https://www.vanderburghsheriff.com/jail-recent-booking-records.aspx
ADOPT A PET
Mary is a 4-year-old female cat. She originally came in w/ kittens who have all been adopted! She’s currently the VHS’ longest resident, waiting on a home since June 26. Her adoption fee is $40 and includes her spay, microchip, vaccines, and more. Get details and apply to adopt at www.vhslifesaver.org/adopt!
HEALTH DEPARTMENT UPDATES STATEWIDE COVID-19 CASE COUNTS
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Police Pension Board Meeting
The Evansville Police Department Police Pension Board will hold an Executive Session on WednesdayÂ
December 2, 2020 at 8:15 a.m. The Meeting will be held in Room 301 of the Civic Center Plaza.
The Executive Session will be closed as provided by:Â
I.C. 5-14-1.5-6.1(7) For discussion of records classified as confidential by state or federal statute.
Immediately following the Executive Session, a regular Open Session will be held in Room 301Â
of the Civic Center Plaza.
“IS IT TRUE” DECEMBER 1. 2020
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.
City-County Observer Comment Policy: Be kind to people. No personal attacks or harassment will be tolerated and will be removed from our site.â€
We understand that sometimes people don’t always agree and discussions may become a little heated. The use of offensive language and/or insults against commenters will not be tolerated and will be removed from our site.
WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE INCONVENIENCE
We apologize that our site crashed yesterday because of unprecedented reader traffic. Â Because of that problem we have decided to republish all the feature articles that were posted in yesterday’s City-County Observer.
IS IT TRUE Â that we highly recommend that you read the article written by Joe Wallace the former City-County Observer Editor and past CEO of GAGE in today’s CCO? Â …that Mr. Wallace is starting a not-for-profit Journalism Foundation in order to keep a Gannett’s owned publication Opinion page from fading in the darkness?
IS IT TRUEÂ that the EVSC Superintendent of Schools, Dr. David Smith is urging his school board members to approve a multi-million dollar temporary loan in order to pay for the current operations costs of the Vanderburgh School system?
IS IT TRUE that it’s our understanding that the interest rate for the temporary loan is around 1.5%? …If the members of the EVSC school board sign this temporary loan agreement it could obligate the EVSC to pay up to a 4.5% percent interest penalty if they don’t meet the original terms of the loan contract?
IS IT TRUE we wonder what is the total amount of money does the EVSC needs to borrow in order to cover current operations costs for this year? Â …reliable sources tell us that the loan amount could be many millions of dollars? …it was also stated by a reliable source that the school board has been passing a temporary loan resolution since 2018?
IS IT TRUE the Vanderburgh County Commissioners recently voted to continue to proceed with BroadBand in the county?… if this comes to fruition, Vanderburgh County would have aLL rural areas with high-speed internet capabilities?
IS IT TRUE that 2022 will be an interesting year in local politics?…that with an open County Commissioner seat, an open County Sheriff position, an open County Assessor seat, all four County Council districts seat up, all four School Board district seats up, all Township Trustees up, all State Reps, County Prosecutor, 8th District US Congress and one of two Indiana US Senate seats up, and numerous other down-ballot seats, we predict that the 2022 midterm elections will be a record-setting voting event?
IS IT TRUE that in seven weeks, US President-Elect Joe Biden will be sworn in and inaugurated as the 46th president of the United States?…that the Dow Jones hit 30,000 for the first time in US history last week in anticipation of a Biden administration?
IS IT TRUE that Mayor Lloyd Winnecke would make history in 2023 if he runs for a fourth term?…only FOUR Evansville mayors have served three terms (Benjamin Bosse, Frank McDonald Sr, Frank McDonald Jr, and Lloyd Winnecke)? …no mayor has even done four terms?
IS IT TRUE that former Vanderburgh County Commissioner Rick Borries is the only Commissioner to serve for four terms (1981-1997)?…that Commissioner Borries ran for a fifth term and lost to Betty Lou Jerrel in 1996?…since Borries, County Commissioner Cheryl Musgrave is the only  Commissioner to be elected for a third term?
IS IT TRUE that the biggest surprise in the recent General election was that Amy Word blew all her competitors away? …what made this achievement profound was that several groups and individuals attempted to smear and attack Ms. Word at every turn? …we hear that Amy Word is pledging to serve on the EVSC School Board with honor?
IS IT TRUE that Vanderburgh County Council-elect Jill Hahn was impressive in her victory? …that political newcomer Jill Hahn ran a positive race and promise to use her education and business skills for the betterment of the taxpayers? …we been told that Ms. Hahn is already being considered as a potential Vice President of the County Council?
IS IT TRUE that the City-County Observer newspaper is a proud supporter of our law enforcement?
IS IT TRUE that the current printed edition of the City-Council Observer is being distributed throughout select sub-divisions in Evansville/Vanderburgh County proper? Â …free copies of the CCO will also be available at the area Schnucks grocery stores this week?
IS IT TRUEÂ we are please in the way that the good folks at local TV Channel 14 are providing the masses with up-to-date local news, weather, and sports? Â …we are so impressed by the way they are providing current and accurate news that we have included Channel 14 TV in our 2021 advertising budget?
IS IT TRUE when the people fear the Government we have Tyranny! Â When the Government fears the people we have Liberty!
Todays ‘Readers Poll†question is: Do you agree with the way that Mayor Winnecke is handling the COVID-19 virus dilemma?
Please take time and read our newest feature articles entitled “OBITUARIES, LEFT JAB, AND RIGHT JAB,  BIRTHDAYS, AND HOT JOBS†posted in our sections.
 Oh, you now are able to subscribe to the CCO on a daily basis at no cost.
If you would like to advertise in the CCO please contact us City-County Observer@live.com.
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING SCHOOL BOARD TO MAKE TEMPORARY LOAN TO PAY FOR CURRENT EXPENSES
EVSC RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING SCHOOL BOARD TO MAKE TEMPORARY LOAN TO PAY FOR CURRENT OPERATING EXPENSES.
SEE ATTACHED LINK OF THE LOAN RESOLUTIONÂ
FOOTNOTE: Â It’s our understanding that EVSC the interest rate for this loan is around 1.5%. Â if members of the EVCS School Board sign this temporary loan document it could allow the Bond Bank to charge EVSC up to 4.5% percent interest if they can’t meet the original terms of the loan agreement?
We wonder what is the total amount of money does the EVSC needs to borrow in order to cover current operations costs since the loan figure seemly wasn’t addressed in the above loan.
At the last school board meeting, it was stated by an EVSC administrator that the school board passed this type of temporary loan resolution in 2018 and 2019.
Indiana Gaming Commission Expands Spectacle Probe, Action May Come Soon
Indiana Gaming Commission Expands Spectacle Probe, Action May Come Soon
An investigation that began in January on federal charges of violating campaign finance laws against a Spectacle executive mushroomed in May, Tait said. That’s when the IGC learned of allegations of Indiana Riverboat Gambling Act violations.
Now, the IGC’s investigation covers more than 10 subjects, she said. Those individuals either currently hold licenses with Spectacle, held a license with the company, or maintained a license with Centaur Gaming. Centaur was a predecessor entity run by Spectacle executives. Their ability to hold gaming licenses is now “in serious doubt,†Tait said
The scope of our review covers financial transactions, ownership transfers, contracts, failures to disclose, improper utilization of funds, improper accounting practices, failure to act within the occupational licensure parameters, ex parte communications, and other actions and situations falling outside of those good moral character and integrity standards detailed throughout Indiana statues and regulations,†Tait said.
Some of the documents IGC staff obtained came after John Keeler’s indictment on federal campaign election finance violations in September. Keeler served as Spectacle’s vice president and general counsel and served Centaur in the same capacity.
Commissioners Want to Act Soon
Tait’s report seemed like more than enough for commissioners, who sounded ready Monday to move the case forward. When asked if IGC staff had contacted the casino’s trustee-in-waiting, Tait said that had not happened.
“Perhaps it’s time to do that,†IGC Chairman Michael McMains said.
The trustee-in-waiting oversees a casino’s operations until a new operator can purchase it. Spectacle’s trustee-in-waiting is Tom Dingman. He’s a gaming industry consultant who served as a Harrah’s executive for 25 years. He also served as the COO and general manager for the Indiana Grand from December 2011 to February 2013. His tenure there came prior to Centaur owning the property.
“I would say maybe within the next two weeks to 30 days, we need to have something in our hands that gives us some level of comfort that this operator is either going to be with us or going to be gone,†Commissioner Susan Williams said.
Spectacle CEO: “Plan of Action†Coming Soon
Tait noted that IGC investigators have conducted 29 interviews with current and former licensees, Tait said. Three individuals declined interview requests. The Commission has also reviewed about 1,000 documents as well.
Tait noted that current chairman Jahnae Erpenbach and Spectacle Vice Chair Greg Gibson remain in good standing and have cooperated.
In a statement to Casino.org, Spectacle said the company has been gathering information the IGC requested. The company continues to rebuild its controls and overhaul the organization.
“From the beginning, we have taken this matter very seriously, as we share the Commission’s objective of protecting the integrity of gaming in the state,†Erpenbach said. “Spectacle will continue to cooperate fully with the Commission and will be presenting its plan of action to the Commission in the near future.â€
Spectacle Investigation Recap
The Spectacle Entertainment investigation started in late January. That was just a couple of weeks after executives from the Indianapolis-based gaming company, Hard Rock, and officials from the Gary area celebrated the groundbreaking for Hard Rock Northern Indiana.
At that time, IGC became aware of a federal court case in Virginia that implicated Centaur Gaming officials. That case involved a political consultant who pleaded guilty to election finance charges. Charles O’Neil found individuals to contribute to an Indiana congressional candidate. He repaid those individuals with funds received from a company unnamed in court documents but later identified as Centaur. Another consultant pleaded guilty in the case as well.
The IGC investigation led to a delay in approving another Spectacle-Hard Rock casino application in Terre Haute.
Eventually, Keeler and Spectacle Founder, CEO, and Chair Rod Ratcliff had to divest themselves from the Terre Haute project in order for the Commission to approve it in May. Ratcliff was also the founder of Centaur Gaming, which owned Harrah’s Hoosier Park and bought Indiana Grand in 2013. Centaur sold those properties to Caesars Entertainment, leading Ratcliff to create Spectacle, which purchased the Majestic Star.
Three weeks after the IGC received word of the additional allegations in late May, Ratcliff quietly stepped down from his leadership positions to focus on investor relations for the company. That did not become public until the company announced Jahnae Erpenbach succeeded him as chair and CEO in late September. At the time of Erpenbach’s announcement, Tait said the Commission prohibited Ratcliff from exerting any management control over the company.
Also in late September, a federal grand jury indicted Keeler along with former state Sen. Brent Waltz, the congressional candidate, for their alleged roles in the illegal contributions scheme. The Commission suspended Keeler’s gaming license immediately after his indictment.
Hard Rock Northern Indiana remains under construction, with a planned opening for early 2021. Earlier this month, the casino held hiring sessions to identify dealers for table games. Hard Rock International officials also continue to reiterate their support for the project.
STATEWIDE COVID-19 CASE COUNTS IS NOW 333,312
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Joe Wallace Ask Desert Residents To Help Save An Important Coachella Valley Forum
Valley Voice: Desert Residents, You Can Help Save An Important Coachella Valley Forum
Special to The Desert Sun
written by Joe Wallace
(Joe Wallace is the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership and Treasurer of the Coachella Valley Journalism Foundation. He was also the former CEO of GAGE-Evansville).
On Tuesday, The Desert Sun and its readers across the Coachella Valley will say goodbye to Opinion Editor Al Franco, who has served the region’s need for constructive dialogue about the important things that the Greater Palm Springs region has faced for many years.
Gannett, the parent company of The Desert Sun, has implemented another round of cost-cutting at newspapers across the country, offering buyouts to many employees, including Mr. Franco. While we certainly wish Mr. Franco well and thank him for his service, this will leave The Desert Sun without an Opinion editor as the position has been slated for elimination.
What this means to us is that The Desert Sun’s Opinion page — that includes witty cartoons that are designed to teach, letters to the editor from an engaged public, and the all-important Valley Voice column — will vanish from publication unless something is done locally to preserve what is the most important part of any local newspaper for addressing items of local interest.
About a month ago, I was approached to become a founding member of a nonprofit organization called the Coachella Valley Journalism Foundation. The mission of this nonprofit is to solicit participation from the people of the Coachella Valley to support quality journalism in a variety of mediums — print and online for starters, but perhaps also broadcast and audio down the road as well.
We didn’t know our first project would be to save the Opinion pages of The Desert Sun, but the need has arisen and we are eager to step up to the task.
The printing press for The Desert Sun was closed down in September and print operations moved to Phoenix. Now, the newspaper’s building is for sale. This is not just happening in Palm Springs. In Stockton, where Gannett owns the hometown newspaper called The Record, the building is up for sale as well, and one potential buyer is a local government agency that is interested in converting the property into a homeless shelter. The divestment of assets and the centralization of where news is aggregated for publication has reached a fever pitch across the country, and the business model for newspapers has been diminished by online publishing.
Since Thomas Paine started a small paper called “Common Sense†to advocate for the independent United States of America from Great Britain, local opinion pages have provided a forum to discuss local issues. The opinion pages of newspapers are operated editorially independent from the rest of the operation.
The Desert Sun has a seven-member editorial board, and a majority of these members are not employees of the newspaper, but community members. They hail from a diversity of backgrounds and live in different cities throughout the valley. They meet weekly to consider important issues from our community, talk with local people, and formulate opinion pieces that speak to the critical matters facing all of us, pointing out problems, but also suggesting solutions.
That said, The Desert Sun Opinion pages are much more than that. The unique function of the Opinion page is to provide a forum where local people can submit opinions for publication on local issues, and the opinions published in the pages of The Desert Sun often run counter to the opinions of the newspaper’s editorial board. That dialogue — civil and transparent — is part of the bedrock of our republic.
The Desert Sun’s Opinion page has been invaluable to the growth, prosperity and honest dialogue of the Coachella Valley since 1927 when the population of the valley was a small fraction of what it is today. Through two world wars and the emergence of the Coachella Valley as a significant tourism destination, The Desert Sun’s Opinion page has guided us on all things of local importance.
Sustaining a professional, full-time Opinion editor for The Desert Sun in 2021 will cost approximately $60,000. We are starting today to raise these funds, and we ask you to join us with a tax-deductible contribution, large or small.
Please join the Coachella Valley Journalism Foundation as we seek to keep our opinion pages from dying in darkness. To find out how you can help, please visit our website at cvjf.org or email us at info@cvjf.org. Together, we can sustain this vibrant forum.
FOOTNOTE: Right after this article was published we are told that the Coachella Valley Journalism Foundation has received an astonishing response from the citizens and Corporations of Coachella Valley in support of the return of the “Opinion Editor”  section to the DESERT SUN newspaper.Â