https://www.vanderburghsheriff.com/jail-recent-booking-records.aspx
A YOUNG, HEALTHY POLITICAL CANDiDATE SPOKE AT A MASKLESS RALLY. NOW HE’S DEAD.
by Dick Polman, December 30, 2020
“IS IT TRUE” JANUARY 6, 2021
We hope that today’s “IS IT TRUEâ€Â 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?
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We understand that sometimes people don’t always agree and discussions may become a little heated.  The use of offensive language, insults against commenters will not be tolerated and will be removed from our site.
IS IT TRUE we realize that a community can have no greater ambassador of goodwill than one that keeps its citizens informed about the accomplishments, failures, and triumphs of individuals, the business community, church, hospitals and community groups, educational institutions, and elected and appointed officials?
IS IT TRUEÂ the City-County Observer has always strived to serve as a “Community Watchdog” by sounding the alarm when our citizen’s rights are in danger of being violated by large Corporations, Federal, State, and Local Governmental agencies as well as elected or appointed officials?
IS IT TRUEÂ we are told that the popular President of the Vanderburgh County Commission Ben Shoulders (D) has made a decision concerning his running for the Mayor of Evansville in 2023? Â …that Vanderburgh County Commissioner Ben Shoulders (D) will not be a candidate for Mayor of Evansville if Mayor Lloyd Winnecke (R) decides to run for re-election? Â …we been told that the reasons why Commissioner Ben Shoulders (D) made this decision is that he is pleased with the way that Mayor Winnecke has conducted himself during the COVID-19 virus pandemic and he also feels that is also doing a good job as Mayor?
IS IT TRUEÂ we are told that in certain areas of the county the COVID-19 vaccine administrators are giving doses to close personal contacts just after hours after qualified citizens were turned away?
IS IT TRUE we look forward to receiving a copy of the criteria used by local hospitals to decide who gets a dose of the virus-fighting wonder drug called BAM?
IS IT TRUEÂ according to a report published in today’s Indiana Health Department bulletin that only 5,638 people who live in Vanderburgh County have received their first COVID-19 virus shot? Â …this figure is totally unacceptable?
IS IT TRUE that we are extremely disappointed to learn that our heroic disabled veterans over the age of 75 years old that go to the local VA Clinic in Evansville haven’t received their first COVID-19 virus shot?
IS IT TRUE we wonder why members of the local media haven’t taken a hard look at how local rural nursing homes are dealing with the COVID -19 virus outbreak? Â …that we been told that a local rural nursing home CORVID-19 virus infection rate among residences and staff are considered to be out of control? Â …that is been alleged that the local rural nursing home is reporting that 32 residences and 16 staff members have the COVID-19 virus?
IS IT TRUEÂ people all over America are feeling the way that life has demolished by the “sheltering in place” orders that have prevented them from opening their businesses?…small businesses are the backbones on which the United States was built on? …the “sheltering in place” decision leaves very little hope for people whose lives are entwined with their family-owned businesses?…this is something that should be addressed in any future stimulus package decisions?
IS IT TRUE for nearly a year, Indiana has been in a state of emergency due to the COVID-19 virus?  …that  Governor Eric Holcomb has extended the public health emergency about eleven (11) times?  …we are pleased to hear that some of the Republican legislative leaders in both chambers have promised to take a look at the emergency powers given to Indiana governors over the years?
IS IT TRUE that the law professor Jessica Levinson for NBC News said that “the Presidential pardons are transparently transactional, having nothing to do with fairness or justice and everything to do with rewarding loyalists, allies, and, almost inexplicably, war criminals and disgraced politicians”? Â …that Presidential pardons are supposed to act as a fail-safe when the federal criminal justice system malfunctions?
IS IT TRUE that U S  Constitution gives presidents almost unfettered pardon power? …as long as a president steers clear of attempting to pardon a person in cases of impeachment, he is likely operating within his constitutional authority? … pardons can be given prospectively, meaning before a person is indicted or even charged with a crime?  … this is what happened in 1974 when President Gerald Fordprospectively pardoned President Richard Nixon shortly after his resignation?
IS IT TRUE that the modern history of presidential pardons is full of examples of presidents who provided a “Get Out Of Jail Free Card” to friends, family members, and donors?  …that President Bill Clinton pardoned his half-brother, Roger Clinton, and campaign donor Marc Rich? …President George W. Bush pardoned the former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, Scotter Libby after he was convicted of perjury and obstruction of justice?
IS IT TRUE that last year the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis has provided some clarifying data about who stands to lose the most from social distancing in a recent report?  …that occupations at the highest risk of unemployment also tend to be lower-paid occupations? …the average annual earnings of the low-risk occupations are $64,600, about 75% higher than earnings in the high-risk occupations, at $36,600″?  …they went on to say that, “the economic burden from this health crisis will most directly affect those workers who are likely in the most vulnerable financial situationâ€?
IS IT TRUE we commend County Commissioner Ben Shoulders and Vanderburgh County Circuit Court, Judge Dave Kiley for doing a remarkable job at the recent inauguration swearing-in ceremony for newly elected officials?
IS IT TRUE we would like to thank the Director of the Evansville/Vanderburgh County Building Authority for during an excellent job in keeping our buildings clean and safe? Â …did you know that Dave Rector is a Facility Engineer by trade?
IS IT TRUE we would like to thank the outgoing President of the Vanderburgh County Commission Jeff Hatfield for doing an excellent job in that position?
IS IT TRUE when the people fear the Government we have Tyranny! …when the Government fears the people we have Liberty?
IS IT TRUE our “READERS POLLS†are non-scientific but trendy?  Today’s “Readers Pollâ€Â question is:  Which elected official is more effective in managing the Covid-19 virus?
IS IT TRUE over the last 15 plus years the CCO has published around 250 “IS IT TRUE” columns per year? Â …each column had an average of seven (7) “IS IT TRUE” statements posted in it? Â …our guesstimate is that the City-County Observer has written and posted around 26,250 “IS IT TRUE” statements over the last 15 plus years?
Please take time and read our articles entitled “STATEHOUSE FILES, LAW ENFORCEMENT, “READERS POLLâ€, BIRTHDAYS, HOT JOBSâ€, EDUCATION, OBITUARIES and “LOCAL SPORTSâ€. You now are able to subscribe to the CCO daily without a charge.
STATEWIDE COVID-19 POSITIVE COUNT IS A DISAPPOINTING 539,229
HEALTH DEPARTMENT UPDATES STATEWIDE COVID-19 CASE COUNTS
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AG Curtis Hill Concludes Investigation Into Dr. Ulrich Klopfer, Fetal Remains Found On His Property
Attorney General Curtis Hill announced today that he has concluded his investigation into a former Indiana abortion doctor on whose property authorities found 2,411 fetal remains.
Following Dr. Ulrich Klopfer’s death on Sept. 3, 2019, his family discovered medically preserved fetal remains in the garage next to his home in Will County, Illinois. Local law enforcement were dispatched to search the premises and found 2,246 medically preserved remains, along with thousands of health records from Dr. Klopfer’s medical practice.
The remains, mostly found in molding boxes and old Styrofoam coolers containing large, red medical waste bags, were in various states of decay. Each remain appeared to have been placed in a small, clear, plastic specimen bag for purposes of being medically preserved in a chemical suspected to be formalin, a formaldehyde derivative. However, many of the bags degraded over time and/or suffered damage, resulting in leakage from the individual bags into the outer bag, box, or cooler.
This ghastly discovery led to the search of multiple properties owned or rented by Dr. Klopfer and his related businesses. During these searches, authorities found additional fetal remains and hundreds of thousands of health records.
Authorities discovered a total of 2,411 fetal remains, which appear to be from Dr. Klopfer’s medical practice in Indiana from 2000 to 2003. Because the remains were in poor condition and the health records were degraded, it was not possible to independently verify the identities of the individual fetal remains.
Attorney General Hill’s investigation revealed that Dr. Klopfer failed to arrange for the appropriate disposition of patient health records or notify his patients regarding their records from his closed medical practice. The investigation also revealed that Dr. Klopfer failed to effectuate the proper disposition of the fetal remains as required by Indiana law.
No one is believed to have assisted Dr. Klopfer in his actions, and because Dr. Klopfer is dead, he cannot be charged with a crime or with medical misconduct. Therefore, Attorney General Hill does not recommend any criminal charges or licensing actions in this case.Â
“This horrific ordeal is exactly why we need strong laws to ensure the dignified disposition of fetal remains. I was humbled to provide these precious babies a proper burial in South Bend,†Attorney General Hill said. “We hope the results of our investigation provide much-needed closure to everyone who has been impacted by this gruesome case.â€
Dr. Klopfer was licensed by the state of Indiana in 1979 and performed tens of thousands of abortions over the course of more than three decades. His medical license was suspended indefinitely in 2016 after multiple licensing actions and criminal charges in Lake and St. Joseph counties related to his medical practices.
Dr. Klopfer was the medical director at women’s health clinics in South Bend, Fort Wayne, and Gary. All three clinics are now closed.
The Office of the Attorney General’s final report on the investigation of Dr. Klopfer is attached.
Gov. Beshear Provides Update on Vaccines, Contact Tracing
Gov. Beshear Provides Update on Vaccines, Contact Tracing
Nearly 54,000 more vaccine doses expected the week of Jan. 11
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 5, 2020) – On Tuesday, Gov. Andy Beshear updated Kentuckians on vaccination and contact tracing progress in the commonwealth.
“2021 is going to be the year that we defeat the coronavirus. It’s going to take months. We are still going to sustain heartbreaking losses along the way. But vaccines are here. The first two that received emergency approval are highly effective. And I’m working day in and day out, along with the Department for Public Health and many others in state government, to get them out even faster,†said Gov. Beshear. “That is my primary mission right now.â€
The Governor announced the state is expected to receive an additional 53,800 initial vaccine doses the week of Jan. 11: 27,300 from Pfizer and 26,500 from Moderna. Kentucky is also expected to receive 57,000 initial doses this week. These numbers do not include booster doses sent to Kentucky for people who have already received an initial dose.
At least 66,582 initial vaccine doses have already been administered in Kentucky.
Mark Carter, Cabinet for Health and Family Services executive policy advisor, updated Kentuckians on the state’s contact tracing program.
Sixty out of 61 local health departments use the state’s contact tracing system. Since mid-May, the state has hired 1,200 more contact tracing staff members, raising the total number of staffers to more than 1,600.
The federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act designated $78 million for the statewide contact tracing system, of which $47.7 million, or 61% has already been spent. The rest of the funding will be spent before Dec. 31, 2021.
Contact tracers successfully contacted 94,000 Kentuckians identified as having been exposed to the virus, helping prevent further spread of the virus, avoiding hospitalizations and saving lives.
Carter estimated that, at minimum, contact tracing efforts have prevented more than 2,000 hospitalizations and 400 deaths.
In addition, Carter estimated that prevented hospitalizations saved more than $31 million in health care costs, on top of saving families from the physical, mental and emotional toll of a hospitalization.
Carter also said that contact tracing staff had conducted 258,000 daily check-ins with Kentuckians infected or exposed to COVID-19.
Finally, Carter spoke about some of the challenges that have prevented contact tracers from reaching even more exposed Kentuckians, including delayed adoption of the statewide system and a dramatic increase in cases that overwhelmed local health departments and slowed the time between exposure and being called by a contact tracer.
“While we all are anxious to be vaccinated until we can be, we have to do the things we always harp on: wearing a mask, social distancing, getting tested if you feel sick, washing your hands and participating in contact tracing,†said Carter. “If we can do that, we’ll get to the vaccine and we’ll get through this pandemic together.â€
Case Information
As of 4 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 5, Gov. Beshear reported the following COVID-19 numbers:
New cases today: 1,781
New deaths today: 23
Positivity rate: 11.4%
Total deaths: 2,772
Currently hospitalized: 1,760
Currently in ICU: 430
Currently on ventilator: 215
Top counties with the most positive cases today are Jefferson, Fayette, Warren, and Kenton. Each of these counties reported 60 or more new cases; Jefferson County alone reported 314.
To see a list of those reported lost to the virus today, click here.
More Information
To view the full daily report, incidence rate map, testing locations, long-term care and other congregate facilities update, school reports and guidance, red zone counties, red zone recommendations, the White House Coronavirus Task Force reports for Kentucky and other key guidance visits, kycovid19.ky.gov.
Indiana Department of Correction Announces Deputy Commissioner of Diversity and Development
The Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC) is pleased to announce the addition of the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Diversity and Development. This position is dedicated to maintaining and improving standards of equity and inclusion to build on existing successes of a workforce that champions diversity, values cultural differences and recognizes each staff member plays an important part in creating and maintaining a safe work environment.
The DC of Diversity and Development will work with both staff and offenders to promote inclusive, diverse environments throughout IDOC in which all feel safe, with a true sense of acceptance and belonging. The DC will assist IDOC leaders in attracting, retaining, and promoting a diverse workforce. The DC will also provide guidance for IDOC specific programs and training curricula focused on equity and inclusion.
Angela Sutton has assumed the responsibility of Deputy Commissioner of Diversity and Development. She will supervise the Staff Development and Training Division, and the Executive Director of Diversity and Veterans’ Affairs. While a majority of Angela’s career has been focused on Juvenile Justice, this new challenge as the DC of Diversity and Development is a welcomed one, as she has witnessed firsthand how individual differences can have a direct impact on ones career and the way they are treated and accepted.
A YOUNG, HEALTHY POLITICAL CANDIDATE SPOKE AT A MASKLESS RALLY. NOW HE’S DEAD.
FOOTNOTE: Cartoon provided by CAGLE CARTOONS
Nobody deserves to die in a pandemic. But even now – after so much suffering, with so much more to come – millions of Americans still don’t seem to understand that brainless stupidity can put them six feet under.
Case in point: Earlier this month in Louisiana, House Republican candidate Luke Letlow won his runoff race after parroting Trumpian ignorance about COVID-19 and mimicking his hero by staging a series of maskless rallies.
Less than two weeks ago, Letlow announced that he had COVID-19.
By Wednesday morning, Letlow was unable to provide further updates, because he’s dead. At age 41.
Letlow leaves a wife and two small children. I don’t mean to speak ill of the dead. I’ll simply point out that one’s odds of contracting and dying from COVID-19 are heightened if one dwells in a MAGA bubble and throws prudent caution to the winds.
Letlow’s big message – which clicked with Louisiana voters, naturally – was that Donald Trump showed “tremendous leadership and a remarkable ability to get things done,” and that thanks to Trump, “America is defeating COVID-19.” As recently as Nov. 19, after staging multiple maskless meet-and-greets, he warned about the economic damage of lockdowns and said, “We have to learn how to live in a COVID world.”
The chairman of the Louisiana Republican party had this reaction to Letlow’s death: “The world was his oyster. We’re all in disbelief.”
Believe it, buddy. The COVID world is no oyster if you treat masks as a threat to freedom.
Naturally, freedom lovers still refuse to believe. Social media today is infested with deniers who insist that because Letlow was only 41, surely he must’ve died for a different reason – or because he had underlying health problems. But nope, his hospital doctor said he was healthy as a horse before he was stricken, and that all the factors were “COVID-related.”
Bottom line: A young politician in the prime of health has left his wife a widow, and his children fatherless, after setting a bad example for the citizens he aspired to serve. COVID feasts on blithe stupidity. Letlow’s media feeds featured numerous photos of him greeting the common folk, sans mask. How many people did he potentially infect and put at dire risk? We’ll never know their names.
Joe Biden – the president whom Letlow would’ve staunchly opposed in 2021, had he lived to take his House seat – offered this self-evident observation Tuesday, during his remarks about how Trump has predictably screwed up vaccine distribution:
“Wearing a mask is not a political statement. It is a patriotic duty. COVID is a killer in red states as well as blue states, so I would encourage you all to wear a mask… I’m asking you to make these sacrifices (for) your lives and your livelihood and your kids and your families.”
Letlow didn’t do that. After 330,000 deaths, how many more cautionary tales do people need to hear?
FOOTNOTE: Copyright 2020 Dick Polman, distributed exclusively by Cagle Cartoons newspaper syndicate.
Dick Polman, a veteran national political columnist based in Philadelphia and a Writer in Residence at the University of Pennsylvania, writes at DickPolman.net. Email him at dickpolman7@gmail.com
The City-County Observer posted this article without bias, opinion, or editing.
Three with Hoosier Ties Honored by SwimSwam
Indiana men’s and women’s swimming head coach Ray Looze, 16-time All-America selection Lilly King and 14-time All-American Mohamad Samy were honored with yearly Swammy Awards from SwimSwam.
 Ray Looze
2020 U.S. Coach of the Year
Looze, who leads Indiana Swim Club, had a highly successful summer. Under his guidance, both King and Samy earned yearly Sammy Awards.
Other notable ISL performances came from Annie Lazor, Cody Miller, Zach Apple and Blake Pieroni. Lazor finished 2020 as the seventh-fastest performer all-time in the 200 breast and as the 10th-fastest all-time in the 100 breast. Miller finished the year ranked 12th in the 100 LCM breaststroke and 18th in the 200 LCM breaststroke. Apple was the second-fastest 100 freestyle performer in the ISL in the 2020 season behind only Caeleb Dressel. Pieroni and Apple also rank 14th and 15th, respectively, in the 200 freestyle.
Lilly King
2020 U.S. Female Swimmer of the Year
King, feeling rejuvenated by a brief hiatus from the pool due to COVID-19 restrictions, turned in another historic ISL season. In her two professional seasons, King has amassed a record of 31-3 in individual breaststroke events in ISL competition, including a perfect record of 10-0 in her best event, the 100 breaststroke.
King ranks second all-time in the 50 breaststroke, third all-time in the 100 SCM breaststroke, and fourth all-time in the 200 SCM breaststroke. She lowered the American Records in both the 50 breast (28.77) and 100 breast (1:02.50) in 2020, while she broke the American Record twice in the 50 breaststroke during the ISL season. King also swam the fastest 200 breaststroke of any American woman since Rebecca Soni set the mark in 2009.
Mohamed Samy
2020 African Male Swimmer of the Year
Samy earned the distinction after a successful run during the 2020 Big Ten Championships before the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the NCAA Championships. He totaled 80 points and helped guide the Hoosiers to a third-place finish at Big Tens. He earned bronze medals in the 100 and 200 freestyle events, placed fourth in the 200 IM and anchored a pair of winning freestyle relay squads.
He parlayed his collegiate success into six Egyptian records and a fifth-place effort in the 200 IM with the DC Trident inside the ISL’s Budapest bubble. Samy is the first non-South African swimmer to win the award.
VANDERBURGH COUNTY FELONY CHARGES
 Evansville, IN – Below are the felony cases to be filed by the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office today.
Rasheen Robert Middleton: Battery resulting in moderate bodily injury (Level 6 Felony)
Misty Dawn Cunningham: Aiding theft (Level 6 Felony)
Jeffrey Jewel Cunningham: Aiding theft (Level 6 Felony)
Precious Elaine Thomas: Aiding theft (Level 6 Felony)
Patience Marie Thomas: Aiding theft (Level 6 Felony)
George Keller Felton Jr.: Aiding theft (Level 6 Felony), Theft (Level 6 Felony)
Jill N. Thompson: Battery against a public safety official (Level 6 Felony), Resisting law enforcement (Class A misdemeanor), Refusing to leave emergency incident area (Class A misdemeanor)
Justin Edward Coomer: Strangulation (Level 6 Felony), Intimidation (Level 6 Felony)
Rigoberto De Leon Perez: Domestic battery (Level 6 Felony)
John Issac Deck: Possession of methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony)
Rachael Nichole Graves: Possession of methamphetamine (Level 5 Felony), Theft (Class A misdemeanor)
Rasheen Robert Middleton: Battery resulting in moderate bodily injury (Level 6 Felony)
Misty Dawn Cunningham: Aiding theft (Level 6 Felony)
Jeffrey Jewel Cunningham: Aiding theft (Level 6 Felony)
Precious Elaine Thomas: Aiding theft (Level 6 Felony)
Patience Marie Thomas: Aiding theft (Level 6 Felony)
George Keller Felton Jr.: Aiding theft (Level 6 Felony), Theft (Level 6 Felony)
Jill N. Thompson: Battery against a public safety official (Level 6 Felony), Resisting law enforcement (Class A misdemeanor), Refusing to leave emergency incident area (Class A misdemeanor)
Justin Edward Coomer: Strangulation (Level 6 Felony), Intimidation (Level 6 Felony)
Rigoberto De Leon Perez: Domestic battery (Level 6 Felony)
John Issac Deck: Possession of methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony)
Rachael Nichole Graves: Possession of methamphetamine (Level 5 Felony), Theft (Class A misdemeanor)
ADOPT A PET
Meet Mary Ingalls, a 6-month-old kitten! She is the last remaining Little House on the Prairie kitten, and has been at the VHS nearly her whole life. Let’s get her a home for New Year’s! Her adoption fee is $40 and includes her spay, microchip, vaccines, and more! Get details at www.vhslifesaver.org/adopt!