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Illegal Kentucky Slot Parlors Now Have To Close Their Doors, Says Group

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Illegal Kentucky Slot Parlors Now Have To Close Their Doors, Says Group

JANUARY 21, 2021

LEXINGTON, KY – The Family Foundation welcomed the 6-0 decision* of the Kentucky Supreme Court today that turned down the petitions of the race tracks and the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission to rehear the ten-year case contesting the legality of so-called “historical horse racing” slot machines. The Court had ruled on Sept. 24 last Fall in a unanimous 7-0 decision that the machines did not meet the definition of parimutuel wagering and were therefore illegal.

The group says it fully expects the tracks and allies in state government to close the doors on the facilities. “The state’s horse racing tracks have been legally running from the law and the State Constitution for ten years while the regulatory agency overseeing them has looked the other way. Now they’ve run out of options.”

“This decision was something of a formality, since the Court rarely grants petitions to try a case over again,” said Martin Cothran, spokesman for The Family Foundation, the group that contested the legality of the machines. “And since this case spent ten years in the courts and the ruling was unanimous, it was even more likely the Court would turn them down.”

After engaging in discovery, The Family Foundation attorney, Stan Cave, argued that the so-called “historic horse racing” machines were really slot machines posing as parimutuel horse racing.

“The tracks have continued to operate after the September ruling knowing that their chances of getting the Court to change its mind was a shot in the dark. Now that the Court has fully finalized its decision – unanimously, the tracks have to shut down their illegal gaming parlors.”

Cothran criticized the tracks for operating the machines for ten years and taking over $800 million from Kentucky citizens unlawfully, even though they knew their legality was in doubt all along. “The race tracks have known all along that the legality of these machines was doubtful. That is why they petitioned the Franklin Circuit Court in 2010 to get its approval. It was only after that action that The Family Foundation asked and was permitted to intervene in the case in order to provide proper scrutiny and accountability.”

FOOTNOTE:  Newly-elected Justice Robert Conley was not sitting when the case was reviewed.

Brickyard Lake

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The Victim recovered from a lake near the Brickyard Condominiums and Apartments has been identified as Brian K. Ricketts, age 50, of Evansville.  An autopsy is scheduled for 16:00 hrs. today. The Evansville Police Department can provide updates on this ongoing investigation.

Chief Deputy Noah Robinson Announces His Candidacy For Sheriff

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Evansville, Indiana – Chief Deputy Noah Robinson, a 22-year law enforcement veteran and second-in-command of the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office, 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. 

HEALTH DEPARTMENT UPDATES STATEWIDE COVID-19 CASE COUNTS

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Gov. Holcomb to Provide Updates in the Fight Against COVID-19

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Holcomb

INDIANAPOLIS – Gov. Eric J. Holcomb and State Health Commissioner Dr. Kristina Box will host a virtual media briefing to provide updates on COVID-19 and its impact on Indiana.

WHO:             Gov. Holcomb
State Health Commissioner Kristina Box, MD, FACOG
Chief Medical Officer for the Indiana Department of Health Lindsay Weaver, MD, FACEP
Chief Medical Officer for the Family and Social Services Administration Daniel Rusyniak, MD
Department of Workforce Development Commissioner Fred Payne

WHEN:           2:30 p.m. ET, Wednesday, January 27

Facebook: https://facebook.com/govholcomb/live

YouTube: https://youtube.com/govholcomb

Shooting at Morgan and Heidelbach

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  The Evansville Police Department (E.P.D.) responded to a shots fired call at 23 Don Mattingly way after the Evansville Fire Department (E.F.D.), who was on a call nearby, called 911.  

  Before officers could arrive dispatch advised E.F.D. located a victim, who was non responsive with a gunshot wound to the chest.  E.F.D. performed lifesaving measures on the victim until an ambulance could arrive to take him to a hospital.

  Officers quickly arrived and secured a crime scene where evidence was recovered.  Witnesses were located and interviewed which led officers to an address in the 500 block of Maxwell Ave. It was at this address that officers took Brent Austin Ferguson (23) into custody. 

 Ferguson was charged with Aggravated Battery and is currently detained at the Vanderburgh County Corrections Center. 

 The victim’s condition is unknown at this time. 

Eagles outlast Hounds with strong fourth-quarter effort

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University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball used a strong fourth-quarter effort to outlast the University of Indianapolis, 56-51, in a Great Lakes Valley Conference contest Tuesday evening at Screaming Eagles Arena.

The Screaming Eagles (9-1, 9-1 GLVC), who jumped three spots to No. 11 in the latest D2SIDA Top 25 Media Poll earlier in the day, used a 9-1 run to open the fourth quarter and break a 38-38 stalemate. Senior guard Emma DeHart (Indianapolis, Indiana) had five points in the run, including a three-pointer with just under eight minutes to play that broke a near four-minute long scoreless drought for the Eagles.

DeHart, who led the Eagles with a game-high tying 15 points, scored 13 second-half points, including nine in the final 10 minutes.

Indianapolis (5-7, 5-7 GLVC), which led 25-23 at the break, charged back behind the play of junior guard Mya Scheidt, who led the Greyhounds with 15 points. Scheidt, who drained five shots from behind the arc for the game, connected on a pair of three-pointers in a two-minute span that got UIndy to within three points (49-46) with three minutes to play.

USI answered nearly two minutes later with a DeHart layup to go up by five, but after the two teams swapped free throws in a 10-second span, Scheidt drained another shot from behind the arc to cut USI’s advantage to 53-51 with 21 seconds on the clock.

Sophomore guard Addy Blackwell (Bloomington, Indiana), however, connected on a pair of free throws a second later and the Eagles’ defense, which held the Hounds to 3-of-13 (.231) shooting in the fourth quarter, held UIndy off the scoreboard to preserve the win.

Blackwell finished with 14 points, two assists and four steals, while sophomore forward Hannah Haithcock (Washington Courthouse, Ohio) added 10 points and a game-high nine rebounds.

USI shot 44.0 percent (22-50) from the field and held UIndy to just 32.7 percent (17-52) shooting for the game.

The Eagles return to action Thursday at 5:15 p.m. when they host Quncy University in a 5:15 p.m. contest at Screaming Eagles Arena. Thursday’s game is the Eagles’ Play4Kay game.

VANDERBURGH COUNTY RECENT BOOKING RECORDS

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https://www.vanderburghsheriff.com/jail-recent-booking-records.aspx

Todays Board of Public Safety Agenda

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 CITY OF EVANSVILLE Board of Public Safety

Civic Center Complex, Room 301

 AGENDA 

JANUARY 27TH, 2021 

Building Commission – David Ballew Police Department – Chief Billy Bolin 

Transportation & Services – Todd Robertson Fire Department – Chief Mike Connelly City Engineer’s Office – Brent Schmitt 

~ Pledge of Allegiance ~ 

Business with Representatives: 

Departmental Reports: 

A. Police Department – Captain Karla Larmore 

1. Evansville Police Department Foundation requests approval of the donation of the equipment to the City of Evansville Board of Public Safety for the use and benefit of the Evansville Police Department. 1 – DJI Mavic Mini Drone (serial number 1SZCH7J412BRVW) 1- Direct Radiography X-Ray System 5 – Recording Devices (model PR200) 

2. Evansville Police Department requests approval of the contract agreement with Sonitrol of Evansville, Inc. for services at 929 W Indiana Street. Legal Approved. 

3. Evansville Police Department requests approval of the contract agreement with Audubon Motors, Inc. for the donation of ten (10) 2021 1500 Trucks for three (3) years beginning January 27th, 2021. Legal Approved. 

4. Evansville Police Department requests approval of the contract agreement with LexisNexis Coplogic Solutions effective January 27th, 2021. 

B. Fire Department – Deputy Chief Mike Larson 

1. Evansville Fire Department requests approval for the agreement with Tri-State Fire Protection for (1) year effective from date of approval. Legal Approved. 

2. Request approval of the 2021 Contract with Public Safety LLC for promotional testing. 

3. Request approval to seek quotes for Station 1 repairs. 

C. Building Commission – Kim Josey 

1. Request approval for the agreement of professional services between Kahn, Dees, Donovan & Kahn, LLP, through Ryan M. Schulz, and the City of Evansville on behalf of the Evansville-Vanderburgh County Building Commission beginning January 1st, 2021 and ending on December 31st, 2021. 

D. Transportation & Services – Todd Robertson – NO AGENDA 

E. Department of Metropolitan Development – Kolbi Jackson 

1. Request approval for the Community Development Block Grant Agreement between the City of Evansville, Department of Metropolitan Development (HUD) to provide financial aid through June 30th, 2021. 

F. Special Event Permit – Sgt. Adam Will – NO AGENDA 

G. Purchasing Department – Matthew Maxwell 

1. Request approval for a one-month extension of the contract with Tri-State Towing. 

Consent Section: 

A. Road Closure/Lane Closure 

2. MAC Construction, Justin Starr, requests approval to restrict the lanes (northbound & southbound) of First Avenue between Colonial Avenue & Morgan Avenue for installation of water main to replace existing water main beginning February 1st, 2021 and continuing until February 22nd, 2021. 

3. Empire Contractors requests approval to restrict the sidewalk between 217-219 Main Street beginning January 25th, 2021 and continuing until September 30th, 2021 for new building construction. This closure was temporarily approved by the City of Evansville Engineer on January 22nd, 2021 with the order to facilitate to construct and maintain safe access for pedestrians, a minimum of 4 ft., clear ADA path. 

B. Massage Clinic 

1. Request approval for the following: 

a. Ruby Foot Reflexology Owner: Wang Bao Pin Employee: Xiaou Wei Cornell Renew 2021 Paperwork Completed 

b. Massage Envy Owner: Julie Hull Employee: Aaron Sizemore, Ashley Noffsinger, Brittany Wambach, Cheyenne Holsey, Felisa Isom, Jacob Goin, Mokii Bose, Patrick Davis, Paul Sepp-Gumbert, Peggy Regan Renew 2021 Paperwork Completed 

c. Lilac Massage Owner: Gui Yun Long Renew 2021 Paperwork Completed 

d. Royal Spa Foot Reflexology Owner: Li Hui Yang Renew 2021 Paperwork Completed 

e. Fusion Spa & Boutique Owner: Theresa Zanghi Renew 2021 Paperwork Completed 

C. Horse-Drawn Carriage 

1. Request approval for the following: 

a. Sheila O’Risky Renew 2021 Horse Examined 1/21/21: Dr. Stone, Stone Ridge Equine Care Paperwork Completed 

D. Dumpster in the Street 

1. Request approval for the following: 

a. Megan Lofton 1917 W. Michigan Street January 21st, 2021 – February 3rd, 2021 Home Clean Out 

b. Joe Fehrenbacher 764 E Iowa January 21st, 2021 – February 21st, 2021 Garage Clean Out 

c. Mindy Woodward 1104 N Main Street January 15th, 2021 – January 22nd, 2021 Home Clean Out 

d. Erick Garcia 1116 Jefferson Avenue January 21st, 2021 – January 25th, 2021 New Roof 

e. Joe Dicks 3215 E Mulberry Street January 22nd, 2021 – January 25th, 2021 Home Remodel 

E. Parking Permit 

1. Request approval for the following: 

a. Aztec Location: Old YMCA (Vine, NW 5th, NW 6th) Duration: January 27th, 2021 – February 20th, 2021 Jose de Jesus Gutirrez 2006 Infiniti 635 – Blue – No Logo – No Plate # Provided Francisco Javier Gutierrez 2008 Acura LT – Gold – No Logo – Plate #: 8KVZ210 Oswaldo Medrano 2017 Dodge Ram – Black – No Logo – Plate #: BLK633 Brian Plasencia 2008 Honda Civic – Blue – No Logo – Plate #: 895DGO 

b. Altstadt Hoffman Plumbing Location: Old YMCA (Vine, NW 5th, NW 6th) Duration: January 27th, 2021 – September 30th, 2021 Melvin Newlin 2009 Nissan Altima – Blue – No Logo – Plate #: Q747615 Andrew Stillwell 

2013 Ford Focus – Grey – No Logo – Plate #: BKS228 Greg Cardin 2013 Toyota Tundra – White – No Logo – Plate #: TK581MAP 

c. Bravo Media Group Scott Brown Location: 3rd & Main Street (CenterPoint Commercial) Box Truck Duration: January 21st, 2021 

d. PERFECTION HVAC Location: 

OTHER BUSINESS: 

1. Approve claims. 

2. Approve the minutes from Wednesday, January 13th, 2021. 

3. Mike Luttrull, former legal counsel to the Board of Public Safety, respectfully requested the Board’s recommendation for employment to the Office of the Indiana Attorney General in support of his application for Deputy Attorney General – Advisory Position on January 13th, 2021. The Board made the motion to take this request under advisement, as the current legal counsel sought outside counsel due to conflict of interest. The legal counsel of Ted Ziemer, Stoll Keenon Ogdon, was assigned as the outside counsel for advisement on this request. 

Announcements: 

Next Meeting, February 10th, 2021. 

Adjourned: __________ _______ 

Chief Deputy Noah Robinson To Announce Candidacy For Sheriff Of Vanderburgh County In Democratic Primary

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Chief Deputy Noah Robinson To Announce Candidacy For Sheriff Of Vanderburgh County In Democratic Primary

Evansville, Indiana – Chief Deputy Noah Robinson, a 22-year law enforcement veteran and second-in-command of the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office, will announce his candidacy for Sheriff of Vanderburgh County this evening. Mr. Robinson will be running for Sheriff in the Democratic party primary.

An outdoor, drive-in style, announcement gathering will take place on January 27, 2021 at 6:00PM. The gathering will be held outside of the Vanderburgh County 4-H Center Auditorium. Attendees are encouraged to remain inside their vehicles to help reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. Masks are required.

 

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 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 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.

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