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“IS IT TRUE” FOR DECEMBER 9, 2019

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We hope that today’s “IS IT TRUE” 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?

IS IT TRUE members of the Evansville City Council recently voted to take money from the Local Income Tax account so they could transfer money from one account to another in an attempt to balance the 2019 City budget? …the way you balanced a budget is to spend within your means?

IS IT TRUE we are told because of the serious philosophical and personality conflicts between the newly elected Democratic City Council members that Mayor Winnecke will now be able to craft a political and budgetary strategy that will ensure that his future capital projects plans will become a reality?  …we are told that divide and conquer politics most always succeed?

IS IT TRUE we are told that members of the Vanderburgh County Democratic Party Central Committee are about to learn a lesson in Evansville Politics 101?  …we are told that the lesson they will learn is that a couple of newly elected  Democratic City Council members could care less about what they want them to do?

IS IT TRUE we are told that a couple of newly-elected Democratic City Council members could care less about what the State Democratic Party Chairmen John Zody wants them to do?

IS IT TRUE we are told that a couple of newly-elected Democratic Evansville City Council members could care less about what the local Trade Union members want them to do? …we can guarantee that this type of attitude towards members of the local Trades Unions will cause them serious political problems down the road?

IS IT TRUE we have been told that many supporters of former two-term Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel (D) and current State Representative Ryan Hatfield (D) are disappointed about the way they have been treated by a couple of newly elected Democratic City Council members?

IS IT TRUE we been told that the newly elected At-Large City Councilperson Kaitlin Moore Morley (D) has upset many local Democratic party loyalists for playing both sides of the City Council Attorney issue? …that Kaitlin Moore Morley (D) is considered to be the swing vote for the Evansville City Attorney job?  …we are now told that because of the way she is playing political games with the City Council Attorney vote that it will hurt her political future in the Vanderburgh County Democratic Party?

IS IT TRUE we have also been told that inflated egos, know-it-all attitudes, self-serving demeanors, inflated opinions about leadership skills have created a dysfunctional Evansville City Council starting in 2020?

IS IT TRUE that it is no secret that the newspaper industry has been falling on hard times for at least a decade?…from the New York Times to every daily news based paper in the country the struggle to survive has meant cuts to staff and the associated lowering the bar when it comes to quality?…it seems as though any small to medium-sized daily paper that once captured a reader’s attention for at least a half-hour a day is now only capable of keeping one’s attention for less than 10 minutes? …we are being told by our friends in the mainstream media if the new out of town conglomerate that now owns the Evansville Courier and Press don’t pay strict attention to the business at hand they could be forced to publish online only? …we hope that this doesn’t happen because we also enjoy reading a printed newspaper?

IS IT TRUE that the CVB board has once again decided to hire an out of town firm to search for a new Executive Director?  …whats so amazing is that there are several local candidates with the ability to make Evansville a travel destination, including some who currently work for CVB, who are interested in the job? …we wonder how did the search for an out of the area CVB Executive Director work out during the last three times?

IS IT TRUE we are hearing that there is a discussion concerning making some adjustments in the makeup of the CVC Board Of Directors? …we are told that several political movers and shakers feel that a couple of current board members have become nonresponsive towards the people that appoint them to this board?

IS IT TRUE that our “Readers Poll” is non-scientific but trendy?

Today’s “Readers Poll” question is: Would you purchase a Sunday printed edition of the City-County Observer for one buck?

We are pleased to provide obituaries from area funeral homes at no cost.  We are also pleased to announce that we are now providing news from all the area High Schools.  Please scroll down the paper and you shall see a listing of them.

If you would like to advertise on the CCO please contact us at City-County Observer@live.com

FOOTNOTE:  Any comments posted in this column do not represent the views or opinions of the City-County Observer or our advertisers.

We understand that sometimes people don’t always agree and discussions may become a little heated.  The use of offensive language, insults against commenters will not be tolerated and will be removed from our site.

Any comments posted in this column do not represent the views or opinions of the City-County Observer or our advertisers

 

 

Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners December 10, 2019

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civic center

AGENDA Of Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners

December 10, 2019, At 3:00 pm, In Room 301

  1. Call to Order
  2. Attendance
  3. Pledge of Allegiance
  4. Action Items 
    1. Ordinance CO.05-19-008: An Ordinance Amending Section 16.04.040 D, 17.12.30 C & 17.36.020 C of the Vanderburgh County Code
    2. Ordinance CO.05-19-009: An Ordinance Amending Section 16.08.060 D of the Vanderburgh County Code
    3. Final Reading of Ordinance CO.12-19-028: Amending Ch. 2.40.040 E: Laboratory Services/Water Quality Testing
    4. First Reading of CO.: An Ordinance Amending Subpart 2.40.040 D of the Vanderburgh County Code: Tuberculosis Clinic Fees
    5. Board Appointments
    6. Vanderburgh County Towing Contract
    7. Southwestern Behavioral Healthcare, Inc. Employee Assistance Program Contract Renewal
    8. Public Defender Agreement for Professional Services
    9. Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana, Inc. Grant Agreement
    10. Superintendent of County Buildings: County Engineer Lease Renewal
    11. Youth Resources of Southwestern Indiana Contract
    12. The ARC of Evansville Grant Agreement 
    13. Sanitary Sewer Agreement
  5. Department Head Reports
  6. New Business
  7. Old Business
  8. Consent Items
    1. Approval of November 19, 2019, Meeting Minutes
    2. Employment Changes 
    3. County Clerk October 2019 Monthly Report
    4. County Auditor: Claims Voucher Reports: 11/18-11/22/19 & 11/25-11/29/19 & 12/2-12/6/19
    5. County Treasurer: October 2019 Monthly Report
    6. Weights and Measures Oct. 16-Nov. 15 2019 Report
    7. County Engineer: Department Reports and Claims 
    8. Travel Request: Voter Registration
    9. County Coroner: Surplus Request
    10. UNO November 2019 Report
  9. Public Comment
  10. Adjournment

Commentary: It Won’t Be A Big Moment

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Commentary: It Won’t Be A Big Moment

By John Krull
TheStatehouseFile.com 

INDIANAPOLIS – Years ago, when I was still a newspaper reporter, I investigated a state elected official’s office.

It wasn’t pretty.

John Krull, publisher, TheStatehouseFile.com

What I found was that a couple of senior male staff members had sexually harassed a young female staffer. Another staffer had pilfered state funds to use for routine personal purposes – paying rent, covering credit card bills and buying groceries. There were credible accusations that several male staffers had had sex with a college-age female intern. Evidence showed that other staffers had used state vehicles and other property on private business. And so on.

What struck me then was how mundane it all was.

Unlike in the movies, there was no big smoking gun – no mythic ah-ha moment that tied everything together so that the wrong of the guilty parties was clear to any and all.

Instead, it was the accumulation of one small but sordid detail on top of another and another and another that revealed just how complete – and how completely banal – the corruption in that office was.

It’s looking like Donald Trump’s presidency will unravel in the same fashion.

The nation’s focus now is on the impeachment struggle that was triggered by the now-infamous phone call in which Trump asked Ukraine’s president to do him a “favor” and dig up dirt on a political rival.

There already is and will continue to be intense debate about whether Trump’s transgression should be considered an impeachable offense.

But the reality is that the Ukraine investigation is only one of the many threats now facing this president.

A federal appellate court just ruled that two banks with whom President Trump has done business must comply with subpoenas from Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives and hand over his financial records. A similar case involving Trump’s accountants may force him to cough up his tax records.

The president has fought long and hard to keep any details of his business dealings from becoming public. He is the first president since Richard Nixon not to release his tax returns and place his assets in some sort of blind trust.

When he was running for president, Trump said his reason for refusing to release his tax returns was that he was being audited by the Internal Revenue Service – unjustly, he strongly implied.

The excuse worked with only the terminally gullible.

It’s hard to think of an American institution more reviled and despised than the IRS. If the tax collectors were persecuting Trump, revealing just how they were victimizing him only would have garnered him sympathy.

The more likely reality is that release of those financial records will show that, during one or more of the president’s serial bankruptcies, he borrowed or accepted money from some sources he shouldn’t have, such as Russian oligarchs. One of the banks involved in the recent court ruling is notorious for laundering Russian money.

If he’s still taking money from any foreign source, he’s violating the emoluments clause of the U.S. Constitution.

A transgression of that nature will be difficult for Republicans in Congress to explain or wish away, much as they might want to and as hard as they likely will try to do so.

These are only two of the challenges confronting the president.

Others are being mounted at the state level.

Again, it’s not anyone thing that is doing the damage. It is the slow but steady accumulation of one small but sordid detail upon another upon another that is making clear just how compromised this president and his presidency are.

If an end comes soon for Donald Trump’s presidency, the conclusion likely won’t be the product of a moment of high drama.

Instead, it will be the result of a lot of little ones.

And we Americans will be left to ponder just how small, even petty, were the temptations that toppled a president.

Footnote: John Krull is director of Franklin College’s Pulliam School of Journalism and publisher of TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.

This article was posted by the City-County Observer without bias or editing.

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Apple, Miller Close U.S Open With Gold

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Former Indiana men’s swimming All-Americans Zach Apple and Cody Miller each captured victories in the 100 freestyle and 200 breaststrokes, respectively. Apple finished the weekend with a pair of runner-up finishes and an individual title, while Miller earned a Bronze and a Gold.

Lilly King (Silver), Annie Lazor (Bronze), Bruno Blaskovic (Bronze) all picked up medals on the final day of action from the Georgia Tech McAuley Aquatic Center on Saturday night. Michael Brinegar (fourth) and Laura Morley (sixth) each added to the Hoosier total in Championship Final participants.

INDIANA RESULTS

Women’s 100 freestyle

  1. Cora Dupre – 56.08

Men’s 100 freestyle

  1. Zach Apple – 47.69
  2. Bruno Blaskovic – 49.93
  3. Mohamed Samy – 49.82
  4. Jakub Karl – 51.63
  5. Brendan Burns – 52.61

Men’s 1,500 freestyle

  1. Michael Brinegar – 15:08.84
  2. Mikey Calvillo – 15:36.70

Women’s 200 backstroke

  1. Kennedy Goss – 2:13.63

Women’s 200 breaststroke

  1. Lilly King – 2:22.63
  2. Annie Lazor – 2:23.25
  3. Laura Morley – 2:28.38
  4. Emily Weiss – 2:39.11

Men’s 200 breaststroke

  1. Cody Miller – 2:09.67
  2. Justin Winnett – 2:18.98
  3. Ian Finnerty – 2:23.03

Men’s 200 butterfly

  1. Brendan Burns – 2:08.48

FOOTNOTES:

  • Apple won the 100 freestyle by nearly a full second, while also swimming a time that threated the US record mark of 47.39 set by Ryan Held earlier this season.
  • Miller narrowly out-touched the 2016 Olympic champion Dmitriy Balandin (2:09.71) to secure the victory in the 200 breaststrokes.
  • Brinegar coasted to an Olympic Trial cut time in the 1,500 freestyle, while Calvillo also touched under the qualifying time.
  • After nabbing a spot in the D Final, Dupre was able to best her preliminary round time and establish an Olympic Trial cut time.

HOT JOBS IN EVANSVILLE AREA

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Tips To Protect You And Your Family From The Flu

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Tips To Protect You And Your Family From The Flu

by Wendy McNamara

The flu spreads from close contact with infected people, objects and surfaces, and infections occur when the virus enters our bodies through the eyes, mouth or nose. Symptoms can include fever, chills, headache, cough and sore throat.

A flu shot is the best way to prevent getting sick. If you haven’t received one already, you can find the nearest available clinic by clicking here. In addition to the vaccine, you can help prevent the spread of the flu by covering every cough and sneeze, washing your hands regularly and avoiding large crowds and public transportation when possible.

If you do become ill, stay home to prevent spreading the virus to others.

Yesteryear: President Taft Visits Evansville

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President Taft Visits Evansville

Evansville became an even busier hub of activity after April 6, 1917, when the United States formally entered the war in Europe a few days after President Wilson urged Congress to take action against Germany.

As local men departed for Europe, women rose to the occasion by supporting such organizations as the Red Cross. While some volunteers rolled bandages or sewed clothing for soldiers in a building downtown, others worked at the Red Cross Canteen on Fulton Avenue (pictured here), which was located across from the L & N station. 

 

The tall man in the center of the image is former President William Howard Taft, one of several celebrities who visited the city to rally support for the war; at the far right is Mayor Benjamin Bosse.

 

The Harrison High School’s Hall Of Fame Committee Will Induct County Commissioner Ben Shoulders And EPD Chief Billy Bolin

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The Harrison High School’s Hall Of Fame Committee Will Induct County Commissioner Ben Shoulders And EPD Chief Billy Boli

On May 22, 2020, at William Henry Harrison High School Commencement, the high school’s Hall of Fame will induct two new members.
The 2020 Hall of Fame inductees will be Mr. Billy Bolin and Mr. Ben Shoulders.
Billy Bolin, ‘91 Harrison alum, currently serves as Chief of Police for the Evansville Police Department – which he has served with honor since January 2012.
Ben Shoulders, ‘96 Harrison alum, currently serves as President of the Vanderburgh County Commissioners – he was elected as County Commissioner (District One) in November 2016.
Harrison High School opened its doors in 1962-63 and has had some very impressive alumni along the way.  Harrison chooses their Hall of Fame inductees every two years and has each inductee speak at commencement, which takes place at Harrison’s own Romain Stadium.
To be considered, you must be a past graduate of Harrison. Congrats to Billy Bolin and Ben Shoulders!  Previous Harrison High School Hall of Fame inductees are listed below;
Harrison High School Hall Of Fame Past Inductees:   
Alan B. Graf, Jr (CEO FedEx)
Barbara Kinney (Former Whitehouse photographer)
Paul Leggett Chase (Broadway longtime actress)
Steve Sater (Tony & Grammy Award-winning writer)
Ron Romain (CEO of United Companies)
Brad Ellsworth (Former Sheriff & US Congressman)
Calbert Cheaney (Former IU star and NBA player)
Walter McCarty (Former NBA player and UE coach)
Kevin Hardy (Former NFL All-Pro player)
Scott Studwell (Former NFL All-Pro player)
Karen Ellerbrook (Former teacher, singer, and artist)
John H. Schroeder (CEO Crescent Plastics)
Jon Siau (Former teacher, artist, and longtime coach)
Pat Shoulders (Law Partner & longtime IU Trustee)
Kevin Eastridge (President FC Tucker Emge Realty)
Mike Shoulders (Former CEO VPS)
Hon Les Shively (Superior Court Judge)
Bob Winchell (Former owner Winchell Chiropractic)
Vaughn Wedeking (Former owner of dentist practice)
Hon Randall Shepherd (Former IN Chief Justice)
Brent Beeler (Former COO Berry Global)
Gen. Ondra Berry (Adjutant General NV Nat’l Guard)
Dr. Nancy Nussmeier (successful physician in MA)
Steve Thompson (successful realtor nationwide)
Hon Wayne Trockman (Superior Court Judge)
2020 Harrison High School Hall Of Fame Past Inductees Are:
 
Billy Bolin (Chief of Police – Evansville Police Dept
Ben Shoulders (President Of The Vanderburgh County Commissioners

 

EPA Awards $4 Million to Protect America’s Estuaries and Coastal Waters

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the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a $4 million cooperative agreement with Restore America’s Estuaries to help fund projects supporting National Estuary Program coastal watersheds and estuaries. Restore America’s Estuaries will operate a competition that provides entities from across the country an opportunity to apply for funding for projects that will improve the health of our nation’s waters.

“EPA is pleased to work with Restore America’s Estuaries to advance our shared goal of protecting our nation’s waters and supporting aquatic ecosystems,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “This cooperative agreement is the first of its kind and solidifies the partnership between EPA and non-governmental organizations as we work together to improve the health of our coastal waters.”

The National Estuary Program is an EPA initiative committed to protecting and restoring the water quality and ecological integrity of 28 estuaries across the country. Estuaries play an important role in our environment, providing places for recreational activities, scientific study and aesthetic enjoyment. EPA is committed to working with our partners to protect estuaries from issues that threaten their stability, including coastal flooding and marine litter.

“Restore America’s Estuaries is proud to have been selected to administer this critical new program. Combined, Restore America’s Estuaries and EPA bring decades of knowledge and experience, and together, we’ll have a significant impact on our nation’s estuaries by strategically funding critical projects and programs that will have long-lasting impacts,” said Restore America’s Estuaries President Jeff Benoit.

EPA is providing $4 million over four years to Restore America’s Estuaries to fund a wide variety of projects. Projects will include those that apply new or innovative approaches and technologies to treat, remove, or prevent pollution before it enters estuaries; build on and implement existing nutrient management strategies; build local capacity to protect and restore coastal watersheds; and prevent trash from entering or removing trash that has entered coastal waters. Restore America’s Estuaries will fund awards between $75,000 and $250,000.