“READERS FORUM†FOR SEPTEMBER 25, 2019
We hope that today’s “READERS FORUMâ€Â 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.
WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND TODAY?
Todays “Readers Poll’ question is: Are you going to vote in the upcoming November 5, 2019, general election?
JOHN DUNN IS TODAY’S CITY-COUNTY OBSERVER GUEST SPEAKER AT “WORKING OUTSIDE THE BOX” EVENT
Evansville businessmen John Dunn will be the City-County Observer ‘Working Outside The Box” guest speaker today at Biaggi restaurant in Evansville.
Dunn began his business career in Evansville after an honorable discharge from the United States Air Force, hence his love of flying and current owner of a Cessna 310. He began at Fuqua Industries in 1959, which owned WROZ Radio and WTVW Channel 7. Dunn started in the Sales Department and by 1964 had been promoted to Vice President and General Manager of WROZ and in 1968 transferred to television.
In 1969, he and a business partner created Medco Centers Nursing Homes. By 1978, there were 28 Medco Centers throughout Indiana and Kentucky, which also included pharmaceutical and physical therapy subsidiaries. In 1978, Dunn sold these properties to a Canadian firm to focus on new ventures – the hotel industry, radio stations, television stations, land development . . .
In 1978, Dunn re-entered the broadcast business by purchasing radio stations in Rhode Island, New Mexico and Texas. At this same time, he also built his first hotel, The Williamsburg Inn at the corner of Division Street and Green River Road.
Dunn eventually divested himself of the radio stations but ventured into television broadcasting with two Evansville low-power television stations (WTSN-LD Channel 36 and WYYW-LD Channel 41), which he continues to operate today.
Over the past 30 years, Dunn Hospitality Group, the management company founded by Dunn in 1978, has built or acquired 28 hotels in Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky.
In 1990, Dunn and Bill Koester formed a joint venture to develop a 70-acre parcel of land on Evansville’s east side, now known as Eagle Crest Commerce Centre. At the groundbreaking for the first business to be located there, Dunn’s 143-room Hampton Inn, then-Mayor Frank McDonald recognized the vision of Dunn and Koester by proclaiming Eagle Crest as Evansville’s “New Front Door.â€
Throughout the years Dunn has endeavored to enrich the community by restoring historical buildings – the Carpenter Home, which now houses the WNIN-Channel 9 facility, was restored and used as the corporate office for the Medco Centers; and the McCurdy Residential Center was initially the McCurdy Hotel.
Dunn is Chairman and CEO of Dunn Hospitality Group, whose corporate offices are located in Evansville. He is also Chairman of the Board of Directors for Tri-State Youth for Christ and Oakland City University Foundation; Immediate Past Chairman of the Board of Trustees for University of Southern Indiana and past Chairman and Director of Welborn Baptist Foundation. He sits on the Corporate Board of Directors for South Central Communications, Inc. and retired from the Boards of Old National Community Bank and Vectren, Inc. in 2010. He also currently serves on the Board of Directors for community groups that include Boys and Girls Club of Evansville, Past President of St. Mary’s Health Systems Seton Corporation, and WNIN-TV/FM88; and formerly on the Boards for Southern Indiana Chamber of Commerce, YMCA and the Salvation Army.
Dunn is a member of the Advisory Council for Indiana University Medical School and a Trustee and member of Church of the Cross in Evansville.
Dunn is a Bosse High School alumnus – Class of ’55. He graduated from Oakland City University in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science degree, Cum Laude. Dunn served 16 years on Oakland City University’s Board of Trustees and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humanities in 1977. He currently holds the title of Oakland City University Chancellor.
In 2004, Dunn was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws by the University of Southern Indiana.
He has been recognized by Evansville Rotarians, SW Indiana Chamber of Commerce, Buffalo Trace Council and the ROTC for his leadership, and received numerous other awards for his accomplishments in the business community.
Dunn is also a member of Evansville Country Club, Â Palm Aire Country Club of Sarasota, FL and is a Rotarian.
Dunn is married to Gail A. (Russell) Dunn. They have three daughters, eight grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
Revenues From The State’s 10 Casinos Were Down 31.2 Percent From What Had Been Expected In August
By Brandon Barger
TheStatehouseFile.com
INDIANAPOLIS- While overall state funds continue to grow, one revenue source, in particular, is underwater: Riverboat casinos.
Revenues from the state’s 10 casinos were down 31.2 percent from what had been expected in August, according to monthly revenue report released by the State Budget Agency. And that represents a 26.9 percent drop from August 2018.
In all, the casinos brought in around $7.8 million, well short of the $11.4 million the state had been hoping for.
The shortfalls continue a trend. Matt Bell, the president and CEO of the Casino Association of Indiana, said that this loss has been happening since 2009.
“That drop is a reflection of a number of things, perhaps most importantly, increased competition from neighboring states,†Bell said. “Ohio’s entry into the markets, the continued expansion in Illinois and Michigan all had an impact on us.â€
Bell said people also seem to be wary about the economy right now, to the point where people are saving their money instead of going to the casinos.
Meanwhile, the two racinos – the combination horse-racing tracks and casinos located in Shelbyville and Anderson — saw an increase in revenues. They brought in $8.6 million in August, which was 11.5 percent more than expected. They are up 1.6 percent from a year ago.
Bell credited that improvement through a combination of the geography of the racinos – as they are located in Central Indiana — as well as promotions by the operators running them. Those numbers likely will grow when live dealers are allowed by the state at the racinos beginning in January.
Bell also pointed out that gambling revenues to the state likely will grow now that sports wagering became legal in Indiana on Sept. 1.
Overall, Indiana brought in more than $1.1 billion in August, with incomes, sales, and corporate taxes all showing increases. That was 4.9 percent more than anticipated and 5.1 percent more than the state took in a year ago.
FOOTNOTE: Brandon Barger is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a  news website powered by Franklin College journalists.
HAPPENINGS AT THE VANDERBURGH COUNTY GOP
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Gov. Holcomb Names Lyles As Indiana National Guard Adjutant General
Gov. Eric J. Holcomb today announced he has selected Col. R. Dale Lyles to serve as the new adjutant general of the Indiana National Guard.
Concurrent with his appointment as the adjutant general, Lyles will be promoted to the rank of brigadier general. He has been eligible for this promotion since May when he received his U.S. Senate confirmation and letter of eligibility.
“I am confident that Colonel Lyles has the proven leadership skills, ethical character, and practical know-how to lead the Indiana National Guard,†Gov. Holcomb said. “His vision for the Guard will create a culture of safety, success, and stability that is critical for the defense of Indiana.â€
Lyles, a native of Salem, has served most of his 32 years in the military in Indiana. He was deployed to Bosnia shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks in support of Operation Joint Forge and to Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom.
Most recently, Lyles has served as the deputy chief of staff for operations at the National Guard Bureau in Washington, D.C., where he focused on the operations training and readiness for the Army National Guard. During his time in Indiana, he served the director of Atterbury Muscatatuck operations, commander of the 219th Engineer Brigade and commander of Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, among many other assignments. Lyles earned the Legion of Merit and a Bronze Star Medal, among numerous other military awards and decorations.
Lyles earned a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University, a master’s degree in management from Oakland City University and a master’s degree in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College.
As Indiana continues to strengthen its defense strategy, Lyles will partner with Major General Omer C. (Clif) Tooley Jr. at the Indiana Office of Defense Development under the Indiana Economic Development Corporation to further grow Indiana’s defense sectors.
The Indiana Army and Air National Guard are reserve components of the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force. During times of national emergency, National Guard members may be called into active federal service by the President of the United States.
During times of peace, the National Guard is commanded by the governor. In its state role, the National Guard assists local law enforcement agencies during emergencies at the direction of the governor. The distribution of soldiers, equipment and facilities across the state allows the National Guard to respond quickly and efficiently to emergencies statewide.
Lyles will begin his new position Oct. 1, and he will be sworn in during a promotion ceremony at a date to be determined.
USI To Jost Delegation From UAS Osnabrück
During Professional Staff Exchange Week, October 1-5, The University of Southern Indiana will host 15 German colleagues from the University of Applied Sciences (UAS) Osnabrück (Hochschule Osnabrück in German). The delegation will meet Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke, visit USI’s interests in New Harmony, Indiana, learn about higher education trends and meet with other USI colleagues in similar professions.
“We are all looking forward to a rich exchange of ideas, information and best practices, which will no doubt create even stronger ties between our institutions and our communities,†said Heidi Gregori-Gahan, USI associate provost for International Programs and Services.  “I cannot think of a better way to kick off a celebration of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of our exchange program.â€
UAS Osnabrück hosted a similar Professional Staff Exchange Week in 2018, open to all of their university partners, and three USI faculty and administrators were selected to participate including Dr. Gabriela Mustata Wilson, associate professor of health informatics, Rashad Smith, director of Undergraduate Admissions, and Dr. D’Angelo Taylor, assistant director of the USI Multicultural Center.
USI and UAS Osnabrück have had an exchange partnership since 1990. It grew out of the sister city relationship between Evansville and the city of Osnabrück and is one of the University’s longest standing exchange programs with more than 200 American and German students participating since its inception. USI and UAS Osnabrück faculty members have also exchanged places for a semester, most recently Dr. Daria Sevastianova from USI’s Romain College of Business exchanged places with Dr. Johannes Hirata from the UAS Osnabrück College of Business.
USI Men’s Golf Team Competed In The Doc Spragg Fall Invitational
FINDLAY, OH- The USI Men’s Golf Team competed in the Doc Spragg Fall Invitational Monday-Tuesday Sept. 23-24 at Findlay Golf Club.
The Warriors of Wayne State-Michigan (872 /+224) narrowly took the title away from the host team Oilers of Findlay (873 /+225) by a single stroke.
The top individual in the tournament was Brendan Seys from Wayne State. Seys shot a sizzling 209 (-7) 54-hole total including two three-under-par 69s in each of his first two rounds.
Sophomore Zach Williams (Mt. Vernon, Illinois) and Senior K.O. Taylor (Madisonville, Kentucky) both finished T58 in the tournament carding 54-hole totals of 231 (+15)
Senior Trevis Bell (Madisonville, Kentucky) had a promising start to his tourney carding a four-over-par 76. Bell was unable to play in the second round however he posted another great number of 75 in the third and final round.
Up next, the Eagles look to bounce back in their next tournament on the calendar, the Flyer Intercollegiate held in Lemont, Illinois Sept. 30-Oct. 1.
Senior Abbey Leighty Took First At The Battle For Royalty Invitation
CHARLOTTE, NC- Senior Abbey Leighty (Mt. Carmel, Illinois) took first at the Battle for Royalty Invitation with a total score of 156 (+12) as the Eagles as a team finished second out of six teams at TPC Piper Glen Golf Club Sept. 23-24.
Leighty owned the low round of the tournament when she shot a three-over-par 75 in the first round Monday.
Sophomore Hannah Herma (Demotte, Indiana) finished tied for seventh carding a total score of 163 (+12) and Freshman Kelci Katterhenry placed tied for thirteenth with a 36-hole total of 165 (+21).
Junior Kiley Swisher (Williamsport, Indiana) turned out an impressive performance tabbed as USI’s only individual with a two-round total of 162 (+18) earning a tied for fifth finish.
As a team, the Eagles posted a cumulative score of 652 (+76). USI was only bested by the Sailfish from Palm Beach Atlantic with a score of 648 (+72).
Up next, the Eagles look ahead to the next tournament on the calendar, the Flyer Intercollegiate held in Lemont, Illinois Sept. 30-Oct. 1.