-Jones from the Metropolitan Police in the United Kingdom represented the graduating officers. FBI Academy instructors, special agents, and other staff with advanced degrees provide the training; many instructors are recognized internationally in their fields. Since 1972, National Academy students have been able to earn undergraduate and graduate credits from the University of Virginia, which accredits all of the National Academy courses offered. A total of 53,907 graduates have completed the FBI National Academy since it began in 1935. The National Academy is held at the FBI Training Academy in Quantico, the same facility where the FBI trains its new special agents and intelligence analysts.