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IS IT TRUE AUGUST 20, 2022 DRAFT
City-County Observer Comment Policy. Be kind to people. No personal attacks or harassment will not be tolerated and shall be removed from our site.
We understand that sometimes people don’t always agree and discussions may become a little heated.  The use of offensive language, or insults against commenters will not be tolerated and will be removed from our site.
Any comments posted in this column do not represent the views or opinions of the City-County Observer or our advertise
IS IT TRUE are wondering why is the Vanderburgh County/Evansville Building Corporation are receiving lease payments from EWSU because it is the bond holder?
IS IT TRUE several people are wondering if the City stop building the waterfront Skate Park because of money issues?
IS IT TRUE that a past Harvard Business School study that assesses the competitiveness of the United States of America?…in this study, it states that in 1964 a full 77% of the population trusted the federal government to do the right things to make progress happen and that today around 17% of Americans trust the federal government?…that has increased from a low of 15% in 2009?…one could almost surmise that with that low of a number trusting the federal government that it can’t go much lower since roughly 15% believe silly things like Elvis is alive and well and Hitler is living in Argentina plotting a return to power?
IS IT TRUE that one of the most important missions of the mainstream Media is to call out the failure of our elected officials for choosing fun and games over substance, exposed idiocy, and self-serving squandering of taxpayer dollars in search of votes?  …the Media should be willing to take the powerful and connected to task every time they do something underhanded to pick the taxpayer’s pockets?
IS IT TRUE, that in accordance with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Industrial Regulatory Authority (Finra) mandate cities and towns with populations of greater than 100,000 will be required to report their financial status by using the accrual method of accounting for the end of each year? …that Indianapolis, Ft. Wayne, and South Bend have been using the accrual accounting method for many years? …over the years Evansville has been receiving adverse opinions from the SBOA in regards to overdrawn accounts? …that past financial reports by the City weren’t compiled by using the accrual method of accounting? Â …we hope that the Winnecke Administration is complying with the Indiana State Board Of Accounts request to report all their unrecorded liabilities including leases that the Bond rating of the City will be greatly affected?
IS IT TRUE that GuideStar is a publication that collects legal information on all of the non-profit organizations in the United States?…GuideStar collects financial, organizational, performance, and management information on all of the non-profits nationwide?…based on the information that is public plus information that is voluntarily submitted to GuideStar by the non-profits, each organization is assigned a transparency grade from Nothing to Bronze, to Silver, to Gold, and only the best of the best or 0.5% of the non-profits nationwide get the coveted Platinum rating?…of the 345 non-profits registered in Evansville, Indiana only 1 has been awarded a Platinum ranking for transparency? ...most have no rating at all which means they are not submitting information to the GuideStar public database? Â …if you find an active non-profit organization with NO Rating all we can say is beware?
IS IT TRUE when small-town politicians that preside over an increasing crime rate and a mediocre economy that gets national attention, every pissant politician who rides in parades hearing “Hail to the Chief” in their own mind catches “Buttigieg Derangement Syndrome”?…we hope that this political disorder won’t be contagious enough to infect the thinking of a few current elected officials?
Smith leads Otters to shutout win at Washington
WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Evansville Otters used a two-hit outing from Zach Smith to shutout the Washington Wild Things Friday night, 4-0.
The Otters kicked off the game with the bases loaded in the first but were unable to score on the opportunity.
The opening three innings had chances both ways but both defenses kept the game scoreless.
In the fourth, the Otters finally broke through. After an error on Washington center fielder Hector Roa allowed Justin Felix to turn a single into three bases, Andy Armstrong drove in the opening run on an RBI double off the third baseman’s glove and down the left field line.
From there, the pitchers and defensive group again settled in, keeping Evasnville’s lead at 1-0. Starting with a flyout in the fourth inning, the Evansville pitchers sat down the next 12 Wild Things in order.
In the seventh, Evansville struck for insurance. The Otters got a pair of men on and with two outs, J.R. Davis dropped a single into left to double the lead for the Otters. Directly after Davis’ hit, Zach Biermann brought in a pair of runs with a double down the left field line, increasing the lead to 4-0.
Augie Gallardo and Jake Polancic connected for three strong innings to close out the game for Evansville, finishing out the 4-0 win.
The win went to Zach Smith, who gave up no runs on two hits in his six full innings. The loss fell to Sandro Cabrera, allowing three runs on five hits.
With the win, Evansville has won three straight games for the first time since their nine-game win streak in late June/early July.
The series continues on Saturday night from Wild Things Park in Washington with a 6:05 p.m. CT first pitch. Audio-only coverage is available for free on the Evansville Otters YouTube page.
The Machine comes home
John Krull, publisher, TheStatehouseFile.com
ST. LOUIS—Old guys.
They rule.
I’m in St. Louis near the end of a long road trip. I’ve come to Busch Stadium to catch one of the stops on the Albert Pujols farewell tour.
Pujols is in the last season of what has been a Hall-of-Fame career. At one time, he was the most feared hitter in the game, a deadly combination of power, consistency and discipline. He not only could tear the hide off the ball when he sent it scorching to the stands, but he also was a tough out, a batter who rarely, if ever, was fooled or swung at a bad pitch.
In his best years—a stretch from 2001 to 2010—he invariably hit well over .300, slammed 40 or so home runs per season and drove in more than 120 runs. He was so well-drilled that his nickname was “La Maquina.â€
The Machine.
Pujols spent those glory days here in St. Louis. He led the Cardinals to two World Series titles before the lure of a huge contract prompted him to sign with the Los Angeles Angels.
After he left this river city, he was never the same player. Though he was still formidable, he no longer towered over the game and the other players the way he had when he wore the Cards’ uniform.
After more than a decade away, Pujols came back to St. Louis for what he promises will be his final season. He says he’s 42 now, but rumors persist that he’s really two to three years older than that.
Time and injuries have taken their toll on him. Never the fleetest of players, even in his prime, he now runs like an arthritic plow horse.
At one recent game in Toronto, when the Cardinals’ third-base coach waved him toward home to try to beat a throw from the outfield, Pujols could be seen shaking his head in disbelief as he lumbered around the bag. The throw beat him by more than a city block.
But he’s still figured out ways to contribute, to help the team. His season got off to a slow start—he struggled to hit above .200 for a time—but he’s caught fire lately and his batting average has crept toward .250.
In the game in Toronto where he was thrown out at home, he carried the Cardinals to victory. Their best and much younger players couldn’t make the trip to Canada because of COVID protocols, so Pujols was inserted into the lineup.
He collected multiple hits and hit the home run that put the Cardinals over the top.
On this night, there won’t be similar fireworks.
The Cardinals host the Milwaukee Brewers. The two teams are battling for the lead in the National League’s Central Division with the Cards holding a slight edge.
It’s a beautiful night for baseball, warm but not hot with an occasional breeze wafting through the park. The game is a taut, hard-fought one, a defensive struggle that makes both runs and hits hard to come by.
Every time Pujols comes to the plate—each time facing a pitcher almost young enough to be his son—the huge crowd buzzes.
I saw him play often when both he and I were much younger. Then, I marveled at his power and native skill, the ability not just to hit pitches coming in at 100 miles an hour but send them blazing to spots he seemed to have chosen.
Now, I find myself moved by the ways he relies on experience and guile to substitute for youthful prowess and natural energy.
He’s still a tough out. He puts the bat on the ball a couple of times, hitting it hard but straight at fielders.
On his last time up, though, he rips a grasscutter between shortstop and third, finding a hole that yields a base hit. It’s a canny, veteran bit of hitting, sniffing out a weak spot and exploiting it.
The Machine at work, one more time.
After he reaches first, the Cards’ manager sends in a pinch runner, both to avoid a replay of the Toronto third-base debacle and to give the crowd and Pujols a chance to salute each other.
As he leaves the field, applause rolls over the big stadium.
Pujols tips his cap as he heads to the dugout, an aging gladiator taking a modest bow.
Old guys.
They rule.
John Krull is director of Franklin College’s Pulliam School of Journalism and publisher of TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students. The opinions expressed by the author do not represent the views of Franklin College.
End of Summer ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ Campaign
End of Summer ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ Campaign
 Drive sober or get pulled over. That’s the warning coming from the Indiana State Police as it gears up to participate in an end-of-summer impaired driving enforcement campaign. Starting this weekend through Labor Day, officers will be increasing patrols designed to target those driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
The extra high-visibility enforcement is funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) through grants administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI).
“We’re asking everyone to have a plan in place if they know they’ll be drinking,†said Lieutenant Corey Culler, District Commander, Fort Wayne Post. “We are encouraging drivers to think about the choices they’re making and the consequences before they get behind the wheel so that we can prevent a needless tragedy.â€
Alcohol-impaired traffic fatalities have increased over the past few years, as have other dangerous driving behaviors, fueling a nationwide surge in roadway deaths. It’s an unfortunate trend that doesn’t appear to be slowing.
Newly released data from NHTSA shows that an estimated 9,560 people died in motor vehicle crashes in the first quarter of 2022. That’s up 7% from the previous year and the highest number of deaths in 20 years for that period.
In Indiana, traffic fatalities increased by more than 20% during that time compared to 2021. If the pace continues, 2022 could be the third straight year with more fatalities, following 897 in 2020 and 931 in 2021.
“People who drive drunk or high aren’t thinking about the repercussions,†said Devon McDonald, ICJI Executive Director. “It’s not just their life they’re risking, but the life of the person in the car next to them and the pedestrian crossing the street. No one ‘accidentally’ drives impaired. It’s always a choice.â€
Drunk driving continues to be a major factor making up roughly 25% of the state’s fatal collisions, but alcohol isn’t the only concern.
Research indicates drug prevalence has been on the rise among drivers during the pandemic. Last year, the number of blood samples submitted to the Indiana Department of Toxicology for drug analysis after a crash increased by 7%.
“Since the start of the pandemic, more drivers are testing positive for THC and poly-drug use, a combination of drugs,†said Robert Duckworth, ICJI Traffic Safety Director. “We’re working to address that by training more officers in advanced detection techniques and providing new tools to law enforcement, but the best and easiest solution is for people to not drive high in the first place.â€
Driving under the influence, whether it’s drugs or alcohol, is illegal in Indiana. Those who choose to drive impaired are, not only risking their life and the lives of others, but also could face an arrest, jail time, and substantial fines and attorney fees. The average drunk driving arrest costs up to $10,000.
With officers showing zero tolerance throughout the campaign, the department recommends celebrating the end of summer responsibly by having a safety plan in place. Even if it’s only one drink, designate a sober driver or use public transportation or a ride service to get home safely. Never drive impaired or let friends get behind the wheel if they’ve been drinking.
It’s also important to wear a seat belt at all times. It’s the best form of protection against drunk drivers. Motorists are encouraged to report suspected impaired drivers by calling 911 or contacting the department.
For those of you personally wanting to make a real difference in the fight against impaired and dangerous driving, please go to www.IndianaTrooper.com today, and head down the path to becoming an Indiana State Trooper.Â
MOM KNOWS BEST MOM KNOWS BEST
MOM KNOWS BEST
by Judge Redwine
AUGUST 20, 2022
Tom Nichols is a staff writer for The Atlantic magazine. In his opinion piece of August 15, 2022, Nichols asserted the United States is living in a “new era of political violence.†Nichols compared our current political climate to America’s Civil War and declared:
“Compared with the bizarre ideas and half-baked wackiness that now infest American political life, the arguments between the North and the South look like a deep treatise on government.â€
Of course, Nichols, as all of us do, meant those ideas he disagreed with. He wrote his article as a warning against “the random threats and unpredictable dangers from people among us who spend too much time watching television and plunging down internet rabbit holes.â€
While I believe Nichols falls victim to the kind of incitement to political violence he warns the rest of us to avoid, I agree with him that much of our poisonous political atmosphere is both created and exacerbated by “instigators who will inflame them from the safety of a television or radio studio.â€
When I try to glean news from Facebook, MSNBC, CNN, FOX News and even sometimes NPR and the regular commercial news outlets, I spend a lot of my time hearing the echo of my Mother’s sage advice, “If you can’t say something nice about somebody, don’t say anything at all.â€
In our current political discourse, it seems almost every discussion has to first set forth the commentator’s pro or anti-Trump diatribe and then morph into the “real news.â€Â I keep trying, with little success, to block out the opening statements as I wait for any significant new facts.
This atmosphere of dueling slings and arrows, some of which are more than mere rhetoric, is the “political violence†Nichols refers to. People commit random acts of physical violence against complete strangers for no reason other than to attempt to give some meaning to their uninteresting lives. And as many of us have suffered through the discomfort, or worse, of political conversations with our friends and family these last few years, it is not just random strangers who have accosted one another with Nichols’ “New Era of Political Violenceâ€. Long-time friendships and relationships have often suffered due to competing political views.
A large contributor to the current “Era of Bad Feeling†is the tendency to classify those who do not share our political views as holding “half-baked†or “wacky†ideas because, in Nichols’ view, they suffer from “a generalized paranoia that dark forces are manipulating their lives.†The sense I get from our current political in-fighting reminds me of the McCarthy Era from the 1950’s when Senator Joe McCarthy held hearings that ruined countless lives with accusations of Communistic leanings among American citizens. Sure, eventually we, as a democracy, saw through the “Red Scare†but it was too late to save many good citizens.
It feels to me now as those Red Baiting times felt. We seem to go immediately to anger when the “other side†speaks its views. Perhaps we could learn from our history instead of repeating it. As Mom would have said, “Just because someone sees things from their viewpoint doesn’t make them wrong. And just because someone else voices an opinion opposed to ours doesn’t mean they are bad.†It kind of goes back to that old advice, “If it ain’t good, don’t say it.â€
That does not apply to real news, only personal character assassination. We need our democracy to have unfettered access to information about many subjects. That is, we need facts to make good decisions. What we do not need is vituperative personal attacks masquerading as evidence.
For more Gavel Gamut articles go to www.jamesmredwine.com
Or “Like/Follow†us on Facebook & Twitter at JPegOsageRanch
Gov. Holcomb announces new Commissioner for the Indiana Department of Workforce Development
INDIANAPOLIS – Gov. Eric J. Holcomb today announced that David J. Adams is the new commissioner of the Indiana Department of Workforce Development.
“David Adams has spent decades focusing on the connections between workforce talent and the needs of today’s industries, and he leads with a tremendous energy that brings results, time and time again,†said Gov. Holcomb. “I’m excited David is returning to Indiana and the impact he will make in helping our Department of Workforce Development to skill up our workforce to be second-to-none and prepared for the next phase of our economic growth.â€
Adams was executive director of the Indiana Public Retirement System from 2005 – 2007.
Since 2017, he has served as the chief innovation officer at the University of Cincinnati, where he is the leader of the Cincinnati Innovation District, which connects the economic engine of the university to global, mid-sized and small companies with a focus on growing, attracting, and retaining talent. The innovation district became the model for the state of Ohio and was instrumental in securing the recent $20 billion Intel investments, including the development of the future workforce.
Adams has deep experience in industry, higher education, and public service. In addition to his efforts at the University of Cincinnati, he was chief administrative officer at the University of Louisville and served as the CEO of the Institute of Product Realization.
He was a founding member of the Enlace Academy in Indianapolis and is a member of the board of directors of the Purdue Research Foundation. He’s also a board member of REDI Cincinnati, the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber and CincyTech.
“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to connect and convene Indiana’s talent pool with the resources the state has built to skill-up workers, matching them with the best in-demand careers that they are suited for,†Adams said. “With our partners across the state, we will empower Hoosiers to be trained for the economy of today, and ready for the economy Gov. Holcomb is building.â€
Adams is a graduate of the Speed Scientific School of Engineering at the University of Louisville and has a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in industrial engineering.
He begins his tenure on Sept. 19. He replaces Fred Payne, who stepped down to become president and chief executive officer of the United Way of Central Indiana.
Virtual Author Talk: Michele Harper On August 22 At 8 PM
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