https://www.vanderburghsheriff.com/jail-recent-booking-records.aspx
Commentary: My Christmas List
Commentary: My Christmas List
By Mary Beth Schneider
The StatehouseFile.com
INDIANAPOLIS—It’s all well and good to say “all I want for Christmas is you.†But we all know that truth be told, we want so much more.
Trouble is, much of it cannot be wrapped in pretty paper and tied with a bow. And most of it wouldn’t fit under the Christmas tree. But what wonderful gifts they would be.
Mary Beth Schneider
So, Santa, if you’re listening: I want a president who doesn’t call opponents juvenile names and who doesn’t Tweet insults. I want a president who supports our allies instead of coddling dictators. I want a president who doesn’t lie every single day, including on easily disproven things such as whether he signed a bill into law that actually was passed under a predecessor or whether any new sections of a border wall have been constructed.
I want traffic lights that are synchronized. (Start with West Street, please.)
I want politicians who put country over party, principles over partisanship and who seek to understand the needs of all their constituents, not just those who wrote them checks. And I want independently-drawn legislative and congressional districts that lead to fair representation.
I want blue jeans that fit perfectly even after they are washed. (Just saying.)
I want health care that is universal and affordable. And I want life-saving drugs such as insulin to be at a minimal cost. After all, the people who invented insulin in 1923 – Frederick Banting, James Collip and Charles Best – sold the patent for one dollar because they felt it was unethical to profit from a discovery that saves lives. A life very precious to me has required insulin since she was a child; it shouldn’t cost hundreds of dollars each month.
I want a facial moisturizer that really does eliminate wrinkles. (Asking for a friend.)
I want people to realize that the only fake news lies completely made up. Reporters are human and make mistakes – but take it from me, they agonize over them and strive every day to get important stories out and to get them right. And I want people to know that good journalism doesn’t come for free. Subscribe to as many sources as you can – but especially to your local newspaper. In most communities, there is no one else to cover your mayor, your council, your schools, your community.
I want to win the lottery. (Hey, it could happen!)
I want the Statue of Liberty to represent our present, not our past. I have Dutch ancestors who came to what later became New York in the 1600s, seeking a new world. I have Irish ancestors who fled famine in the 1800s. I have Hungarian ancestors who came in the early 1900s, fleeing oppression. For the most part, they came with almost nothing. Some, like my grandmother, couldn’t speak English. Yet they built homes and lives, and the nation is richer for people like them.
I want zero calorie chocolates. (So long as they taste like 200-calorie truffles.)
I want children to go to school without once having to wonder if that bang is from a slammed locker or an active shooter, and parents who don’t have to kiss them goodbye in the morning, wondering if that is the last kiss.
I want to go through life without once being told “ok boomer.†(Seriously.)
I want a government and corporations to realize we have very little time – if, that is, we have any left at all – to address climate change before our world no longer sustains life as we know it.
And I want to be more grateful for the gifts I’ve already got.
So I’m grateful for the gift of a father, who loved me no matter what and thought everything I did was just great.
And I’m just as grateful for the gift of a mother who, while she always loves me, definitely doesn’t think everything I do is perfect. It taught me to take responsibility for my shortcomings and to try to do better.
I’m grateful for the gift of a son and daughter who have given me years of memories and the pleasure of knowing so much more are in store. And I’m grateful for a husband who has shared all that with me.
And I’m grateful for the gift of writing and the knowledge that some people enjoy it, too.
Merry Christmas. I’m wishing, too, for your Christmas wishes to come true.
FOOTNOTE: Mary Beth Schneider is an editor at TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalists.
A HOUSE DIVIDED
A HOUSE DIVIDED
Gavel Gamut By Jim Redwine
On June 16, 1858, during Abraham Lincoln, Stephen Douglas race for an Illinois Senate seat, Lincoln said, “A house divided against itself cannot standâ€. Lincoln meant the United States could not permanently exist unless slavery was outlawed everywhere or made legal everywhere. Lincoln lost the election but later led America to be a united and free country. Unfortunately, it took 600,000 lives to do so.
The CNN poll last week indicated 46% of respondents were against removing President Trump before the next election and 45% were in favor of doing so. That is certainly a divided house. However, the fate of one president is not remotely like the issue of slavery. With presidents, there are always two sides. Some like them, some do not and some don’t care.
When President William Clinton was impeached by the House in 1998 and acquitted by the Senate in 1999 the country moved right along. There was no war, not even any physical battles. Chances are America will experience the same reactions when President Trump is acquitted, and the Republican-controlled Senate’s verdict is no more in doubt than was the Democrat-controlled House of Representative’s vote to charge him. The political theater of the Clinton and Trump impeachment will look and sound the same. As William Shakespeare’s Macbeth said about life:
“It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.â€
Act 5, scene 5
I have no desire or right to speak for you, Gentle Reader. However, as for me, my prediction is we Americans will emulate our British cousins and just muddle on through this current phase with a great deal of affection and no lasting effect.
For more Gavel Gamut articles go to www.jamesmredwine.com
Or “Like†us on Facebook at JPegRanchBooks&Knitting
November Indiana Employment Report
INDIANAPOLIS (Dec. 20, 2019) – Indiana’s unemployment rate stands at 3.2 percent for November and remains lower than the national rate of 3.5 percent. The monthly unemployment rate is a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicator that reflects the number of unemployed people seeking employment within the prior four weeks as a percentage of the labor force.
Indiana’s labor force had a net increase of 346 over the previous month. This was a result of an increase of 308 unemployed residents and an increase of 38 employed residents. Indiana’s total labor force, which includes both Hoosiers employed and those seeking employment, stands at 3.38 million, and the state’s 64.4 percent labor force participation rate remains above the national rate of 63.2 percent.
Learn more about how unemployment rates are calculated here: http://www.hoosierdata.in.gov/infographics/employment-status.asp.
Employment by Sector
Private sector employment has grown by 8,100 over the year and has increased by 800 over the previous month. The monthly increase is primarily due to gains in the Manufacturing (2,400) and the Private Educational and Health Services (1,800)sectors. Gains were partially offset by losses in the Professional and Business Services (-2,300) and the Leisure and Hospitality (-700) sectors. Total private employment stands at 2,731,800, which is 300 below the December 2018 peak.
Midwest Unemployment Rates
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EDITOR’S NOTES:
Data are sourced from November Current Employment Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics – U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
November employment data for Indiana Counties, Cities and MSAs will be available Monday, Dec. 23, 2019, at noon (Eastern) pending U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics validation.
HAMRICK TOWING EXPANDING AND HAS SEVERAL JOB OPENINGS
HAMRICK TOWING EXPANDING AND HAS SEVERAL JOB OPENINGS
Hamrick Towing is expanding and has immediate openings for several positions.
According to the firms President John Hamrick said “there are several full-time positions that he needs to fill right away.
Mr. Hamrick also stated that these positions offer paid vacations and holidays. Performance bonuses are offered to those who excel in the workplace. Â Also, the hourly pay is very competitive. An Equal Opportunity employer.
The Following List Of Full-Time Positions Are Posted Below:
1) Five (5) Tow Truck drivers
2) Paint and Bodyman
3) Welder
4) Dispatcher
5) Â Diesel Mechanic
Finally, Mr. Hamrick said; “that the workplace environment is employee-friendly with a downhome attitude.”
Interested applicants need to immediately apply in person at Hamrick Towing located at 1277 Maxwell Avenue from thee hours 10;00 to noon Monday through Friday. No phone calls, please.
Cardinal Caravan Returns To The USI January 19, 2020
University of Southern Indiana Athletics will welcome the 2020 Cardinals Caravan to the Screaming Eagles Arena Sunday, January 19 at 6 p.m. The caravan, presented by Missouri Farm Bureau Insurance, offers St. Louis fans a chance to talk baseball and meet current players and Cardinal Alumni (attendees will be announced at a later date).
Admission is free and doors open at 5 p.m. Log on to StLCardinals.com for more information. Children (15 and under) will receive one autograph from each current and former player. For more information on the event, contact the USI Athletic Office after January 2, 2020 at 812-464-1846 or 812-465-1022.
EPA Announces New Method To Test For Additional PFAS In Drinking Water
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took another key step in implementing the agency’s PFAS Action Plan by announcing a new validated method for testing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water. This new validated test method complements other actions the agency is taking under the Action Plan to help communities address PFAS nationwide.
“EPA’s important scientific advancement makes it possible for both government and private laboratories to effectively measure more PFAS chemicals in drinking water than ever before,â€Â said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “We can now measure 29 chemicals, marking a critical step in implementing the agency’s PFAS Action Plan—the most comprehensive cross-agency plan ever to address an emerging chemical of concern.â€
EPA’s new validated Method 533 focuses on “short chain†PFAS, those PFAS with carbon chain lengths of four to 12. Method 533 complements EPA Method 537.1 and can be used to test for 11 additional PFAS.
Method 533 accomplishes a key milestone in the EPA PFAS Action Plan by meeting the agency’s commitment to develop new validated methods to accurately test for additional PFAS in drinking water. Method 533 also incorporates an analytical technique called isotope dilution, which can minimize sample matrix interference and improve data quality.
For more information visit:Â www.epa.gov/pfas
Background on the PFAS Action Plan
PFAS are a large group of man-made chemicals used in consumer products and industrial processes. In use since the 1940s, PFAS are resistant to heat, oils, stains, grease, and water—properties which contribute to their persistence in the environment.
The agency’s PFAS Action Plan is the first multi-media, multi-program, national research, management, and risk communication plan to address a challenge like PFAS. The plan responds to the extensive public input the agency received during the PFAS National Leadership Summit, multiple community engagements, and through the public docket. The PFAS Action Plan outlines the tools EPA is developing to assist states, tribes, and communities in addressing PFAS.
EPA is taking the following highlighted actions:
Highlighted Action: Drinking Water
- EPA is committed to following the national primary drinking water regulation rulemaking process as established by the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).
- EPA has sent the proposed regulatory determination for PFOA and PFOS to the Office of Management and Budget for interagency review.
- The agency is also gathering and evaluating information to determine if regulation is appropriate for other chemicals in the PFAS family.
Highlighted Action: Cleanup
- On June 10, 2019, EPA concluded public comment on the draft Interim Recommendations for Addressing Groundwater Contaminated with PFOA and PFOS, when finalized it will provide cleanup guidance for federal cleanup programs (e.g., CERCLA and RCRA) that will be helpful to states and tribes.
- EPA will follow through on the regulatory development process for listing perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA).
Highlighted Action: Monitoring
- EPA will propose nationwide drinking water monitoring for PFAS under the next UCMR monitoring cycle.
Highlighted Action: Toxics
- EPA has issued an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking that would allow the public to provide input on adding PFAS to the Toxics Release Inventory toxic chemical list.
- A supplemental proposal to ensure that certain persistent long-chain PFAS chemicals cannot be manufactured in or imported into the United States without notification and review under TSCA is currently undergoing interagency review at the Office of Management and Budget.
Highlighted Action: Surface Water Protection
- EPA is exploring data availability and research to support the development of Clean Water Act human health and aquatic life criteria for certain PFAS
- EPA is examining available information about PFAS released into surface waters by industrial sources to determine if additional study is needed for potential regulation.
Highlighted Action: Biosolids
- EPA is in the early scoping stages of risk assessments for PFOA and PFOS in biosolids to better understand any potential health impacts.
Highlighted Action: Research
- On November 22, 2019, EPA announced availability of $4.8 million in funding for new research on managing PFAS in agriculture.
- EPA continues to compile and assess human and ecological toxicity information on PFAS to support risk management decisions.
- EPA continues to develop new methods to test for additional PFAS in drinking water.
- The agency is also validating analytical methods for surface water, ground water, wastewater, soils, sediments and biosolids; developing new methods to test for PFAS in air and emissions; and improving laboratory methods to discover unknown PFAS.
- EPA is developing exposure models to understand how PFAS moves through the environment to impact people and ecosystems.
- EPA continues to assess and review treatment methods for removing PFAS in drinking water.
- EPA is working to develop tools to assist officials with the cleanup of contaminated sites.
Highlighted Action: Enforcement
- EPA uses enforcement tools, when appropriate, to address PFAS exposure in the environment and assists states in enforcement activities.
- EPA has already taken actions to address PFAS, including issuing Safe Drinking Water Act orders and providing support to states. See examples in the PFAS Action Plan.
Highlighted Action: Risk Communications
- EPA will work collaboratively to develop a risk communication toolbox that includes multi-media materials and messaging for federal, state, tribal, and local partners to use with the public.
Vanderburgh County Election Supervisor Named Election Employee of the Year
 Vanderburgh County Election Supervisor Named Election Employee of the Year
Marc Toone was named the Indiana Election Division County Election Employee of the Year at the Indiana Election Administrators Conference held in Indianapolis, Indiana. Circuit Court Clerks, Election Board members, Voter Registration officials, and other eligible employees, officials, and vendors attend the annual conference.
Toone was nominated by Vanderburgh County Clerk Carla Hayden. Hayden said of Toone, “Marc became Election Supervisor following the 2018 Primary Election.
He jumped in with both feet and whipped the office into shape. His first election as the supervisor was the hellacious 2018 General Election. He learned much from it and by the 2019 Primary, he had everything running smoother than it ever has.
I am so lucky to have him. The award was well-deserved and I know he’ll do a great job during the Presidential Election next year.
Eagles Baseball Team Are 31st In Preseason Poll
University of Southern Indiana Baseball is ranked 31st nationally in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Division II Preseason Top 40 Poll as it prepares for the first pitch of 2020 on February 14 versus Davenport University. The Screaming Eagles have been ranked 10 times in the last 13 preseason polls, getting the top spot in 2011 and 2015.
USI throws out the first pitch in eight weeks when it plays a neutral site region three-game series with Davenport February 14-15 in Birmingham, Alabama. The Eagles open the 2020 home schedule with the Dunn Hospitality Classic February 21-22 versus Trevecca Nazarene University.
The early non-conference schedule also is highlighted by a visit by eighth-ranked Ashland University (February 28-March 1) for a three-game set at home; and two-game road series at 22nd-ranked West Florida University (March 10-11). Locally, the non-conference schedule has a home-and-home series with Kentucky Wesleyan College (March 24 and April 28) and a home game with Oakland City University (April 7).
The 35-game 2020 Great Lakes Valley Conference schedule starts March 7-8 when USI visits the 40th-ranked University of Illinois Springfield for a three-game series. USI begins the home portion of the league schedule March 14-15 when Drury University visits the USI Baseball Field.
The conference home campaign, in addition to the three-game set with Drury, includes Rockhurst University (March 28-29); University of Missouri-St. Louis (March 31); 38th-ranked Quincy University (March 4-5); McKendree University (April 14); and Lindenwood University (April 18-19). The Eagles are on the road in the GLVC against 14th-ranked Bellarmine University (March 18); Missouri University of Science & Technology (March 21-22); Maryville University (April 10-11); University of Indianapolis (April 22); Truman State University (April 25-26); and Lewis University (May 2-3).
The GLVC Tournament is May 7-10 and will be played at U.S. Baseball Park in Ozark, Missouri.
The NCAA Division II Tournament has changed this season to include a super-regional format. The Midwest Regional is May 15-17, followed by the Midwest Super-Regional May 23-24. The NCAA II Championship Series is May 30-June 6 in Cary, North Carolina.
The Eagles begin their 14th season under the direction of Head Coach Tracy Archuleta, who has a 477-257 (.650) record at USI and is the all-time winningest coach in the history of the program. USI completed the 2019 campaign with a 30-21 overall record, 21-12 in the GLVC, and a tie for third in the GLVC Tournament.
CrossPointe Trinity Church’sDrive Thru Nativity
CrossPointe Trinity Church’s annual Drive-Thru Nativity returns again for 2019! Come see and hear the original Christmas story without getting out of your car.
Take a few minutes between the hustle and bustle of shopping, kid’s concerts, and Christmas parties to remind yourself and your family of the reason for the season. No charge for admittance.
Date(s) – 12/21/2019 – 12/23/2019
7:00 pm
Location
CrossPointe Trinity Church