FOOTNOTE: LINK OF THE VIDEO OF THE APRIL 7, 2022 VANDERBURGH COUNTY COUNCIL SEWER PROJECT AND THE $13 1/2 MILLION DOLLAR JAIL RENOVATION DISCUSSION
https://evansville.granicus.com/player/clip/4867?&redirect=true
VIDEO OF THE APRIL 7, 2022 VANDERBURGH COUNTY JAIL RENOVATION DISCUSSION
The Video Link Of The Heated Discussion Between Vanderburgh County Council Members Concerning Spending Money On Sewer Projects
We recently posted the attached video of the April 7, 2022, VanderburghCounty Council meeting concerning the heated discussion pertaining to the proposed Vanderburgh County Sewer projects. Â Several of our readers informed us that they had a problem with reviewing the content of the video of the County Council that we posted recently. Â We have corrected the issues with the attached video for your view.
FOOTNOTES CONCERNING THIS VIDEO ARE ATTACHED BELOW:Â
Go To The 1:07 Time Frame Of The Attached Video Concerning The Heated Discussion between Vanderburgh County Council Members About The Funding And Approval Of The Proposed County Sewer Projects.
Please look at how County Council members James Raben and Tom Shelter, Jr. attempted to intimidate fellow County Council members (around the 1:07 time frame) into agreeing with their stance concerning the County SEWER project.
The video shows Joe Kiefer and John Montrastelle, President of the County Council taking on James Raben and Tom Shelter, Jr. head-on in an intense discussion concerning parliamentary procedures.
After all, was said and done County Councilman Joe Kiefer’s motion to approve the County Sewer projects won by a 4-3 Â margin. Â The vote and discussion ended around the 1:35 time frame.
Go To The 2:08 Time Frame And Listen To Sheriff Wedding And Jim Raben’s Comments About The Proposed $13.5 Renovation of the Vanderburgh County Jail.
https://evansville.granicus.com/player/clip/4867?&redirect=true
FOOTNOTE: This video was posted without bias or editing.
Otters bring back Baez, Mattis, Sawyer; sign Reyes
The Evansville Otters will be bringing back outfielder Jeffrey Baez, infielder Gary Mattis, pitcher Logan Sawyer, and have also signed infielder Jomar Reyes, for the 2022 season.
Jeffrey Baez was a 2021 midseason acquisition for the Otters, being acquired in a trade with the Kane County Cougars of the American Association. For the Otters, Baez batted .319 with 14 runs, five doubles, two triples, seven home runs, 24 RBIs, and 10 stolen bases in 22 games played.
Earlier in 2021 with Kane County, Baez hit .296 with 41 runs, 12 doubles, four triples, 14 home runs, 49 RBIs, and eight stolen bases in 65 games played.
Originally from Venezuela, Baez spent eight years in the Chicago Cubs organization from 2011-18, reaching as high as Double-A with the Tennessee Smokies. Baez spent 2019 with Jackson, the Double-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. Overall, in the minors, Baez batted .258 with 416 runs, 661 hits, 125 doubles, 26 triples, 71 home runs, 320 RBIs, and 212 stolen bases.
Gary Mattis joined the Otters for his first season of professional baseball in 2021. In 38 games with the Otters, Mattis batted .293 with 24 runs, 15 extra-bases hits, 19 RBIs, and 22 stolen bases.
Mattis journeyed to Evansville following an illustrious tenure with the Tennessee Wesleyan Bulldogs in his junior and senior seasons. In the Spring of 2021, Mattis was selected at the end of the 2021 Spring season as an NAIA Gold Glove award winner at the shortstop position and named the NAIA’s player of the year — the first in Tennessee Wesleyan baseball history.
Logan Sawyer went 3-5 with a 2.97 ERA, 48 strikeouts, and a Frontier League-leading 25 saves in 38 appearances and 36.1 innings pitched for the Otters in 2021. His 25 saves matched an Otters’ single season record with Edgar Lopez in 2015. Sawyer was named a 2021 Frontier League Postseason All-Star.
From Knoxville, Tenn., Sawyer came to the Otters with three seasons of affiliated baseball experience and four overall in professional baseball. Sawyer was drafted in the 29th round of the 2014 MLB June Amateur Draft by the Colorado Rockies out of Lincoln Memorial University.
In three seasons with the Rockies organization, Sawyer totaled a 13-9 record with a 4.87 ERA and 125 strikeouts. He pitched a total of 190.1 innings in 60 appearances and 20 starts.
Jomar Reyes, from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, will be in his first season with the Otters. Reyes has affiliated level experience with the Baltimore Orioles, where he was a highly touted prospect. The infielder made it as high as Double-A Bowie.
Overall, in the Orioles’ farm system, Reyes batted .269 with 225 runs, 540 hits, 117 doubles, 39 home runs, and 248 RBIs. He has also played Dominican Winter League baseball for three seasons.
Vincennes University announces brief pivot to remote learning
VINCENNES, Ind., January 14, 2022 – Vincennes University continues to blaze safely forward, prioritizing the health and well-being of the VU community throughout the global pandemic.
In response to changes in COVID metrics and trends for the Vincennes campus of Vincennes University, there will be a temporary pause in face-to-face instruction for the four days following the extended Martin Luther King Jr. Day Holiday Weekend (January 18, 19, 20, and 21). All other sites will continue instruction as usual. Internships, clinicals, and related off-campus activities will not be impacted by this temporary shift in instruction.
Effective Tuesday, January 18, Vincennes Campus courses will shift temporarily to virtual instruction. This change is for the Vincennes Campus only. All other sites will continue instruction as before. Classes are scheduled to resume face-to-face instruction on Monday, January 24. All courses have an associated Blackboard (Learning Management Software) component that will be used to deliver instruction. Students will receive instruction from faculty members regarding specific delivery instructions for their courses.
**Off-campus learning experiences, such as internships and clinicals, will proceed as scheduled unless restricted by the employer or host site.**
All other campus facilities and support services, including residence halls, Shake Learning Resource Center, Tecumseh Dining Center, and administrative buildings will remain open during this time.
VU is taking this temporary intermediate step to mitigate the chance of community spread of COVID-19, and especially the more contagious Omicron variant, based on conditions in Vincennes and Knox County. The University is committed to offering a safe and high-quality learning environment at all VU locations. University officials will continue closely monitoring guidelines and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control, Indiana Department of Health, and relevant county health departments.
After this brief pause, the University fully intends to return to on-campus experiences, including full face-to-face instruction, events, and activities, with appropriate health and safety protocols in place.
Legislators Navigate Short Session With A Long List Of Legislation To Consider
Legislators Navigate Short Session With A Long List Of Legislation To Consider
INDIANAPOLIS—With the session has begun, lawmakers in the Indiana General Assembly have already started sifting through the nearly 800 bills filed between the House and Senate that could dictate the future of the state.
The 2022 session is a short session, which occurs in even-numbered years. In odd years, like 2021, the legislature is tasked with drafting the two-year state budget, which means more time is needed.
In this session, legislators were only allowed to file 10 bills each, and the session will last just 10 weeks. It is required to conclude by March 14.
There are 379 bills filed in the Senate and 407 in the House.
COVID-19 reactions
With the COVID-19 pandemic persisting and national debates over the power of workplaces and schools to mandate vaccines and masking, more than the usual number of bills this session aims to determine the power of these institutions.
House Bill 1001, which gives exemptions to employee vaccine mandates and requires that employers provide unemployment to individuals who leave due to testing or shot requirements, was put at the top of the Indiana House’s list.
In schools, House Bill 1040 would allow parents to opt their children out of school mask requirements, would not require students to quarantine after COVID exposure and would not allow schools to require students to get vaccinated against COVID or other communicable diseases.
There are several bills with similar language in both the House and Senate. Nationwide, nine states have required exemptions from vaccine mandates by private employers while two states have banned the mandates for vaccination altogether, according to the National Academy for State Health Policy. Also, according to the site, 17 states have banned school vaccine mandates, and eight have banned school mask mandates.
Education
Also pandemic-related, Senate Bill 2 is an education bill that would give schools back funds they could be missing for students missing instruction days for quarantine and isolation.
Two other education bills, House Bill 1134 and Senate Bill 167, have caused a stir. Both bills restrict classroom materials and lessons and add parental control for school curriculums. According to Education Week, Indiana is one of 32 states that have introduced or passed legislation limiting how teachers can discuss racism and sexism since January 2021.
SB 167 also made national news for comments from Sen. Scott Baldwin, R-Noblesville, stating that teachers should remain impartial about Nazism. Baldwin has since issued a statement condemning Nazism and saying teachers should condemn Nazism, fascism and Marxism.
The controversial bill was officially nixed by the Senate Friday, with President Pro Tem Rodric Bray, R-Martinsville, saying there was “no path forward†for the bill.
Marijuana
Thirteen bills have been introduced in the legislature to decriminalize, study or legalize marijuana, either recreationally or medically. The House Democratic Caucus announced marijuana legalization as a priority in November. A few Republican lawmakers have also shown support for similar bills. Marijuana bills have been filed nearly every session for a decade but have yet to pass in Indiana’s Republican supermajority.
Firearms
There are 13 bills filed in the legislature involving firearms. The most controversial gun bill moving through the legislature is a bill removing handgun permit requirements. House Bill 1077 has passed in the House and is moving on to the Senate, where a similar bill died last session.
Child care
Eleven bills in the House and Senate seek to study, fund and increase access to child care in Indiana. One is an Indiana Black Legislative Caucus priority, with House Bill 1067 by Rep. Robin Shackleford, D-Indianapolis, waiving childcare copays and reimbursing childcare providers as well as creating a study committee on issues related to child care.
Criminal justice
This session, lawmakers are split on how to deal with bail bonds. In response to efforts from the Bail Project, Senate Bill 6 creates a minimum bail for violent crimes and prohibits third parties that aren’t relatives or friends to pay bail for someone who has been arrested. Senate Bill 8 has a similar goal.
House Bill 1414, a legislative priority of the IBLC authored by Rep. Ragen Hatcher, D-Gary, would get rid of pretrial bail for nonviolent arrestees.
Miscellaneous
Along with the typical categories, there are always a few more unusual or atypical bills filed by legislators.
Indianapolis is taking a deeper dive into being a sporting event venue, having recently hosted the entirety of NCAA March Madness in 2021 and the College Football Playoff National Championship in 2022. Senate Bill 245 would put funds towards the Indiana Sports Corporation to bid on bringing events to the state.
A bill allowing local governments to further restrict usage of fireworks around July 4 was authored by Rep. Donna Schaibley, R-Carmel.
Rep. Timothy O’Brien, R-Evansville, wants Hoosiers to be able to obtain lifetime fishing licenses. House Bill 1099 would require the department of natural resources to issue and establish fees and emergency procedures for lifetime fishing licenses.
Sen. Phillip Boots, R-Crawfordsville, filed Senate Bill 111, which is about horse dentistry. It would allow people who are not veterinarians but do have a certification from the International Association of Equine Dentistry to perform some equine dental procedures.
Boots also authored Senate Bill 75, which would allow for cold beer sales and cold beer carryout by grocery, drug, and convenience stores.
Senator Braun Statement on Supreme Court Stay of Biden Vaccine Mandate
WASHINGTON — Senator Mike Braun released the following statement after the Supreme Court announced they would block President Joe Biden’s vaccine mandate for millions of employees of private businesses.
“President Biden’s vaccine mandate for private employees is unconstitutional and wrong. I was proud to lead the vote to overturn this illegal mandate in the Senate, and the Supreme Court blocking this mandate is a win for the liberties and livelihoods of millions of Americans.â€
– SENATOR MIKE BRAUN
In December, Senator Braun led the U.S. Senate in a vote on the Biden rule, with all 50 Senate Republicans and 2 Democratic Senators voting to overturn the vaccine mandate rule.
In the Supreme Court’s majority decision, the majority opinion noted Senator Braun’s objection under the Congressional Review Act, highlighted on page 8:
“[…] the most noteworthy action concerning the vaccine mandate by either House of Congress has been a majority vote of the Senate disapproving the regulation on December 8, 2021. S. J. Res. 29, 117th Cong., 1st Sess. (2021).â€
Todd Rokita Wins At Supreme Court on OSHA Mandate
Even while celebrating one Supreme Court victory, Attorney General Todd Rokita vowed to continue fighting President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine mandates following today’s rulings on two of the mandates.
The court blocked an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) rule requiring vaccination or weekly testing of workers at large employers. In a separate decision, it allowed another rule imposed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) requiring vaccination of all staff at all Medicare and Medicaid providers.
“The court quite correctly discerned the intrusive federal overreach of the OSHA rule,†Attorney General Rokita said. “Now, we must continue our legal efforts to protect Hoosiers’ liberties from all the other draconian edicts unleashed by the Biden administration.â€
Attorney General Rokita’s lawsuit challenging the OSHA vaccine mandate was consolidated with other similar suits considered by the Supreme Court. Attorney General Rokita also filed suit to stop the CMS rule.
Beyond the two mandates addressed today, Attorney General Rokita also has filed lawsuits over 1) a vaccine mandate for federal contractors and 2) a mandate requiring masks for children as young as 2 years old and vaccines for staff and volunteers at childcare programs receiving Head Start funds.
“The fight for liberty never stops,†Attorney General Rokita said. “So we will keep working to overcome the Left’s determination to deprive Hoosiers of their rights to make their own personal health decisions.â€
Legislation Co-Authored By McNamara To Reduce Jail Overcrowding Moves To Senate
STATEHOUSE (Jan. 14, 2022) – The Indiana House of Representatives this week voted in support of legislation co-authored by State Rep. Wendy McNamara (R-Evansville) to help reduce jail overcrowding and boost local resources to fight crime.
McNamara, chair of the House Courts and Criminal Code Committee, said House Bill 1004 would provide judicial flexibility so Level 6 felony offenders can be sent to the Indiana Department of Correction. The state often offers greater access to mental health and addiction treatment services than many local jails.
“This legislation would not only address local jail overcrowding, but also pave the way for more offenders to receive much-needed counseling for addiction and mental health issues,” McNamara said. “The maximum sentence for a Level 6 felony is two and half years, so it’s crucial that we prioritize rehabilitation efforts for these offenders so they can achieve better outcomes.”
According to the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute’s 2021 annual evaluation of Indiana criminal code reform, nearly 75% of all criminal filings were Level 6 felonies. The report also found 4 of the top 10 felony filings for 2021 were substance related, such as possession of methamphetamine, syringe possession and operating while intoxicated.
McNamara said these efforts could help reduce local jail overcrowding and allow locals to redirect public safety resources to where they matter most. According to the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute’s latest data, 77% of Indiana’s jails are overcrowded or at capacity.
Several organizations voiced support for House Bill 1004, including the Indiana Department of Correction, Indiana Judges Association, Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council and Indiana Sheriffs Association.
The legislation now moves to the Indiana Senate for further consideration. To learn more and watch legislative proceedings, visitiga.in.gov.
NOT ROCKET SCIENCE
NOT ROCKET SCIENCE
GAVEL GAMUTÂ By Jim Redwine
The Rule of Law is not the stuff of artificial intelligence and differential equations. It is not about the James Webb telescope that may help disclose where and when we came from. It is not about a cure for COVID. No, the Rule of Law is far more complex, and perplexing, than any of those things. However, if properly applied, the Rule of Law can help us understand and deal with these challenges and others.
Law sounds simple. Treat others the way you wish to be treated. Respect the person and property of others. These principles are easy to say but thousands of years of human history prove they are extremely difficult to apply. Our Declaration of Independence sets out the basics of our legal system, “…[A]ll men are created equal,†and all men have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. When Thomas Jefferson penned those simple ideals he owned slaves, and had children he did not acknowledge by at least one of those slaves. Also, women could not vote and the property rights of Native Americans were not even an afterthought. Were Jefferson and the rest of the 1776ers evil? No, they were human. We call these concepts ideals because the realities are nearly impossible to achieve. That is why we need the Rule of Law, to encourage us to try.
Our Constitution sets forth America’s aspiration to form a more perfect union. Surely none of our Founders was naïve enough to believe perfect self-government was achievable. That is not why goals are set. Just as it is the struggle of life that can separate us from all other animals and, perhaps from some humans, it is the government’s role to help us strive for perfection. We have often fallen short and we always will. But just as we are fighting the war on COVID in fits and starts we can face our past failures in how we have behaved and strive to be better. There will never be a cure for our occasional imperfect collective missteps. That is why we need to acknowledge our past failures and seek to avoid future sins. We should do this together.
In her book, On the Courthouse Lawn, Sherrilyn Ifill points out the irony of many lynchings being carried out by large numbers of a community right at the seat of justice, the county courthouse. Also, our courthouses are often the site where the legal system has been used to deny human rights, such as through the separation of Native American families and the establishment of some guardianships that led to murder.
Community recognition of these subversions of the Rule of Law is important. Monuments that show society admits its wrongs, even if long past, can help people heal and avoid new injustices.
FOOTNOTE:  For more Gavel Gamut articles go to www.jamesmredwine.com Or “Like/Follow†us on Facebook & Twitter at JPegOsageRanch
INvets Appoints Blaine Zimmerman As Executive Director
STATEHOUSE (Jan. 13, 2022) – INvets announced today that Blaine Zimmerman has been promoted to executive director. This decision follows a nomination by Indiana Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, recommendation from INvets’ previous executive director and founder Wes Wood, and approval by the INvets’ board.
“Blaine has been operating as a key leader of our organization since he was hired in 2020,†Wood said. “His leadership ability along with his intimate understanding of our operations make him the ideal candidate to lead the program going forward.â€
Under Zimmerman’s leadership as Director of Veteran Engagement, the INvets veteran engagement team has recruited over 5,000 veterans from across the nation to join the INvets network.
Zimmerman’s work at INvets is preceded by six years active duty experience in the Army and eight years in the Indiana National Guard working with Indiana’s veteran service ecosystem. He is a graduate of Butler University’s MBA program.
Wood is stepping down as INvets Executive Director for a new opportunity at Veryable, where he will help manufacturing and supply chain companies address key workforce issues by matching businesses with underutilized talent pools to create flexible capacity and build local manufacturing talent.
After creating and leading INvets for the past six years, Wood said he is is confident that INvets is in a strong position to continue its success.
“I couldn’t be more proud of my time at INvets and the great work that our team has done for veterans as well as Hoosier employers and communities,” Wood said. “It is bittersweet yet exciting to take this great experience to Veryable and continue to help employers connect with underutilized talent pools.”
Wood founded INvets after combining his concern for veterans like himself and his experience in workforce development. INvets soon became the core of Indiana’s Next Level Veterans initiative and works with companies in all industries with the assistance of several state agencies and the leadership of the lieutenant governor’s office. INvets serves over 3,500 veterans each year.
“Our administration continues to attract new jobs to Indiana, and the leadership at INvets has played a critical role in filling some of those positions with highly skilled men and women who are transitioning out of the military,†Crouch said. “I want to thank Wes for his commitment to boosting Indiana’s workforce and attracting our brave veterans to our state. I wish him the best in the next chapter of his career, and I am looking forward to the opportunity of working with Blaine Zimmerman and continuing the success INvets has had in growing our veteran population.â€
Last year more than 300 veterans moved to Indiana through the work of INvets.
“I have learned so much and want to thank Wes for his leadership and strategic vision over the past two years,” Zimmerman said. “Our team will carry our momentum forward into 2022 and beyond. We have some exciting projects kicking off this year that will further showcase Indiana as one of the nation’s most veteran-friendly states.â€
Former service members transitioning to civilian life and employers interested in getting involved can go online to invets.org.