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Governor Announces Next Stage to Safely Reopen Indiana

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Governor Eric J. Holcomb announced that because health indicators remain positive, most of the state will advance to stage 3 of the Back On Track Indiana plan on Friday, May 22.

Indiana Back On Track has five stages. For Cass, Lake and Marion counties – which started Stage 2 after other counties, stage 3 may begin on June 1. Local governments may impose more restrictive guidelines.

“We continue to remain vigilant about protecting Hoosiers’ health while taking responsible steps to further open our state’s economy,” Gov. Holcomb said. “Moving to stage 3 is possible because Hoosiers across the state have worked together and made sacrifices to slow the spread.”Gov. Holcomb has used data to drive decisions since the state’s first case of the novel coronavirus in early March and he will continue to do so as the state contemplates a sector-by-sector reset. The state will move to reopen while continuing 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

As the state lifts restrictions and more people return to work, visit a store or restaurant, and participate in more activities, the number of COVID-19 cases will increase. If these principles cannot be met, all or portions of the state may need to pause on moving forward or may need to return to an earlier phase of the governor’s stay-at-home order.

In Stage 3, Hoosiers 65 and over and those with high-risk health conditions – who are the most vulnerable to the coronavirus – should remain at home as much as possible. Face coverings in public places are recommended. Hoosiers who can work from home are encouraged to continue to do so.

Social gatherings of up to 100 people will be permitted following the CDC’s social distancing guidelines.

Retail and commercial businesses may open at 75% capacity. Shopping malls can open at 75% capacity with indoor common areas restricted to 50% capacity.

Gyms, fitness centers, yoga studios, martial arts studios, and similar facilities may open with restrictions. Class sizes should be limited. Equipment must be spaced to accommodate social distancing and cleaned after each use. No contact activities are permitted.

Community pools may open according to CDC guidance. Community tennis and basketball courts, soccer and baseball fields, YMCA programs, and similar facilities may open with social gathering and social distancing guidelines in place.

Community recreational youth and adult sports leagues may resume practices and conditioning while adhering to social gathering and social distancing guidelines. Contact sports, such as lacrosse and football, are prohibited, but conditioning and non-contact drills may take place.

Youth summer day camps may open on June 1.

Raceways may open with restrictions and no spectators.

Campgrounds may open restrictions, including social distancing and sanitation precautions. State park inns will reopen.

Restaurants and bars with restaurant services may continue to operate at 50% capacity, but bar seating must remain closed. Personal services such as hair salons, barber shops, nail salons, spas and tattoo parlors may continue to be open by appointment only and must follow social distancing guidelines.

Movie theaters and playgrounds, which had been projected to open in stage 3, will remain closed. Movie theaters are now projected to open along with other entertainment facilities and venues during stage 4. Playgrounds are to be determined.

If health indicators remain positive, the state will move to stage 4 in mid-June. To learn more about the different stages and the associated dates to get a better understanding about where we’re going as a state, click here to see the full plan: BackOnTrack.in.gov

The Governor has signed an executive order implementing stage 3 of the Back on Track Indiana roadmap. The executive order can be found here:https://www.in.gov/gov/2384.htm

The Critical Industries Hotline continues to be available from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday to respond to business and industry questions about whether a business is considered essential. The center may be reached by calling 877-820-0890 or by emailingcovidresponse@iedc.in.gov

Answers to frequently asked questions and instructions to file for COVID-19-related unemployment are available at Unemployment.IN.gov.

 

HEALTH DEPARTMENT UPDATES STATEWIDE COVID-19 CASE COUNTS

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The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) today announced that 581 additional Hoosiers have been diagnosed with COVID-19 through testing at ISDH, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and private laboratories. That brings to 29,274 the total number of Indiana residents known to have the novel coronavirus following corrections to the previous day’s total.

 

Intensive care unit and ventilator capacity remain steady. As of today, 39 percent of ICU beds and nearly 81 percent of ventilators were available as of Sunday.

A total of 1,716 Hoosiers have been confirmed to have died of COVID-19, an increase of 38 over the previous day. Another 148 probable deaths have been reported based on clinical diagnoses in patients for whom no positive test is on record, following a correction to the previous day’s total. Deaths are reported based on when data are received by ISDH and occurred over multiple days.

                                                       To date, 195,738 tests have been reported to ISDH, up from 189,330 on Tuesday.

                        Marion County had the most new cases, at 119. Other counties with more than 10 new cases were Allen (53), Clinton (14), Hamilton (14), Hendricks (10), Howard (20), Johnson (14), Lake (78), Porter (10), St. Joseph (41) and Tippecanoe (18). A complete list of cases by county is posted at www.coronavirus.in.gov, which is updated daily at noon. Cases are listed by county of residence.

Hoosiers who have symptoms of COVID-19 and those who have been exposed and need a test to return to work are encouraged to visit a state-sponsored testing site for free testing. Individuals without symptoms who are at high risk because they are over age 65, have diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure or another underlying condition, as well as those who are pregnant, live with a high-risk individual or are a member of a minority population that is at greater risk for severe illness, also are encouraged to get tested.

Former GOP Congressman Rokita Enters AG Race, Seeks To Oust Hill

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Former GOP Congressman Rokita Enters AG Race, Seeks To Oust Hill

| Lindsey Erdody, Indianapolis Business Journal

The race for Indiana attorney general has taken another turn with a prominent Republican emerging as a candidate on the last day to file with the party.

Former Congressman Todd Rokita announced Wednesday morning that he’s entering the race to oust embattled Republican incumbent Curtis Hill.

Rokita

Earlier this month, Rokita suggested he might seek the party’s nomination and described Hill as “very badly wounded” after the Indiana Supreme Court suspended Hill’s law license for 30 days over accusations that he drunkenly groped a state lawmaker and three other women during a party.

Hill has denied doing anything wrong and is seeking reelection despite calls from Gov. Eric Holcomb and other top GOP leaders for his resignation. Hill’s temporary license suspension started Monday.

Rokita said he would be “the people’s attorney” if elected and fight federal government overreach and hold China accountable for its role in the coronavirus pandemic. “I can bring certainty in uncertain times,” Rokita said.

Decatur County Prosecutor Nate Harter and Indianapolis attorney John Westercamp also are challenging Hill for the Republican nomination, which will be decided in one month by state party delegates. Typically, the candidate is selected at the party’s convention, but this year the Indiana Republican Party called off the in-person convention. Speeches will be aired on TV instead and delegates will vote by mail.

Rokita, 50, said he didn’t want to challenge an incumbent from his own party, but the Supreme Court ruling made it clear Hill shouldn’t be in office.

“I waited out of respect,” Rokita said. “I waited out of the due process for the law … but that pushed us to this point.”

This won’t be Rokita’s first contested convention race. In 2002, Rokita sought the party’s nomination for secretary of state after working in the office for several years. After three ballots and five hours of voting, he beat then-Vanderburgh County Commissioner Richard Mourdock; Mike Delph, who was an aide to U.S. Rep. Dan Burton at the time; and then-Marion County Coroner John McGoff.

He won the general election that year, becoming the nation’s youngest secretary of state at age 32, and won re-election in 2006. During his time as secretary of state, Rokita became known for his tough enforcement of securities laws and implementation of what was then Indiana’s new voter-identification law, a statute opponents challenged all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

“I’m the only one in this race that has won twice statewide. I’m tested,” Rokita said. “The others have to promise what they’re going to do in office. I have a record.”

In 2010, Rokita won the race for Indiana’s 4th Congressional District, and he served four terms in Congress. In 2018, he ran for U.S. Senate, but he lost in the Republican primary to Jasper businessman Mike Braun.

Last year, after leaving Congress,  he took a job as general counsel and vice president of external affairs for Apex Benefits. The Indianapolis-based company helps employers find ways to lower health care costs.

“I was able to be successful in the private sector without being a lobbyist,” Rokita said.

Rokita enters the race with several endorsements, including from Kosciusko County Republican Party Chairman Mike Ragan, LaGrange County Republican Party Chairman Patricia Brown, state Sen. Erin Houchin and Harrison County Prosecutor J. Otto Schalk, and State Director for the Susan B. Anthony List Jodi Smith.

The winner of the GOP race will face a Democratic opponent in the fall. State Sen. Karen Tallian of Ogden Dunes and former Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel are seeking the Democratic nomination, which also will be decided at the party’s virtual convention next month.

COMMENTARY: THE OPPORTUNITY FOR  THE VANDERBURGH COUNTY REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION TO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE

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THE OPPORTUNITY FOR  THE VANDERBURGH COUNTY REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION TO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE

During the last several years we have been quietly observing the activities of the Vanderburgh County Redevelopment Commission with extreme interest. We have seen some really productive community projects created for the public good by this board.  We also witnessed some political bickering and infighting. In fact, sometimes it was downright disappointing how certain members treated each other during the meetings.

The Redevelopment District of Vanderburgh County was established for the purpose of levying and collecting special benefit taxes (TIF) for economic redevelopment purposes.

The Redevelopment Commission Board’s mission is to finds and determines that all of the taxable property within this special taxing district will be considered to be benefited by the redevelopment projects and economic development projects.

The five members serving on this board are appointed by the County Council and County Commission.  Newly appointed members of this board are County Commissioner Cheryl Musgrave (R), County Commissioner Ben Shoulders (D), County Councilmen Jim Raben (R), County Councilman Tom Shelter (R), and well-known and respected businessman, Wayne Kinney.

There are five (5) TIF Districts in Vanderburg County. Money collected from the five (5) TIF Districts is used to enhance the quality of life issues in the County.

By far the largest and most profitable TIF in Vanderburgh County is Burkhardt Road TiF.  During the last 3 or 4 years, many millions of dollars collected from Burkhardt Road TIF has been used for the expansion of Kansas Road, Oak Hill Road, Booneville -New Harmony Road and a proposed North Greenriver trails, sidewalks, and bike paths in the near future.

Members of this board determine what projects will have the most beneficial economic and quality of life impact within the budget restraints of the respective TIF”S.  The board submits its recommendations to the Vanderburgh County Commission who then approves the project contracts.

It’s important to point out that the newly appointed members of this board are strong will, opinionated, intelligent, hard-working, honest, visionary, have proven business skills, are politically savvy, and have the desire to make Vanderderburgh County a better place to raise their kids.  In fact, we consider the overall makeup of the membership of this most important public board to be competent.

We urge County Commissioner Cheryl Musgrave (R), County Commissioner Ben Shoulders (D), County Councilmen Jim Raben (R), County Councilman Tom Shelter (R), and Wayne Kinney to use all their life experiences and business skills to plan, analyze and candidly discuss how they can invest future TIF money in a creative, responsible and conservative. manner.  Most importantly, they will achieve measurable results if they decide future projects by a consensus vote.

If they can achieve the above challenges this will be the perfect opportunity for members of the Vanderburgh County Redevelopment Commission to show the citizens of our community that are indeed outstanding public servants that know how to practice “Good Public Policy.”

CCO STAFF

 

 

 

 

Senator Mike Braun And Senator Todd Young Introduce Opioid Crisis Bill To Help Veterans Dispose Of Unwanted Medication

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Senator Mike Braun and Senator Todd Young of Indiana are introducing a bill to create a safe, anonymous, and continuously available way for veterans to easily dispose of unwanted medications: the VA Directly Returning Opioid Prescriptions, or DROP Act.

The bill, the Senate companion to Representative Jim Baird’s (IN-04) House bill, would direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure that certain medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs have physical locations for the disposal of controlled substances medications.

“While the COVID-19 pandemic is at the front of all of our minds, we cannot forget about other crises that continue to ravage our countries, such as the opioid abuse and the veterans who are seven times more likely to suffer from an opioid use disorder,” said Senator Mike Braun. “This bill makes it easier for veterans to dispose of unneeded medications, and thus helps reduce the risk of opioid abuse.”

“The opioid epidemic continues to impact some of our most vulnerable in the veteran community,” said Senator Young. “The DROP Act will ensure veterans have access to a way to safely and anonymously dispose of unused or unwanted medications. As Congress works with our state and local partners to address the opioid crisis, this bill will help prevent opioids from being abused or ending up in the wrong hands.”

State Reps. McNamara, Sullivan Congratulates Evansville Student Named STEM Team WInner

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State Reps. McNamara, Sullivan Congratulates Evansville Student Named STEM Team, Winner

STATEHOUSE (May 19, 2020) – Gov. Eric Holcomb recently named Signature School student Ankush Dhawan to the 2020 Governor’s STEM Team, according to State Reps. Wendy McNamara (R-Evansville) and Holli Sullivan (R-Evansville).

Dhawan is 1 of 4 students selected for their work in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics and will receive $1,000 through the College Choice 529 Program. McNamara said part of the reason why Dhawan was chosen for this award is because of his work ethic, dedication to his studies and near-perfect marks on the math portion of the SAT, and the English and reading sections of the ACT.

“Ankush’s success is because of his determination and ambition, in addition to the support of those close to him,” McNamara said. “It is encouraging to see students from our area accomplish such incredible things, and I’m confident he will continue making his community proud.”

According to Sullivan, Dhawan is the Indiana winner and overall second-place winner in the Stockholm Junior Water Prize U.S. National Competition, the 2017 silver winner at International Sustainable World Energy, Engineering and Environment Project Olympiad and top finisher in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.

“Indiana is fortunate to have gifted students like Ankush who use their talents to make the world a better place,” Sullivan said. “His accomplishments extend internationally, and Evansville is proud of his success.”

Dhawan is graduating with several dual credits and hopes to focus on sustainability by researching water contamination and majoring in environmental engineering.

Additional Assistance Arriving Soon For Hoosier Families

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Additional assistance arriving soon for Hoosier families whose children receive free and reduced-cost meals at school, via the “Pandemic EBT” program

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration announced today that families whose children receive free or reduced-cost meals at school will receive “Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer” benefits beginning this week. These benefits are intended to reimburse the families of about 600,000 Hoosier children for the cost of meals that their children were unable to receive due to COVID-19-related school closures.

Families who do not currently receive SNAP will receive an electronic benefits transfer card in the mail by the end of May, along with instructions on how to activate and use their card. Families do not have to apply for Pandemic EBT, also called “P-EBT.” The P-EBT card works like a bank debit card and can be used at any store in the United States that accepts SNAP, but cannot be used for cash withdrawals at ATM machines. FSSA worked with the Indiana Department of Education to identify these families based upon their child already receiving free and reduced-cost meals at school.

Families who already receive SNAP benefits will have the additional benefits applied to their SNAP accounts on their Hoosier Works EBT card by the end of May.

For P-EBT, each household will receive an amount equal to the value of the daily allotment for breakfast and lunch multiplied by the average number of school days missed since the school was canceled. Families will receive this amount for each eligible child in the household for the number of days the child was eligible for free and reduced lunch. The value of the school meals per day is equal to the federal reimbursement rate for breakfast and lunch at the free rate, which is $5.70, as specified by the United States Department of Agriculture.

The Indiana Department of Education calculated an average of 56 missed days of school through the end of the school year (including spring break) for Indiana students, counting all weekdays from March 13, 2020, through May 29, 2020. The first date was the day following Governor Eric Holcomb’s executive order closing schools for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. The second date represents the average last day of school for schools in this school year.

COVID-19 Crisis Response Fund of the Greater Evansville Region Announces Round Two and Three of Allocations

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COVID-19 Crisis Response Fund of the Greater Evansville Region Announces Round Two and Three of Allocations

Evansville, IN The COVID-19 Crisis Response Fund of the Greater Evansville Region, has awarded $454,195 in two rounds of allocations to 25 nonprofit agencies addressing community needs related to the novel coronavirus.

Still in the relief phase, the Response Fund announced Round Two and Three disbursements would assist with funding operations, food, and financial needs. Applications from each of the five-county region of the fund, Gibson, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh, and Warrick, were approved.

The COVID-19 Crisis Response Fund of the Greater Evansville Region will continue awarding monetary support to local nonprofit organizations that are focused on relief, recovery, and restoration as local COVID needs to evolve. Nonprofit agencies that have completed an application but were not awarded funding, or received a lesser amount of funding than requested, have received communication from the allocations committee.

Applicants must be a 501(c)(3) organization in good standing with the Internal Revenue Service. Funding must serve residents in at least one of the primary identified regional counties of Gibson, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh, and Warrick. The allocation committee considers all government funding received by the nonprofits. Further details regarding funding can be found on the COVID-19 Crisis Response Fund of the Greater Evansville Region website at covidresponsefund.com.

Second and Third Round Funding Recipients:

Organization: Albion Fellows Bacon Center Awarded $32,000

Organization: Aurora, Inc. Awarded $10,000

Organization: Community One, Inc. Awarded $3,000

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Organization: Dubois-Pike-Warrick Economic Opportunity Committee, Inc. Awarded $3,500

Organization: Encountering Hope Ministries, Inc. Awarded $10,000

Organization: G E M Ministries, Inc. Awarded $10,000

Organization: Gibson County Area Rehabilitation Centers, Inc. Awarded $8,000

Organization: God is Good Foundation, Inc. Awarded $2,500

Organization: Lords Pantry of Wadesville Awarded $10,000

Organization: Princeton Salvation Army Awarded $50,000

Organization: Spencer County Council on Aging Awarded $8,000

Organization: St. Vincent Early Learning Center Awarded $5,000

Organization: Sycamore Rehabilitation Services Awarded $2,200

Organization: Trinity United Methodist Church of Oakland City Awarded $25,000

Organization: United Caring Shelters, Inc. Awarded $12,500

Organization: United Methodist Youth Home Awarded $16,400

Organization: Warrick Ecumenical Soup Kitchen, Inc. Awarded $5,000

Organization: Catholic Charities Awarded $30,000

Organization: Evansville Christian Life Center Awarded $31,500

Organization: Family Matters of Posey County Indiana, Inc. Awarded $28,900

Organization: Junior League of Evansville, Inc. Awarded $9,000

Organization: Mt Vernon Ministerial Association Awarded $6,695

Organization: Outreach Ministries Awarded $5,000

Organization: Evansville Salvation Army Awarded $125,000

Organization: Urban Seeds, Inc. Awarded $5,000

With all three rounds of funding combined, the Response Fund has awarded a total of $654,000 to area nonprofits. As of today, the Response Fund has raised over $4,800,000, which includes a sponsored project of Indiana United Ways, with funding provided by Lilly Endowment Inc. The target for the fund is $6,000,000, but that number will depend on the needs of the community as time goes on.

Donations to the fund can be made by credit card at covidresponsefund.com. Cash and Check donations are accepted at all Old National Bank and Heritage Federal Credit Union branches. Please reference “COVID-19 Crisis Response” with your donation. Checks should be made payable to United Way of Southwestern Indiana and reference COVID-19 Crisis Response Fund of the Greater Evansville Region (or GERF for short) in the memo. Send payment to: United Way of Southwestern Indiana, 318 Main Street, Suite 504, Evansville, IN 47708. For Stock or ACH payment please call 812-421- 7476.

The Covid-19 Crisis Response Fund of the Greater Evansville Area is an organized and collaborative community effort to support 501(c) (3) organizations in our community during the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond. In response to the Covid-19 crisis, funding partners established a cross-sector, community-wide Response Fund, primarily Gibson, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh, and Warrick Counties. This response is designed to serve the community through the relief, recovery, and restoration. Visit CovidResponseFund.com to do what you can.

HAPPENINGS AT THE VANDERBURGH GOP

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gop
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 May 19, 2020

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CLERK CONFIRMS EARLY VOTING TO BEGIN MAY 26TH
(From May 14, 2020 Press Release by Vanderburgh County Clerk Carla J Hayden
Last week Vanderburgh County Clerk Carla Hayden confirmed that “in-person” absentee voting, commonly referred to as “early voting”, will begin on Tuesday, May 26, 2020.  Although the Civic Center remains closed for most activities, early voting at the Civic Center will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 26. Early voting will be held on the first floor of the Civic Center, and voters should enter at the Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard entrance. Voters will only have access to the early voting polling site within the Civic Center.
“The County Commissioners, Mayor Winnecke, and I determined that this solution would be the least disruptive to voters accustomed to voting at the Civic Center.“, said Hayden.
Early Voting at the libraries will also begin at noon on Tuesday, May 26.

Early Voting (Absentee In-Person)  BEGINS NEXT WEEK:
Early Voting for the 2020 Primary will be held for one week, beginning Tuesday May 26, 2020  and ending at Noon on Monday June 1, 2020.
 Early Voting Dates and Locations are:
* At the Election Office : Although the Civic Center remains closed for most activities,  Early Voting will be held on the first floor of the Civic Center, and voters should enter at the Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. entrance.
. Tuesday May 26, 2020 – Friday May 29, 2020 -> Daily 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
. Saturday -  May 30, 2020 ->  8:00 am – 4:00 pm
. Monday June 1, 2020 – > 8:00 am to NOON
 
* Early Voting at Satellite locations :
 Weekdays at Central, McCollough, Northpark, Oaklyn, and Red Bank Libraries:
. Tuesday May 26, 2020 – Friday May 29, 2020
. Hours are Tuesday- Thursday noon to 6:00 pm , Friday noon-5:00 pm
Saturday Voting at Northeast Park Baptist & Cedar Hall School:
. May 30, 2020  -> 8:00 am – 3:00 pm
Early Vote Locations:
1 NW ML King Jr., Rm 216
2100 N. Fulton Ave
200 SE MLK BLVD
5115 Washington Ave
960 Koehler Dr.
215 N. Boeke Rd
3001 Oaklyn Dr.
120 S. Red Bank

Voting by Mail:
DEADLINE to request Application for Absentee Ballot is this Thursday,
May 21, 2020.
ALL REGISTERED VOTERS IN THE STATE OF INDIANA MAY CAST AN ABSENTEE MAIL-IN BALLOT FOR THE 2020 PRIMARY ELECTION.  Refer to in.gov Absentee Voting webpage for more information.
To vote Absentee by mail:
 Request an APPLICATION FOR ABSENTEE BALLOT by contacting the Vanderburgh County Election Office at 812-435-5122, or by downloading the APPLICATION FOR ABSENTEE BALLOT found on the Vanderburgh County Clerk Elections web page .
Mail the completed  APPLICATION FOR ABSENTEE BALLOT  to:
Vanderburgh County Election
P.O. Box 3343
Evansville, IN 47732-3343
The deadline for absentee-by-mail applications to be received by the Election Office for the 2020 Primary Election is 11:59 p.m., Thursday May 21, 2020.
  If you have any questions, please call the Election Office at 812-435-5122.
 The Vanderburgh County Election Office is located at : Civic Center Complex, Room 216
1 NW ML King Jr. BLVD ,Evansville, IN

Primary Election Day Tuesday June 2, 2020:  On Election Day, JUNE 2, 2020, the polls open at 6:00 AM and close at 6:00 PM. Registered Vanderburgh County voters may vote at any Vote Center that is convenient for them. If you need information about a voter’s registration, you can call the Voter’s Registration Office at (812) 435-5223. For other election questions, you can call the Election Office at (812) 435-5122.

 

2020 Republican Primary Candidates
FEDERAL
President of the United States      Donald J. Trump (incumbent)
 William Weld
U S Representative District 8       Larry Bucshon (incumbent)
STATE
Governor                       Eric Holcomb (incumbent)
  Lt. Governor                       Suzanne Crouch (incumbent)
(selected at GOP State Convention)
 Attorney General                 Nate Harter
(selected at GOP State Convention)      Curtis T. Hill, Jr. (incumbent)
(Vote for 1)                       John Westercamp
 State Senate District 50               Vaneta Becker (incumbent)
State Representative  Dist. 64       Matt Hostettler (incumbent)
State Representative  Dist. 76       Wendy McNamara (incumbent)
State Representative  Dist. 77            OPEN
State Representative  Dist. 78       Holli Sullivan (incumbent)
VANDERBURGH
Clerk of the Circuit Court             Carla Hayden (incumbent)
County Recorder                           Debbie Stucki (incumbent)
County Treasurer                          Dottie Thomas
County Coroner                                  OPEN
County Surveyor                           Linda Freeman
County Commissioner Dist. 1      Zachary Rascher
County Commissioner Dist. 3      Randall Chapman
(Vote for 1)                             Cheryl Musgrave (incumbent)
County Council At-Large            Billy D. Garrett
(Vote for not more than 3)               Jill Anne Hahn
        Joe Kiefer (incumbent)
        Angela Koehler Lindsey (incumbent)
PRECINCT COMMITTEEMAN RACES:
WARD TWO PRECINCT 17
Vote for ONE (1)
TIM BRAY
JOHN MONTRASTELLE
WARD THREE PRECINCT 17
Vote for ONE (1)
STEVE SCHAEFER
G. MICHAEL SCHOPMEYER
WARD FIVE PRECINCT 5
Vote for ONE (1)
FARLEY P SMITH
ALICE B WORK
WARD SIX PRECINCT 5
Vote for ONE (1)
ERIC B. SCHMIDT
DOTTIE THOMAS
ARMSTRONG TWP PRECINCT 1
Vote for ONE (1)
JASON GERTEISEN
VICTORIA LANGTON
CENTER TWP PRECINCT 4
Vote for ONE (1)
THERESA R. BASSEMIER
KATHLEEN KAT MOLLOY
SCOTT TWP PRECINCT 1
Vote for ONE (1)
CHRIS LANTAFF
JOHN B. WILLIAMS
SCOTT TWP PRECINCT 5
Vote for ONE (1)
STEVE HAMMER
MARTHA C. STOTT
STATE CONVENTION DELEGATE RACES:
WARD ONE & KNIGHT TOWNSHIP
Vote for not more than Six (6)
JEFFREY W. AHLERS
TOM BOZIKIS
JOSHUA A. CLAYBOURN
BETTY J HERMANN
MARY JO KAISER
TIM O’BRIEN
WAYNE PARKE
HOLLY DUNN PENDLETON
SEAN SELBY
WARD TWO & WARD FOUR
Vote for not more than Six (6)
STEVE ARY
TIM BRAY
ARCHIE CARTER
MARY ELLEN COKER
CARLA J. HAYDEN
GINA HERMANN
NICHOLAS HERMANN
STEVE HERMANN
CAROL MCCLINTOCK
GREG PEETE
NATALIE RASCHER
ZAC RASCHER
E. LON WALTERS
LLOYD WINNECKE
WARD THREE & WARD SIX
Vote for not more than Seven (7)
DAVID CHRISTMAS
WENDY JO CHRISTMAS
SHERRY FARMER
GLEN J. KISSEL
STEVE SCHAEFER
ERIC B. SCHMIDT
G. MICHAEL SCHOPMEYER
LINDA SINGER
DOTTIE THOMAS
GABE WHITLEY
 WARD FIVE
Vote for not more than Five (5)
MARSHA ABELL BARNHART
RICHARD F. BARNHART
VICKI BROWN
MICHELLE C. MERCER
CHRISTOPHER POLITANO
PEGGY L. POLITANO 7
FARLEY P. SMITH
JAMES F. TOLEN
ARMSTRONG & SCOTT TOWNSHIPS
Vote for not more than Five (5) 
JASON GERTEISEN
STEVE HAMMER
JOSEPH J. OPPEE
HOBART SCALES
MARTHA C. STOTT
NICHOLAS J. WILDEMAN
JOHN B. WILLIAMS
TERESA D. WINK
 
 

 Current status of the Governor’s Roadmap to Reopening is Stage 2 :
 We are currently in Stage 2 of the Governor ‘s  5 Stages to get Indiana Back on Track roadmap. This phase of the reopening of Indiana’s economy lasts until May 24.
  • Hoosiers over 65 and those with high-risk conditions should remain home.
  • Lifting essential travel restrictions & allowing gatherings of 25 people
  • Retail stores, shopping malls and commercial businesses can open at 50% capacity
  • Restaurants can open at 50% capacity
  • Personal services may also open by appointment only
  • Office workers should continue working remotely, if possible.
Learn more about the Back on Track Indiana roadmap for reopening Indiana at backontrack.in.gov 

Get the Latest Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information:

Dashboard

Coronavirus Home

Governor Holcomb Executive Orders

Coronavirus Home

 
Click above to get your #INthistogether
 t-shirt. Net proceeds go to the COVID-19 Crisis Response Fund of the Greater Evansville Region.

 VCRP Central Committee Meeting – CANCELLED
Contact Mary Jo Kaiser at 812-425-8207 if you have any questions.

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

 The Evansville Civic Center is CLOSED to the public until further notice.
 Visit www.evansvillegov.org for City of Evansville information.

 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

  Editor’s Note:

Memorial Day 2020 –
Next Monday, May 25, 2020, is Memorial Day. As we continue to deal with the difficulties and sacrifices made during the coronavirus pandemic, we must never forget the ultimate sacrifice made by American patriots that served in our armed forces. These men and women ARE the true heros. In the face of imminent danger or certain death, they did not allow fear to debilitate them from doing what had to be done to preserve our freedom.
We could learn from their example. We must jealously guard our freedoms and defend our Constitution with the same resolve as the patriots whose graves we will decorate in the coming days. We must honor their sacrifice with a vigilance to stand against those that would use the pandemic as a means to erode our freedoms. We cannot allow the use of fear to cloud our judgement, or to advance a political agenda. If the servicemen we honor on Memorial Day did not allow fear to keep them from storming the beaches of Normandy, Guadalcanal or Iwo Jima should we truly be fearful of the act of casting a ballot in person?
Remember the words of Benjamin Franklin: “Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.”
This Memorial Day honor our fallen heroes, embrace your family, and take stock it what is means to be an American.
Happy Memorial Day.
-  Kevin Harrison, VCRP Information Coordinator

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Delegates Will Select Nominees for Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General
  • The convention will be broadcast live from their studios from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on June 18th.
  • Ballots will arrive to delegates around June 22, 2020.
  • The ballot will allow each delegate to indicate his or her top choice.
    • As long as that top choice remains an option, the delegate’s vote is cast for that candidate.
    • The ballot will also allow, but does not require, a delegate to pick who they would vote for if their top candidate is dropped.
    • Once dropped, if no other choices are selected by a delegate, that delegate’s ballot is no longer cast.
  • The deadline to receive returned ballots is July 9th at 5:00 p.m.
  • Votes will be counted and results will be announced July 10.

Legislative Council Assigns Study Topics 
(from Indianasenaterepublicans 05/15/20 post)
Over the summer and fall, lawmakers meet to take a deep look at a variety of issues in order to get a better grasp on how to address them in the next legislative session. These meetings are referred to as study committees.This year, due to the unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, legislators may not be able to meet for study committees in the traditional way and may opt instead for virtual meetings and other forms of communication. In addition to the topics already planned for study, COVID-19 has brought to light a number of other issues our government has never been faced with before.            Read more

Thanking our Military Heroes this Memorial Day
By State Sen. Jim Tomes (R-Wadesville)

There’s a folk song that was written back in the mid-1950s and hit the charts in the early-1960s titled, “Where Have All the Flowers Gone.” It takes the listener from a point of flowers being picked by young girls who in turn eventually marry young men who become young soldiers that die in war and the graves that are decorated with flowers.

On Memorial Day we are obliged to show our reverence to those young American men who died in all of the early wars of our country’s history, and now also the young women who have paid the wages for freedom and liberty.

The white marble stones and crosses that stand eternally in cemeteries and places of honor in this country, and in foreign lands, with the names of the young, brave warriors who marched into war, held their positions in combat and whose courage overcame fear inspires us to recognize their sacrifices and respectfully as a nation say, “Thank you dear comrades; to you we are most grateful.”

As Americans we are bound to forever display our gratitude to those who truly define the word HERO. We thank our brothers and sisters who wear our country’s military uniforms and stand tall in the ranks, and we are grateful to our God who has blessed us with them.

Respectfully,
Senator Jim Tomes

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

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Learn more about the
United States Space Force HERE
The flag of the nation’s newest military branch was unveiled May 15, 2020 during a ceremony in the Oval Office. President Donald Trump watched as the flag was unfurled and designated it the official banner of the Space Force. This is the first new military flag released in 72 years.
  • Read Remarks by President Trump at Presentation of the United States Space Force Flag and Signing of an Armed Forces Day Proclamation HERE.
  • Watch as President Trump Participates in the Presentation of the United States Space Force Flag HERE

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
May 21 Deadline to Request Absentee-by-Mail Ballot
May 26 Early Voting In-Person Begins
May 30 Saturday Early Voting In-Person
June 1 (Noon) Early Voting In-Person Ends
June 2 Primary Election Day
June 16 Voter Registration Begins

  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.
Paid for by the Vanderburgh County Republican Party, Farley Smith, Treasurer

We’re Bringing Summer Camp To You

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BRINGING SUMMER CAMP TO YOU

In accordance with Governor Holcomb’s plan for Back on Track Indiana, the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites is currently scheduled to reopen at 100 percent capacity on July 7. The governor has reiterated that this plan is subject to change. Due to the timing of the opening dates, we are canceling our summer camps scheduled to take place through July 4 across the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites system. As of now, all camps beginning the week of July 6 are scheduled to take place.

We are heartbroken to not have these weeks of camp this year at the museum, and we apologize for the inconvenience this may cause you.

In an effort to provide a camp experience to our campers, we are excited to offer two options to engage your campers.

WEEKLY DESIGN CHALLENGES

Each week, we will post a challenge designed for your child to design, create and build using materials they have around their house. Campers will be invited to share their creations on a virtual platform. Challenges will be posted on our Facebook page and camp page every Monday. This is a free activity and all youth are invited to participate.

CAMP IN A BOX

Each kit has all the supplies needed to do five activities while entertaining your campers and continuing to stay safe at home. There will be an activity guide including instructions and additional resources to help further exploration. Camp in Box themes include:

Students entering grades 1-6 in fall 2020:

SUMMER RESET

PIRATE ENGINEERING

DOMINO EFFECT

PLANET MARS

KITCHEN CHEMISTRY

ART KIT

 

Children 4-6 years-old (Pre-PreK):

SPACE CAMP WITH PBS’S READY, JET, GO! 

Learn more and order your box by clicking below.

Click here

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