MEET NOAH ROBINSON NEW SHERIFF OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY
Evansville, Indiana – Lt. Deputy Noah Robinson, is a 22-year law enforcement veteran of the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office is now the official Sheriff of Vanderburgh County.
announced his candidacy for Sheriff of Vanderburgh County in the Democratic party primary at an outdoor, drive-in style gathering today.
The gathering was held outside of the Vanderburgh County 4-H Center Auditorium. Current Sheriff Dave Wedding’s second term will expire after December 31, 2022. Under Indiana law a sheriff cannot seek a third consecutive term.
Chief Deputy Noah Robinson was introduced to an impressive crowd (outdoor drive-in style gathering and live streamed on Facebook) by City Councilman Ben Trockman. Trockman praised Robinson’s commitment to public service and his dedication to helping others.
Chief Deputy Noah Robinson took the stage and thanked Councilman Trockman for his support. Robinson also commended his campaign treasurer, Knight Township Trustee Kathryn Martin. Also sharing the stage with Robinson were Councilwoman Caitlin Moore Morely, City Clerk Laura Windhorst, City Councilwoman Missy Mosby, and Darmstadt Clerk-Treasurer Mallory Lowe.
Chief Deputy Noah Robinson touted his 22 years in law enforcement as having allowed him to learn what it takes to successfully run a Sheriff’s Office.
Robinson stated, “I was hired by Sheriff Brad Ellsworth and started out as a patrol deputy. I later became a training deputy, helping to mold new sheriff’s deputies into competent and skilled members of the agency. I took hundreds of drunk drivers off the road and trained deputies on how to prepare DUI cases for prosecution. I was promoted to sergeant and later lieutenant by Sheriff Eric Williams. I spent five years developing our agency’s policies and procedures, ensuring our deputies operated with sound tactics and on solid legal footing. I conducted dozens of internal investigations and treated every accused employee with fairness and dignity. I dramatically expanded our agency’s social media presence and focused on communicating crime information directly to our many neighborhood organizations. I obtained hundreds of thousands of dollars in grant funding for our Office so that we could better serve the citizens of our county. After Sheriff Wedding promoted me to major, I embarked on an aggressive hiring plan aimed at increasing the number of confinement officers in our jail. I pushed for the expansion of our Information Technology Unit, doubling the size of the staff and improving responsiveness. After Sheriff Wedding named me his chief deputy, I worked to strengthen both the relationship of our Office with the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation and the safety of our schools by improving information sharing and cooperation.”
Chief Deputy Robinson lamented the polarized nature of social media, stating that “It seems that every issue we confront has no middle ground.” Robinson described himself as a pragmatist, eager to work with anyone interested in solving problems.
Chief Deputy Robinson criticized the “Defund the Police” movement, calling it “misguided” and “divisive”. He called such talk a “false choice” and stressed that we can improve police response to people in crisis through a variety of measures that do not involve cutting the budgets of law enforcement agencies. He added, “We can ensure law enforcement has the tools, training, and outside resources needed to address the problems facing our community without ‘defunding the police’”.
Robinson spoke of the need to aggressively pursue drug dealers who hook people on opioids, heroin, and methamphetamine while also showing compassion to the addict and providing intensive treatment to support their recovery. He stated, “We can hold people accountable for criminal behavior and provide justice to victims while also reducing recidivism through job training and life skills development.”
Robinson made it clear that he supports and defends the 2nd amendment. Robinson stated he wants to, “Ensure the ability of legal gun owners to defend their families, while also promoting responsible gun ownership and encouraging gun owners to keep their firearms away from children and secure from access by criminals.”
Chief Deputy Noah Robinson supports the protection of our children in schools with highly trained school resource deputies who know how to form connections with kids and establish positive mentorship with the student.
Robinson pledged to seek out the criminal elements within Vanderburgh County while also listening to and respecting the concerns of the community. Robinson stressed the importance of addressing the needs of the community’s homeless population without criminalizing homelessness. He further resolved to hire qualified candidates as deputy sheriffs while also ensuring the formation of a staff which represents the diversity of the community.
Chief Deputy Noah Robinson pledged to continue the progress of Sheriff Dave Wedding, while at the same time looking towards the future for new opportunities for collaboration to further improve both the Sheriff’s Office and the community.
Chief Deputy Noah Robinson is a Newburgh, Indiana native and Castle High School graduate who moved to Vanderburgh County nearly twenty years ago. Chief Deputy Robinson attended the University of Southern Indiana, where he received an Associate’s Degree in Social Science and a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology with an emphasis in Criminal Justice Studies. In 1998, Robinson was admitted to the Golden Key National Honor Society, an organization which extends membership invitations to students in the upper 15% of their class. In 1999, he was admitted to the Alpha Kappa Delta International Sociology Honor Society.
Following university, Chief Deputy Robinson joined the Owensboro Police Department in 1999 and graduated from the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training Center in Richmond, KY. Chief Deputy Noah Robinson served the City of Owensboro until his appointment as a deputy with the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office in March of 2001.
Chief Deputy Noah Robinson became a field training deputy in 2003, where he spent eight years assigned to Motor Patrol. In February of 2004, Robinson received an award from the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. for his actions on January 24th, 2004. Robinson entered a frozen lake to check for occupants in a partially submerged vehicle. In March of 2007, Robinson received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Vanderburgh Humane Society for assisting animals in danger during a house fire. In 2009, Chief Deputy Robinson was promoted to the rank of sergeant and spent the next five years assigned to the Professional Standards Unit, where he developed policy and procedure for the agency as well as conducted internal investigations.
Chief Deputy Robinson was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in June of 2014, assigned to headquarters, and placed in charge of information technology, public information, and grants. In October of 2018, Chief Deputy Robinson was promoted to the rank of major and served as the executive commander over the Administration Division.
In December of 2019, Sheriff Dave Wedding promoted Chief Deputy Robinson to the rank of colonel and named him his new Chief Deputy Sheriff and second in command of the agency.
Chief Deputy Robinson is a board member of the Highland Hills Challenger League Baseball Program and an active supporter of Youth Resources, the Salvation Army, the Evansville Rescue Mission, and many other local organizations too numerous to mention.
Chief Deputy Noah Robinson met his wife Janie during high school. The two have been married for over 20 years, and together have three children, Kayla, Katelyn, and Kyle.
Attorney General Todd Rokita Files Suit Against “Black Lives Matter”
Attorney General Todd Rokita Files Suit Against “Black Lives Matter”
Attorney General Todd Rokita filed a lawsuit this week against the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation (“BLMâ€) as a part of his ongoing investigation. This legal action seeks compliance with an investigative demand previously served on BLM as part of the same investigation. Specifically, the Office of the Attorney General filed a Petition to Enforce a Civil Investigative Demand, which seeks an order requiring BLM to respond to a Civil Investigative Demand issued to the organization in February 2022.
“Protecting Indiana consumers from this house of cards is critical,†said Attorney General Rokita. “There are concerning patterns of behavior from this organization, and we will do what it takes—including this lawsuit—to get to the bottom of it.â€
In February of this year, Attorney General Rokita opened an investigation into BLM’s use of funds donated by Hoosiers.
In a 2020 report published by BLM, the organization stated it raised over $90 million in 2020, while it distributed approximately $21.7 million to 30 local organizations and affiliated chapters, including an affiliated chapter in South Bend, Indiana.  However, an IRS filing by BLM for the first half of 2020 listed the organization had $0 in revenue, expenses, and assets held by BLM for the time period.
Attorney General Rokita issued a Civil Investigative Demand to BLM in order to determine if the organization’s actions constitute a violation of either the Indiana Deceptive Consumer Sales Act or the Indiana Nonprofit Corporation Act.  The Civil Investigative Demand seeks information and documents held by the entity relevant to the ongoing investigation to ensure transparency to donors and guarantee funds donated by Indiana residents are used for their intended purpose and not for the personal benefit of BLM directors.
Under Indiana law, failure to comply with the civil investigative demand could result in sanctions against the entity, including barring the entity from any future fundraising in Indiana, among other possible remedies.
“There are many Indiana stakeholders and donors who have been impacted by these allegations. This lawsuit will allow for a court to swiftly and efficiently resolve the state’s request for information,†said Attorney General Rokita.
Hoosier donors who believe they have been impacted are encouraged to file a consumer complaint at www.indianaconsumer.com.
THE NEW SYSTEM ALLOWS VETS TO SEE PATIENT SATISFACTION RATINGS FOR VA HOSPITALS
THE NEW SYSTEM ALLOWS VETS TO SEE PATIENT SATISFACTION RATINGS FOR VA HOSPITALS
A federal website now lets veterans compare patient reviews of care at VA and non-VA hospitals using industry-standard ratings.
The ratings for VA hospitals were recently published for the first time, according to USA Today, and a tool called Care Compare on Medicare.gov now lets veterans see the results alongside those of non-VA hospitals in their areas.
The VA discontinued its own ranking system, which used different standards from those of other hospitals, in late 2019 in an effort to increase transparency.
According to USA Today’s review of the data, 60 out of 121 VA hospitals listed on Care Compare earned at least four out of five stars in patient satisfaction. VA medical centers with too few patients or data were not included.
Roughly 40% of the total 3,462 hospitals (not just VA medical centers) surveyed in 2019 were rated at least four stars, according to Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems data.
Patient satisfaction is just one factor in the overall star ratings, which also take such quality measures as death and infection rates into account. Currently, overall star ratings are not available for VA or Department of Defense facilities. VA officials told USA Today they’re on track to include more measures on Care Compare and ensure the site features overall star ratings for veterans facilities by 2023.
Casey Jones Distillery To Expand With $1.9 Million Investment In Hopkinsville
Casey Jones Distillery To Expand With $1.9 Million Investment In Hopkinsville, Creating 15 Full-Time Jobs
Bourbon And Spirits Company Has Operated In Kentucky Since 2014
FRANKFORT, Ky. (April. 28, 2022) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear announced further momentum in the state’s bourbon and spirits industry with the expansion of Casey Jones Distillery in Christian County, a $1.9 million investment that will create 15 full-time jobs for local residents.
“Kentucky’s bourbon and spirits industry are currently in a period of incredible growth and expansion,†said Gov. Beshear. “We are seeing example after example of companies choosing the commonwealth to expand their distilling operations, which is a testament to the resources, workforce, and communities that support this industry. I want to thank Casey Jones Distillery for their commitment to Kentucky and wish them nothing but success in the future.â€
The nearly $2 million expansion will see the company add a 1,000-gallon distillation, fermentation, and mash cooking system to expand the production capacity of bourbon and other spirits. Additional support equipment such as a bottling line, distilled water system, and alcohol storage also will be installed. The project will include a nearly 3,800-square-foot barrel aging rackhouse that will support the increased barrel storage and aging necessary for the expanded operations.
“With the belief and commitment of our remarkable staff, and the many partners like South Western Kentucky Economic Development Council and the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, our dream and our goal of being the premier craft distillery in Western Kentucky is going to come true,†said Arlon “AJ†Jones, master distiller and co-founder of Casey Jones Distillery.
Casey Jones Distillery was founded in 2014 and is an independently owned, micro-craft distillery based in Hopkinsville. The company offers a full bourbon experience that includes tours, tastings, and various events throughout the year. In 2019, for the company’s fifth anniversary, the distillery released its first bourbon, starting a new chapter for the company and helping to establish it as a premier producer of highly sought authentic Kentucky spirits.
The bourbon and spirits industry remains one of Kentucky’s most prominent sectors. Today, spirits facilities employ more than 5,300 people throughout the state. Since the start of 2020, Kentucky’s spirits industry has seen roughly 50 new location or expansion announcements with over $980 million in planned investments and approximately 800 announced full-time jobs. Gov. Beshear also worked with U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo to remove harmful bourbon tariffs on trade with the United Kingdom and European Union, ensuring continuing strength in the export market.
Christian County Judge/Executive Steve Tribble welcomed the added economic impact the expansion will bring to the community.
“Christian County Fiscal Court is excited to support the continued growth of one of the county’s most successful businesses and tourism attractions,†Judge Tribble said. “With thousands of tourists visiting Casey Jones Distillery per year, the family-owned company is making a huge economic impact on the county and regional economy. I applaud Peg and AJ for their vision and investment and thank Gov. Beshear, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority and the Cabinet for Economic Development for their support of this important, job-creating expansion at Casey Jones Distillery.â€
Carter Hendricks, executive director for the South Western Kentucky Economic Development Council, lauded the company for its continued investment and impact in the region.
“Casey Jones Distillery continues to be an exemplar of local, family-owned business demonstrating the entrepreneurial spirit of the Bluegrass State,†Hendricks said. “With Peg and AJ’s leadership and strong support from local, regional, and state government, Casey Jones Distillery will continue making a significant economic impact on our region for generations to come. We are thrilled to see their expansion come to life and look forward to supporting their continued success.â€
Casey Jones Distillery’s investment and planned job creation further recent economic momentum in the commonwealth, as the state builds back stronger from the effects of the pandemic.
Site Selection magazine’s annual Governor’s Cup rankings for 2021 recently placed Kentucky atop the South Central region, and third nationally, for qualifying projects per capita.
Gov. Beshear recently announced that on Jan. 28, S&P Global Ratings revised Kentucky’s financial outlook to positive from stable and affirmed its “A-†credit rating. S&P cited a reduced reliance on one-time items to balance the budget and a higher balance in the state’s rainy-day fund as primary factors influencing the change.
That follows a 2021 during which the commonwealth shattered every economic development record in the books. Private-sector new-location and expansion announcements included a record $11.2 billion in total planned investment and commitments to create a record 18,000-plus full-time jobs across the coming years. Kentucky’s average incentivized hourly wage for projects statewide in 2021 was $24 before benefits, a 9.4% increase over the previous year.
In recent months, the commonwealth has announced the two largest economic development projects in state history. In September, Gov. Beshear and leaders from Ford Motor Co. and SK Innovation celebrated a transformative $5.8 billion investment that will create 5,000 jobs in Hardin County. Last week, the Governor was joined by leadership at Envision AESC to announce a $2 billion investment that will create 2,000 jobs in Warren County. These announcements solidify Kentucky as the national leader in EV battery production.
Kentucky also saw an all-time, record-setting budget surplus in the fiscal year 2021 and entered 2022 with an estimated $1.9 billion more than budgeted.
To encourage investment and job growth in the community, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) on Thursday preliminarily approved a 15-year incentive agreement with the company under the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based agreement can provide up to $200,000 in tax incentives based on the company’s investment of $1.93 million and annual targets of:
- Creation and maintenance of 15 Kentucky-resident, full-time jobs across 15 years; and
- Paying an average hourly wage of $16 including benefits across those jobs.
By meeting its annual targets over the agreement term, the company can be eligible to keep a portion of the new tax revenue it generates. The company may claim eligible incentives against its income tax liability and/or wage assessments.
In addition, Casey Jones Distillery can receive resources from Kentucky’s workforce service providers. These include no-cost recruitment and job placement services, reduced-cost customized training, and job training incentives.
For more information on Casey Jones Distillery, visit caseyjonesdistillery.com.
Indiana Shows Strong Conservation And Water Quality Improvement Trends
Indiana Shows Strong Conservation And
Water Quality Improvement Trends
INDIANA (April 28, 2022)Â – The Indiana Conservation Partnership (ICP) announced its 2021 soil health and water quality accomplishments. The ICP works with Hoosier landowners to provide technical or financial assistance for the implementation of conservation projects. In 2021, landowners supported by the ICP installed more than 31,500 new conservation practices.
“Agriculture is big business in Indiana! Those words have always stood true, from the formation of our state to today,†said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Secretary of Agriculture for the State of Indiana. “I commend each of our Hoosier farmers and landowners who year after year break conservation records and ensure agriculture will continue to be a driving force in our state for many generations.â€
The Indiana Conservation Partnership report showed that over the last year landowners helped prevent nearly one million tons of sediment, over 1.9 million pounds of nitrogen, and 991,446 pounds of phosphorus from entering Indiana waterways. Cover crops and no-till practices implemented with ICP’s assistance sequestered an estimated 42,000 tons of soil organic carbon, which is the equivalent to the carbon emissions of more than 30,000 cars.
While the term conservation practices can mean many things, in Indiana, some of our most common conservation best management practices are cover crops, nutrient management, residue and tillage management, conservation cover, early successional habitat development/management, and grassed waterways.
Over the last several years, data shows Hoosier farmers and landowners strive to improve their conservation of soil and increase water quality year over year. The table below shows Indiana’s living cover acres and best management practices installed since 2016.
| Year | Living Cover Acres | Best Management Practices Installed |
| 2016 | 1,180,000 | 17,970 |
| 2017 | 1,020,000 | 19,295 |
| 2018 | 1,080,000 | 22,338 |
| 2019 | 950,000 | 26,436 |
| 2020 | 1,590,000* | 32,229 |
| 2021 | Data is currently being collected and will be released in the summer 2022 | 31,505 |
“Despite the ongoing challenges we are facing with extreme weather patterns, a growing population and natural resource concerns, our farmers were still able to implement an impressive 31,000+ conservation practices throughout Indiana with the assistance of our conservation team,” said Indiana Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist Jerry Raynor. “It’s partnerships like this that are the driving force behind great stewardship efforts. We look forward to continuing our collaborative conservation efforts and strengthening our commitment to the environment to best serve the needs of our producers.”
ISDA Director Bruce Kettler is proud of the achievements of our Hoosier farmers and landowners.
“The conservation practices installed each year are outstanding, but soil conservation and water quality initiatives of this magnitude wouldn’t be possible without the landowners and farmers who assist and allow these practices to be implemented,” said Kettler.
The ICP is made up of public and non-profit groups, along with landowners, that work together for the betterment of soil health and water quality. ICP organizations include the Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Indiana Department of Environmental Management, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, ISDA, Indiana State Soil Conservation Board, Purdue Extension, USDA-Farm Service Agency and USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service.
The Indiana Conservation Partnership is a crucial part of Indiana’s Nutrient Reduction Strategy, this illustrates the continued success and challenges of conservation and serves as a tool to help set watershed priorities and reduction targets, manage conservation resources, and to further stakeholder involvement across Indiana.
To find more information on soil and water conservation in Indiana, soil and carbon sequestration, soil conservation trends, Indiana’s work in our three water basins, or partnerships between other states in the full report, click here or visit isda.in.gov.
*As conservation work has changed over time, the conservation survey has been modified to better measure current conservation goals. At its inception, the transect was designed to measure tillage and residue cover. In 2011 the survey efforts were expanded to include collecting data on cover crops. In 2014, a second fall survey was started as a specific effort to measure cover crops. In 2020, the timing and collection categories were adjusted to further fit the effort to measure cover crops. Click here to learn more.
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ABOUT ISDA
The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) was established as a separate state agency by the Legislature in 2005. Administratively, ISDA reports to Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch, who also serves as Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. Major responsibilities include advocacy for Indiana agriculture at the local, state and federal level, managing soil conservation programs, promoting economic development and agricultural innovation, serving as a regulatory ombudsman for agricultural businesses, and licensing grain firms throughout the state.
ABOUT NRCS
NRCS is helping private landowners improve the health of their operations while protecting our natural resources for the future. We are working to ensure the long-term sustainability of American agriculture. Our mission and vision statements serve as the foundation for our work and help guide our efforts when faced with competing demands, exciting challenges, and new opportunities that stem from complex Farm Bills and fluctuating industry needs. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Vanderburgh County Clerk Announces Vote Center Change, Other Changes
Vanderburgh County Clerk Announces Vote Center Change, Other Changes
Evansville, Ind.— Vanderburgh County Clerk Carla Hayden recently announced  a change to the list of Election Day vote centers. “Due to the sale of St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, we had to find a new location,†Hayden said, “Fortunately for us, nearby Simpson United Methodist Church stepped up to the plate.†Hayden indicated that attempts by her office to establish communication with the new owner of St. Paul’s United Church of Christ had been unsuccessful. St. Paul’s United Church of Christ was located at 2227 W. Michigan Street and Simpson United Methodist Church is located at 2201 W. IllinoisStreet. Both are located just off of Franklin Street on the west side of Evansville.
Hayden would also like voters who vote by mail to know that they may notice a slight change in the envelope for returning their ballot. “Paper shortages have forced many clerks to make changes due to stock not being available to the printers. In our case, the side load envelopes that we have traditionally used were not available, so we had to switch to a conventional top flap,†Hayden said. Indiana law does not require a specific type of envelope and several different types are used by clerks around the state. Hayden said that they would exhaust their old stock before switching to the new stock.
Something that will not change is the use of the Old National Events Plaza for in-person absentees, commonly referred to as “early voting“. “Old National Events Plaza proved to be very popular with voters for early voting during the 2020 Presidential Election so it will again serve as the designated location of the clerk’s office,†Hayden said. Indiana law requires in-person absentee voting to be in one location of the clerk’s office as designated by the clerk for the 28-day period prior to Election Day.
Voting at Old National Events Plaza will be from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday beginning April 5th and ending at noon on Monday, May 2nd. Voting will also take place on Saturday,
April 23rd and 30th from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Old National Events Plaza and from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Cedar Hall Community School and Northeast Park Baptist Church. Voters are reminded to bring a photo ID with them when voting in person.
In-person absentee voting at the library locations will begin on April 25th and continue through April 29th. Hours are Monday through Thursday from Noon to 6:00 p.m. and Friday from Noon to 5:00 p.m.
Please note that voting at the libraries is for one week in the Primary Election and two weeks in the General Election.
