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“IS IT TRUE” November 4, 2024

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We hope today’s “IS IT TRUE” will provoke honest and open dialogue concerning issues that we, as responsible citizens of this community, need to address rationally and responsibly.

City-County Observer Comment Policy: Be kind to people. No personal attacks or harassment will be tolerated and will be removed from our site.

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.

IS IT TRUE that Attorney General Todd Rokita announced to Vanderburgh County GOP loyalists that he is looking into the role of Evansville businesses, not-for-profits, and local elected and appointed officials causing the influx of illegal aliens in the area? … does the investigation involve several people from different walks of life? …that we expect significant information to be revealed soon?

IS IT TRUE that political patronage and nepotism aren’t the way to run a city but hiring someone based on their qualifications is?

IS IT TRUE that campaign commercials are coming to an end soon? …that we are praying that we can all accept the outcome of the elections?

IS IT TRUE that local polling locations have been kept very busy with early voting? …that we are on track to beat the 2020 numbers, and total voter turnout could set a record in 2024? …that Dottie Thomas and interim County Clerk Marsha Abel Barnhardt have been doing an outstanding job preparing for this election. …that every effort is being made to ensure that Vanderburgh County lives up to the ideal of fair and honest elections? …that there will be an added security measure on election day with a law enforcement officer stationed outside each polling location? …that when poll inspectors return election materials to the elections office Tuesday night they will be escorted from the poll to the Civic Center by an officer? …that officers have paid site visits to some polling locations to get a sense of the layout and emergency plans for the facility?

IS IT TRUE that the City Council approved Evansville Mayor Stephanie Terry’s $494 million budget with only one revision last week? …that 2nd Ward councilwoman Missy Mosby proposed an amendment that would stop the city from hiring an assistant for the city council and reappropriate the salary to cover certain expenses at the Animal Control Center. …that in the middle of the roll call vote, council attorney Joshua Trockman interrupted the voting to inform the council that, by law, the council could not reappropriate the funds without a recommendation from the mayor? …that Mosby’s amendment passed by a 5-4 vote, but the funds will revert to the general fund? …that 20-year council veteran Mosby and others did not know a law existed to prevent the city council from reappropriating the funds?

IS IT TRUE that we wonder, if you were the owner of a $500 million corporation, would you hire any of our current elected city officials to be the CEO of your company? …that we also wonder how can the body with the final say on a $500 million budget vote on it without asking only a couple of questions.

IS IT TRUE that, for over a decade, the city expenditures at the end of the year seldom resemble the budget approved by the city council? …that adjustments are made to the budget through reapportionment requests brought to the council for approval during the year? …that, with the passage of the 2025 city budget, comes a promise from city Controller Robert Gunter to reduce the number of reapportionment requests brought to the council. …that we commend Controller Gunter for this announcement and look forward to the city administration and departments operating within the confines of the budget figures that they proposed.

 

Attorney General Todd Rokita Investigating Vanderburgh County Businesses and Non-Profits Role with Illegal Immigrants

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 Attorney General Todd Rokita Investigating Vanderburgh County Businesses and Non-Profits Role with Illegal Immigrants

by JOHNNR KINCAID

NOVEMBER 4, 2024

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita announced at an Evansville campaign rally that his office will be investigating the influx of illegal aliens in Vanderburgh County. Rokita announced as he wrapped up his campaign speech in front of a receptive crowd of about 50 people who applauded the move.

According to Rokita, the investigation involves local businesses and non-profits and will slowly develop in the coming months.

Rokita was part of a statewide tour with GOP candidates for office, including Gubernatorial Candidate Mike Braun with his running mate Micah Beckwith and 8th District Congressional candidate Mark Messmer. 

This is a developing story that we will continue to follow.

Gov. Holcomb Makes Appointments to Various Boards and Commissions

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INDIANAPOLIS — Governor Eric J. Holcomb today announced several appointments to various state boards and commissions.

Board of Firefighting Personnel Standards & Education

The governor made eleven reappointments to the board, who will serve until October 31, 2028:

  • Steve Anderson (Evansville), representing volunteer firefighters
  • Amy Biggs (Columbia City), representing emergency management directors
  • Pedro Caceres (Indianapolis), representing fire departments
  • Eric Dreiman (Indianapolis), representing fire department officers
  • Scott Garrett (Solsberry), representing the public
  • Eric Gentry (Wadesville), representing fire department officers
  • Tom Hanify (Indianapolis), representing the public
  • Burke Jones (Madison), representing the public
  • Robert Lund (Clinton), representing fire departments
  • Tony Murray (Noblesville), representing paramedics
  • Tim Smith (Vincennes), representing fire departments

Board of Trustees of the University of Southern Indiana

The governor made one reappointment to the board, who will serve until June 30, 2028:

  • Ronald Romain (Evansville), executive chairman of United Companies

Indiana Arts Commission

The governor made five reappointments to the commission, who will serve until June 30, 2028:

  • Greg Hull (Indianapolis), Dean of the Herron School of Art + Design, and Valerie Eickmeier professor in sculpture
  • Kelsey Peaper (Indianapolis), assistant director of school support with the Indiana Department of Education
  • Sofia Souto (Carmel), professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Butler University
  • Renee Thomas (Lafayette), associate vice provost for diversity, inclusion and belonging at Purdue University
  • Scott Wylie (Evansville), executive director of Pro Bono Indiana

The governor also made one new appointment to the commission, who will serve until June 30, 2028:

  • Daniel Martinez (Columbus), cofounder of LAA Office

Indiana Board of Pharmacy

The governor made two reappointments to the board, who will serve until September 30, 2028:

  • Mark Bunton (West Lafayette), district leader with CVS Health
  • Jason Jablonski (Mishawaka), regional pharmacy director for Community Health Systems

Indiana Charter School Board

The governor made one reappointment to the board, who will serve until September 30, 2028:

  • Beth Bray (Carmel), program officer for the education program of the Walton Family Foundation

Indiana Destination Development Corporation Board

The governor made three reappointments to the board, who will serve until June 30, 2028:

  • Matt Eckert (Schnellville), president and CEO of Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari
  • Dana Huber (Borden), vice president of distribution and public relations at Huber’s Orchard, Winery & Vineyards and the Starlight Distillery
  • William Knox (Fishers), founder/CEO of Legacy Sports Group

Indiana Education Employment Relations Board

The governor made one reappointment to the board, who will serve until June 30, 2028:

  • Dennis Brooks (Indianapolis), retired educator

Indiana Gaming Commission

The governor made two new appointments to the commission:

  • Chris Creighton (McCordsville), vice president of innovation and growth at Marian University, who will serve until September 30, 2025.
  • Joseph Heerens (Carmel), general counsel to Governor Eric Holcomb, who will serve until September 30, 2026, and who is also designated to serve as chair of the commission.

Indiana Law Enforcement Training Board

The governor made one new appointment to the board, who will serve until December 31, 2026:

  • The Honorable Jeff Balon (Valparaiso), Porter County Sheriff

Indiana Parole Board

The governor made one reappointment to the board, who will serve until June 30, 2028:

  • Gwendolyn Horth (Indianapolis), who will continue her service as chair of the board.

The governor also made one new appointment to the board, who will serve until July 31, 2027:

  • Natalie Carpenter (Indianapolis), former deputy prosecutor with the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office

Indiana Real Estate Commission

The governor made four reappointments to the commission, who will serve until September 30, 2028:

  • Tracy Hutton (Carmel), CEO of CENTURY 21 Scheetz
  • Donna Spears (Richmond), associate broker for Coldwell Banker Lingle
  • Brian Thompson (Bloomington), managing broker of F.C. Tucker/Bloomington
  • Beth Walker (Fort Wayne), broker and owner of Fairfield Group Realtors, Inc.

The governor also made one new appointment to the commission, who will serve until September 30, 2028:

  • Valerie Rosenblum (Valparaiso), broker associate with McColly Real Estate

Indiana State Police Board

The governor made one reappointment to the board, who will serve until October 31, 2028:

  • Emmitt Carney (Indianapolis), retired law enforcement officer

Medical Licensing Board

The governor made seven reappointments to the board, who will serve until June 30, 2028:

  • Bharat Barai (Munster), oncologist and hematologist with Premier Oncology Hematology Associates
  • Michael Busk (Indianapolis), system executive and medical director of the St. Vincent Health, Wellness and Preventive Care Institute
  • Heidi Dunniway (Evansville), regional chief medical officer of the St. Vincent Indiana South Region
  • Kirk Masten (Roanoke), medical staff president at Lutheran Hospital of Fort Wayne
  • Tory McCann (Westfield), attorney
  • Rebecca Moredock Mueller (Greenfield), psychiatrist with Renewal Psychiatry
  • John Strobel (Bloomington), cardiologist with Southern Indiana Physicians Cardiology

Pesticide Review Board

The governor made ten reappointments to the board:

  • Megan Abraham (Indianapolis), representing the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, who will serve until April 30, 2026.
  • John Bacone (Indianapolis), representing terrestrial ecologists, who will serve until October 31, 2028.
  • Bruce Bordelon (West Lafayette), representing plant pathologists, who will serve until April 30, 2027.
  • Lee Green (Converse), representing the Indiana Department of Health, who will serve until April 30, 2026.
  • James Hawbaker (Lafayette), representing crop producers, who will serve until April 30, 2027.
  • Ronald Hellenthal (South Bend), representing aquatic ecologists, who will serve until April 30, 2026.
  • Martha Clark Mettler (Indianapolis), representing the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, who will serve until April 30, 2026.
  • Stuart Orr (Morocco), representing conservation organizations, who will serve until April 30, 2027.
  • Michael Titus (Flora), representing applicators, who will serve until October 31, 2028.
  • Kevin Underwood (West Lafayette), representing crop producers, who will serve until October 31, 2028.

The governor also made five new appointments to the board:

  • Joe Long (North Webster), representing applicators, who will serve until April 30, 2027.
  • Wes Marchione (Indianapolis), representing the pesticide industry, who will serve until April 30, 2027.
  • Susan McIntosh (Indianapolis), representing applicators, who will serve until October 31, 2028.
  • Stephen Meyers (West Lafayette), representing weed scientists, who will serve until April 30, 2026.
  • William Parker (Indianapolis), representing the public, who will serve until October 31, 2028.

State Fair Commission

The governor made one reappointment to the commission, who will serve until September 30, 2028:

  • Greg Schenkel (Indianapolis), former vice president of corporate, community and public relations with Pacers Sports & Entertainment

The governor also made one new appointment to the commission, who will serve until September 30, 2028:

  • Shane Hageman (Indianapolis), president of Hageman Group

Mark Cole, Beloved Evansville Businessman, Race DriverPasses Away

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Mark Cole, Beloved Evansville Businessman, Race Driver Passes Away

by Johnny Kincaid

Mark Cole was one of those people who made an impression on everyone he met because he was always living life to the fullest.

He owned an auto glass and window tinting business on First Avenue, but his passion for adventure ran deep. You’d find him tearing up the track in his #81 race car on weekends or burning up the highway riding his bike from Evansville to Florida. His reputation for kindness to others was well known as he lived out Matthew 25:35, “For I was hungry, and you gave me food; I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you welcomed me in…”

Mark was treated for cancer in 2021, but didn’t let that slow him down.

He was recently hospitalized and didn’t recover. He will be missed.

Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office Collecting Coats for the YWCA

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The Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office is asking for your help making a difference this season by donating new and gently used coats to the YWCA Evansville. Any size coat, from infant to adult, can be put to good use, especially larger adult sizes.

You can easily drop off your donations at the 𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗳’𝘀 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿, located at 3520 N Harlan Ave, Evansville, weekdays from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Every coat plays a vital role in keeping someone warm—let’s come together to spread warmth and kindness this season!

Wendy McNamara Reminds You to Apply now for energy, heating benefits

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Apply now for energy, heating benefits
With colder temperatures headed our way and heating costs on the rise, some Hoosiers could have trouble paying their utility bills. Fortunately, assistance is available to help ease the burden.
The Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority’s Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program provides a one-time, annual benefit to help eligible Hoosiers with home energy payments. Applications are now open and will be accepted through April 14, 2025. Applicants can expect to hear back in about 55 days if eligible. For those receiving a direct payment benefit, it could take up to 120 days from the date of approval.Please note the program does not cover all home energy expenses, so it is important that you continue to pay your utility bills. Hoosiers at risk of having their utilities disconnected should contact their provider as soon as possible to negotiate payments. You can find a map of utility providers here, or simply call 211 for local resources.
Some utility providers offer payment assistance for customers struggling to pay their bills. Click here to view a map of providers and visit in.gov/oucc to find a list of websites for more information.

Stay warm and have a great fall season!

Keeping Students in School

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