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Grab ‘N Go Meals and Free Books at Carver

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Wednesday, July 22; 3-5:30 p.m.

Carver Community Center

800 S. E. 8th Street, Evansville

Background:  Ivy Tech Community College’s students in the Hospitality and Culinary Arts Program will be distributing meals to families of those enrolled at the Carver Daycare and After School programs. Main entrees of herb-roasted pork loin, savory lemon-scented baked chicken, parmesan roasted new potatoes, green beans with tomato and caramelized onions will be prepared by students in a summer internship class at Ivy Tech; while the focaccia bread and cookies will be prepared by the Introduction to Baking students. 

At 4 p.m., Read Evansville will be on hand to distribute free books to children. All are limited and will be distributed on a first come, first serve basis.

Contact at the Event: David Wagner, Executive Director, Carver Community Center

VANDERBURGH COUNTY RECENT BOOKING RECORDS

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

Indiana launches Be Well Crisis Helpline To Support Hoosiers During COVID-19 Pandemic

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Counselors And Resources Now Available 24/7 At Indiana 211

The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration today announced the launch of the Be Well Crisis Helpline, a confidential resource available through Indiana 211 that will allow Hoosiers to call and speak with a trained counselor 24/7. The free Be Well Crisis Helpline was established by FSSA’s Division of Mental Health and Addiction in direct response to the elevated levels of stress and anxiety Hoosiers are experiencing due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 has caused a rise in mental health-related issues across Indiana and the entire country, including new stresses brought on by social isolation and the lack of traditional support systems such as family, friends, schools, religious and other community organizations. For many Hoosiers, anxiety regarding financial stress, grief, and loss over bereavement and the loss of one’s “normal routine,” along with all of the unknowns regarding COVID-19, is overwhelming.

“With the Be Well Crisis Helpline, our intent is to provide easy and free access to counselors who can listen and help by simply calling 2-1-1,” said Jennifer Sullivan, M.D., M.P.H., FSSA secretary. “As Hoosiers continue to cope with the ‘new normal’ of life during a pandemic, with massive disruptions in their everyday lives, and with emotions ranging from bored to terrified, it was imperative to build a helpline that could literally be a lifeline for many.”

Indiana 211 is a free service that connects Hoosiers with assistance and answers from thousands of health and human service resources across the state — quickly, easily, and confidentially. Earlier this month, Indiana 211 officially became part of FSSA, helping enable specialized programs such as the Be Well Crisis Helpline as needed.

“By calling 2-1-1 (and selecting 3), callers will connect with an experienced and compassionate counselor specially trained to help with issues triggered or worsened by COVID-19,” said Jay Chaudhary, J.D., DMHA director. “The trained counselors will be able to listen, provide support and promote personal resiliency.”

The Be Well Crisis Helpline is funded by a Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. In Indiana, the program becomes part of the state’s new Be Well Indiana initiative. Additional information about the mental health resources available to Hoosiers is available at BeWellIndiana.org.

YESTERYEAR: Largest Recorded Swarm Of Locusts In American History

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Largest Recorded Swarm Of Locusts In American History

It was on this day 145 years ago, in 1875, that the largest recorded swarm of locusts in American history descended upon the Great Plains. It was a swarm about 1,800 miles long and 110 miles wide, from Canada down to Texas.

Swarms would occur once every seven to 12 years, emerging from river valleys in the Rockies and sweeping east across the country. The size of the swarms tended to grow when there was less rain — and the West had been going through a drought since 1873. Farmers just east of the Rockies began to see a cloud approaching from the west. It was glinting around the edges where the locust wings caught the light of the sun.

People said the locusts descended like driving snow in winter. They covered everything in their path. They sounded like thunder or a train and blanketed the ground, nearly a foot deep. Trees bent over with the weight of them.

They ate nearly every living piece of vegetation in their path. They ate harnesses off horses and the bark of trees, curtains, clothing that was hung out on laundry lines. They chewed on the handles of farm tools and fence posts and railings. Some farmers tried to scare away the locusts by running into the swarm, and they had their clothes eaten right off their bodies.

Similar swarms occurred in the following years. The farmers became desperate. But by the mid-1880s, the rains had returned, and the swarms died down. Within a few decades, the Rocky Mountain locusts were believed to be extinct.

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Grab ‘N Go Meals and Free Books Event At Carver Center

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Grab ‘N Go Meals and Free Books Event At Carver Center

What:  Grab ‘N Go Meals and Free Books at Carver

When: Wednesday, July 22; 3-5:30 p.m.

Where:  Carver Community Center

800 S. E. 8th Street, Evansville

Background:  Ivy Tech Community College’s students in the Hospitality and Culinary Arts Program will be distributing meals to families of those enrolled at the Carver Daycare and After School programs. Main entrees of herb-roasted pork loin, savory lemon-scented baked chicken, parmesan roasted new potatoes, green beans with tomato and caramelized onions will be prepared by students in a summer internship class at Ivy Tech; while the focaccia bread and cookies will be prepared by the Introduction to Baking students. 

At 4 p.m., Read Evansville will be on hand to distribute free books to children. All are limited and will be distributed on a first come, first serve basis.

Contact at the Event: David Wagner, Executive Director, Carver Community Center

Caesars Entertainment And Eldorado Resorts Have Come Together

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Demand For Adjustments To EVSC Extracurricular Athletics Policy

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July 20, 2020

David Smith, Superintendent.
Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation 951 Walnut Street
Evansville, Indiana 47713

RE: Demand for Adjustments to EVSC Extracurricular Athletics Policy

Mr. Smith,

The Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation (“EVSC”) has formed the Virtual Academy. The Virtual Academy offers students a feasible alternative to in-person learning by allowing students to learn from home. Learning from home reduces students’ risk of community exposure to COVID-19. This is great, but there are no workable substitutes to in-person extracurricular athletics.

In general, sports require in-person physical activity. Athletics are important because they provide students with high school experience, life lessons, social development, athletic development, and college scholarship opportunities. These benefits justify facing COVID-19 risks for many students. But the EVSC won’t allow Virtual Academy students to take part in athletics. Under the current policy, EVSC requires students to attend in-person learning at brick-and-mortar high schools in order to participate in athletics.

In effect, EVSC has implemented an all-or-nothing policy where students must choose to face COVID-19 exposure while at school in order to be able to play a sport. Instead, EVSC should provide its Virtual Academy students the same athletic opportunities as in-person students. That way, Virtual Academy students could avoid risk where feasible and still benefit from high school sports participation.

Certainly, COVID-19 presents challenges to our academic system, but all-or-nothing policies are poor approaches that do not accommodate students’ needs in learning, health, safety, development, and opportunity. If Virtual Academy students

cannot participate in athletics, EVSC will cause irreparable harm by denying these students experiences, life lessons, social development, athletic development, and college scholarship opportunities.

Brian Bennett’s son, Sean Bennett, plans to attend the EVSC Virtual Academy. Brian believes that Sean should attend the Virtual Academy because Sean has asthma. Sean’s asthma creates a heightened risk of the more severe symptoms of COVID-19.

In fact, many mothers and fathers are disturbed by the risk of COVID-19 exposure emanating from in-person learning at EVSC brick-and-mortar schools. For this reason, parents like Brian prefer to enroll their children in the EVSC Virtual Academy as a reasonable substitute for in-person learning. However, many parents recognize that there is no substitute for athletic participation that confers equivalent benefits upon their participants.

Further, for students like Sean Bennett who have disabilities and seek an equal opportunity to participate in extracurricular athletics, the EVSC is required to make reasonable accommodations and cannot discriminate against such students. Currently, Brian Bennett believes that EVSC has (1) failed to make reasonable accommodations for Sean Bennett and other similarly situated students in violation of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; and (2) discriminated against Sean Bennett and other similarly situated students on the basis of disability in violation of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

For the EVSC’s 2020-2021 academic year currently being scheduled to begin on August 19, 2020, Brian Bennett demands the EVSC to change its policies by July 24th, 2020, to allow students with disabilities and Virtual Academy students the same opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities as afforded to in-person students. If the EVSC fails to meet this demand, continues to discriminate, fails to accommodate, or commits any other unlawful act toward Sean Bennett and other similarly situated students, then Brian Bennett will pursue legal action against the EVSC seeking an injunction, compensatory damages, punitive damages, and all other just and proper relief.

Sincerely,

Brandon S. Danks, Attorney No. 35512-49 Danks, and Danks, LLC

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1 SE 9th Street, Suite 101 Evansville, Indiana, 47708 (812) 426-1000 (Office) (812) 426-0751 (Fax) brandon@danks-danks.com Attorney for Brian Bennett

page3image57866496FOOTNOTE: This letter was posted by the City-County Observer without bias or editing.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: SO VERY DISAPPOINTED

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SO VERY DISAPPOINTED

by Susan Kirk

Vanderburgh County Treasurer

Last week I attended July 16, 2020, Evansville Board of Public Works meeting as an interested party for a dear friend of mine – Lynne Finney – who submitted a bid (for the second time) for the METS Transit Advertising Contract. This contract is a partnership with the named contractor and METS to sell the advertising space on the city bus benches, shelters, and bus wraps and share with the city the revenue that is generated from such sales.

I have attended both of the bid awarding meetings and have spoken on behalf of Lynne and her company The Evansville Bus & Bench LLC. (The EBB LLC)

If you’ve ever attended a Board of Public Works meeting – in most cases it is very short. Once the agenda item is announced, the representing committee member gives a very brief description, and then it goes to vote like this: Do we have a motion, then a second?  then they say so moved. Next item up? There is little if no discussion whatsoever. All the while they allocate thousands and thousands of dollars. Yet with this contract – the contractor will make the city an honorable profit and the BPW won’t accept the vetting team’s recommendation – this comes off as bad public policy and should be appalling to the taxpayer.

But not the case with the METS Transit Advertising Bid Request – and
THE EBB LLC being awarded the Evaluation Panel recommendation for the new METS Contract. This is the point where I became very disappointed.

The EBB has been vetted 3 different times – Dec 12, Jan 3, and July 16 by the City of Evansville Purchasing Department, and all 3 times her bid was reversed by the BPW and awarded back to the only other bidder – Best View Transit Media LLC. All 3 times there were nefarious reasons for not awarding the contract to her.

While attending the July 16, 2020, BPW meeting, I thought to myself – enough is enough! So, I walked up to the podium to address the BPW and told them “I know all of you and like you, but with this decision, I am SO VERY DISAPPOINTED in you.” Being in many positions with the City and County government over the past 30 years I have never witnessed any behavior like this whatsoever. I reminded them that Best View has not been in compliance with City and State rules through both of these bids. Best View is currently in non-compliance with the City of Evansville zoning code and the Area Plan Commission.

On the other hand – Lynne Finney has a spacious storefront office on N Green River Road that is commercially zoned. I think so highly of Lynne as do so many people in the area do as well. She has been and continues to be a success at whatever she sets her mind to. She has experienced several tough situations yet she has come out of them stronger than ever. She does not give up; in fact, I believe she will be filing a protest over this injustice.

I told the BPW Board that “honestly there appear to be some backroom shenanigans going on”! I hope that you do the right thing and reconsider the vote. l I ended by saying “you do the right thing you will be happy…you do the wrong thing…well you won’t.”

FOOTNOTE: This letter was posted by the CCO without bias or editing.

Barnes and Reidford Selected EPD Officers of the Month

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 The Evansville Police Department would like to announce the Officers of the Month for June 2020. They are Officers Barnes and Reidford. 

   On June 13, 2020 officers were dispatched to the intersection of HWY 41/Covert Ave in reference to an automobile accident involving two gunshot victims. The male and his female passenger took gunfire inside their vehicle in the area of Riverside and Linwood. Bleeding and wounded, the male attempted to drive to the emergency room at St. Vincent. He lost a large amount of blood and passed out behind the wheel and crashed into a small landscaping retaining wall and flipped his vehicle upside down. 

  Officers Barnes and Reidford arrived on the scene and found the male lying face up in the roadway in a large puddle of blood.  He had multiple gunshot wounds to his left leg. Lying next to him was the passenger with a gunshot wound to her left leg. They assisted the Evansville Fire Department by applying two tourniquets to the driver’s legs and waited for an ambulance to arrive.  

The driver lost a lot of blood before going into surgery. It is undisputed that both officers were instrumental in saving this man’s life by applying tourniquets and stopping the bleeding before he bled out.  

  Both officers did an outstanding job of keeping it together under pressure and applying a lifesaving technique with a piece of department-issued equipment. 

Congratulations on a job well done!

 

HAPPENINGS AT THE VANDERBURGH COUNTY GOP

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GOP ELEPHANT
Central Committee:
     Wayne Parke, Chairman
     Mary Jo Kaiser, Political Director
     Dottie Thomas, Vice Chairman
     Lon Walters, Secretary
     Farley Smith, Treasurer
     Kevin Harrison, Editor  
News and Upcoming Events for July 21, 2020

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VCRP Reagan Day: Thursday, August 20, 2020
Event: Vanderburgh County Republican Party Reagan Day
Date : Thursday August 20, 2020
Time: Registration / Cash Bar 5:15 pm
Dinner 6:30 pm
Where: Evansville County Club, 3810 Stringtown Rd, Evansville
Dash for Cash <> Silent Auction
Guest Speaker:  Indiana Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch 
  • Tickets $100 per Person (includes Dinner and Dash for Cash Ticket)
  • $25 per additional Dash for Cash Ticket
Mark your calendar and plan to join the VCRP at the Evansville Country Club on Thursday, August 20, 2020 for our annual Reagan Day celebration.
Watch for invitation. Contact Mary Jo Kaiser for more information at 812-425-8207.

November Election: 

Filing Period to run for EVSC Board of Trustees begins this Wednesday,  July 22, 2020

Wednesday, July 22, 2020, is the first day an individual may file a petition of nomination to be a candidate for the EVSC Board of Trustees (School Board) in the General Election.  One seat in District 1 and 2 seats in District 3 are up for election in 2020. Qualified individuals interested in running for the School Board can file State Forms CAN-34 (Petition of Nomination and Consent for School Board Office and Elected in 2020) and CAN-12 (Statement of Economic Interests for Local and School Board Offices) with the county election board starting this Wednesday, July 22, 2020. The filing period to run for the School Board ends at Noon on Friday August 21, 2020.  School Board races are non-partisan.
For more information contact Mary Jo Kaiser at 812-425-8207.
For a list of 2020 General Election partisan contests and non-partisan School Board seats up for election

Governor Holcomb :
Back On Track Indiana Phase 4.5  Restrictions Continue through July 31
(from 7/16/2 Press Release)
  Last week Governor Eric J. Holcomb announced the majority of the state will remain in Stage 4.5 of the Back On Track Indiana plan through at least July 31.  “As we actively track our health indicators and monitor the data, we continue to see the need to maintain our current levels found on Indiana’s Back On Track roadmap,” Gov. Holcomb said. “By exercising caution, good hygiene, wearing masks and engaging in proper physical distancing, we can all help slow the spread of COVID-19 so when prudent, we can further reopen our state for business.”

Gov. Holcomb has used data to drive decisions since the state’s first case of the novel coronavirus in early March and he continues to do so as the state continues a sector-by-sector reset. The state will continue to monitor and respond to these four guiding principles:

  • The number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients statewide has decreased for 14 days
  • The state retains its surge capacity for critical care beds and ventilators
  • The state retains its ability to test all Hoosiers who are COVID-19 symptomatic as well as health care workers, first responders, and frontline employees
  • Health officials have systems in place to contact all individuals who test positive for COVID-19 and expand contact tracing

The state has updated its requirements for events that are permitted according to Stage 4.5. Events that expect more than 250 attendees are now required to submit a safety plan to their local health department for approval prior to opening. This is effective July 23.

Other social gatherings and meetings remain limited to no more than 250 people.

   Read the entire July 16, 2020 Press Release HERE.
   Read Executive Order 20-36 Back On Track Indiana: Continuation of Stage 4.5
   For full details about our Phase 4.5 of the Back on Track plan click HERE.

Vanderburgh COVID-19 Fatalities: 
 Although COVID -19 positive test results for Vanderburgh County continue to increase (a function of increased testing), the total number of deaths attributed to the virus remains 6. By comparison, a review of the Indiana State Department of Health Mortality Reports for Vanderburgh County for the period 2011 – 2017 indicate an annual average of 36 deaths attributed to influenza and pneumonia, an average of 18.5 deaths due to motor vehicle accidents, and an average of 8.8 homicides annually.
Unfortunately the official pandemic death toll cannot measure the the economic cost, social ramifications, and excess non COVID-19 deaths caused by pandemic related mandates and associated public fear.

 VCRP Central Committee Meeting – Wednesday, August 12, 2020
Time: 11:30 AM
Location: GOP Headquarters,815 John Street, Evansville
Meetings are open to all Vanderburgh County Precinct Committeemen.
Contact Mary Jo Kaiser at 812-425-8207 if you have any questions.

 VCRP Monthly Breakfast – Saturday August 15, 2020
WHERE: C.K. Newsome Center , Room 118A-B
100 Walnut Street, Evansville, IN 47713
     TIME: 7:30 – Doors Open (Complimentary Continental Breakfast)
8:00 – Program
9:00- Adjourn
For more information contact Mary Jo Kaiser at 812-425-8207 or email beamerjo59@gmail.com

Winnecke Golf Outing – Friday September 18
Event: Friends of Winnecke Annual Golf Outing
Date: Friday, September 18, 2020
Location: Fendrich Golf Course
Invites will be sent in August.
For more information Email: mandi@friendsofmayorwinnecke.com

EVSC Board of School Trustees Meeting-
 For more information visit the Board of School Trustees web page.

 City Council Meeting-
For more information visit the

City Council webpage

 County Council Meeting-
 For more information visit

County Council webpage

 County Commission Meeting-
 For more information visit

County Commissioners webpage

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Get the Latest Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information:

Dashboard

Coronavirus Home

Governor Holcomb Executive Orders

Coronavirus Home

State Reps. Hostettler, McNamara:
Indiana Grown reaches milestone, expands membership
(Posted by: Jordan Wallace  | Thursday, July 16, 2020)
Indiana Grown celebrates its five-year anniversary this month as it continues to attract more members and expand services, according to State Reps. Matt Hostettler (R-Fort Branch) and Wendy McNamara (R-Evansville). The program aims to connect more Hoosier consumers with Indiana goods. Hostettler said more than 1,600 farms and businesses that grow, raise, produce or process agriculture items in the state participate in Indiana Grown and new members join almost daily.
“There are a lot of businesses in Indiana and we want them to succeed,” Hostettler said. “As a community, it is important to support our local farms, stores and artists when we can. Indiana Grown helps Hoosier consumers know they are buying local goods with unique labeling, and dedicated areas in grocery stores and shops.”  According to Hostettler, Indiana Grown members and partners include farmers, producers, processors, artisans, retailers, grocers and restaurants. Hoosiers can join for free online at IndianaGrown.org, and have to provide information to ensure their products meet Indiana Grown’s guidelines.
McNamara said consumers can also go to IndianaGrown.org for local shopping guides, recipes using Hoosier-sourced goods, locations of nearby farmers markets, and their popular Indiana Grown maps, trails and guides. “This program offers many benefits including marketing, branding and networking to reach a wider customer base,” McNamara said. “For businesses thinking about joining or wanting more information, I highly encourage you to visit Indiana Grown’s website and become a member today.”
Housed within the Indiana State Department of Agriculture, McNamara said in the last five years Indiana Grown worked with partners to connect schools with local food producers, paved the way for more locally sourced options in hospitals and made local products more readily available to consumers in grocery stores.  “My time with Indiana Grown has been truly rewarding,” said Indiana Grown Program Director Heather Tallman. “More important than these high impact projects are the ripple effects each one has created for our members and partners.”
For a complete timeline of Indiana Grown’s past five years and more information, visit IndianaGrown.org.

 
Former House Speaker Bosma to leave office July 31 after more than 34 years of public service :
(Posted by: Erin Wittern  | Friday, July 17, 2020 )

“After having the privilege of serving our state for more than 34 years, I am leaving with many friendships, experiences and memories – but even greater than all of those is my optimism for Indiana’s future. We have made tremendous strides in nearly every category, from our enviable fiscal health to our top-ranked infrastructure and business climate. While there is more work to do and new challenges ahead, Indiana is fortunate to have strong conservative leaders at the helm who can carry our momentum forward.”

Bosma, first elected Indiana House Speaker in 2004, was the state’s longest-serving Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives. During that time, he said notable policy accomplishments included passing a historic 20-year, fully funded roads plan, cutting or eliminating 14 taxes in the last 15 years, passing property tax reform and right-to-work, and empowering parents through implementing and expanding school choice.

Stay in touch with GOP state legislators representing our area (click links below):

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Trump says he won’t issue national mask mandate :
President Trump says he will not issue a national mandate requiring Americans to wear masks in order to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. “I want people to have a certain freedom and I don’t believe in that, …”.      Read More
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Stay in touch with GOP members of Congress representing our area (click links below):

Visit the Vanderburgh GOP 

page for daily updates.

  Mark Your calendar                CLICK on event for more information
July 22 First day for school board candidates to file
August 15 GOP Monthly Breakfast
August 20 Reagan Day Celebration
August 21 (Noon) Deadline for school board candidates to file
September 18 Friends of Winnecke Golf Outing

  Make sure you add vandygop@gmail.com to your address book so we’ll be sure to land in your inbox!

If you have any questions, contact Mary Jo Kaiser, VCRP Political Director, at

or (812) 425-8207.
for more info. Thank you.
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