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: Do you feel because the Democratic party doesn’t have a Mayoral candidate it’s going to hurt City Council canidates?
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Footnote: City-County Observer Comment Policy. Be kind to people. Personal attacks or harassment will not be tolerated and shall be removed from our site.
We understand that sometimes people don’t always agree and discussions may become a little heated.  The use of offensive language and insults against commenters shall 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, our media partners or advertisers.
The Fourth of July—also known as Independence Day or July 4th—has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941, but the tradition of Independence Day celebrations goes back to the 18th century and the American Revolution. On July 2nd, 1776, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence, and two days later delegates from the 13 colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence, a historic document drafted by Thomas Jefferson. From 1776 to the present day, July 4th has been celebrated as the birth of American independence, with festivities ranging from fireworks, parades and concerts to more casual family gatherings and barbecues.
A History of Independence Day
When the initial battles in the Revolutionary War broke out in April 1775, few colonists desired complete independence from Great Britain, and those who did were considered radical.
By the middle of the following year, however, many more colonists had come to favor independence, thanks to growing hostility against Britain and the spread of revolutionary sentiments such as those expressed in the bestselling pamphlet “Common Sense,†published by Thomas Paine in early 1776.
On June 7, when the Continental Congress met at the Pennsylvania State House (later Independence Hall) in Philadelphia, the Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee introduced a motion calling for the colonies’ independence.
Amid heated debate, Congress postponed the vote on Lee’s resolution, but appointed a five-man committee—including Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, John Adams of Massachusetts, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania and Robert R. Livingston of New York—to draft a formal statement justifying the break with Great Britain.
On July 2nd, the Continental Congress voted in favor of Lee’s resolution for independence in a near-unanimous vote (the New York delegation abstained, but later voted affirmatively). On that day, John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail that July 2 “will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival†and that the celebration should include “Pomp and Parade…Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other.â€
On July 4th, the Continental Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence, which had been written largely by Jefferson. Though the vote for actual independence took place on July 2nd, from then on the 4th became the day that was celebrated as the birth of American independence.
Early Fourth of July Celebrations
In the pre-Revolutionary years, colonists had held annual celebrations of the king’s birthday, which traditionally included the ringing of bells, bonfires, processions and speechmaking. By contrast, during the summer of 1776 some colonists celebrated the birth of independence by holding mock funerals for King George III, as a way of symbolizing the end of the monarchy’s hold on America and the triumph of liberty.
Festivities including concerts, bonfires, parades and the firing of cannons and muskets usually accompanied the first public readings of the Declaration of Independence, beginning immediately after its adoption. Philadelphia held the first annual commemoration of independence on July 4, 1777, while Congress was still occupied with the ongoing war.
George Washington issued double rations of rum to all his soldiers to mark the anniversary of independence in 1778, and in 1781, several months before the key American victory at Yorktown, Massachusetts became the first state to make July 4th an official state holiday.
After the Revolutionary War, Americans continued to commemorate Independence Day every year, in celebrations that allowed the new nation’s emerging political leaders to address citizens and create a feeling of unity. By the last decade of the 18th century, the two major political parties—the Federalist Party and Democratic-Republicans—that had arisen began holding separate Fourth of July celebrations in many large cities.
Fourth of July Becomes a Federal Holiday
The tradition of patriotic celebration became even more widespread after the War of 1812, in which the United States again faced Great Britain. In 1870, the U.S. Congress made July 4th a federal holiday; in 1941, the provision was expanded to grant a paid holiday to all federal employees.
Over the years, the political importance of the holiday would decline, but Independence Day remained an important national holiday and a symbol of patriotism.
Falling in mid-summer, the Fourth of July has since the late 19th century become a major focus of leisure activities and a common occasion for family get-togethers, often involving fireworks and outdoor barbecues. The most common symbol of the holiday is the American flag, and a common musical accompaniment is “The Star-Spangled Banner,†the national anthem of the United States.
Current and former inmates at the Henry County Jail will proceed as a class in a federal lawsuit broadly alleging overcrowded, unconstitutional and inhumane conditions at the facility in New Castle.
Indiana Southern District Senior Judge Sarah Evans Barker on Tuesday granted a motion for class certification on behalf of more than 100 current inmates, as well as lead plaintiff Adam Bell, who no longer is detained in the jail but was housed there at the time the case was filed. Barker rejected Henry County’s argument that because Bell was no longer jailed, he lacked standing to properly represent the class.
“This argument is unavailing, however, because it is the uncertainty about the length of incarceration, not the maximum length of incarceration, that controls,†Barker wrote in her order certifying a class in Adam Bell v. Sheriff of Henry County, et al., 1:19-cv-00557.
Among other allegations, Bell alleges the jail:
Was originally designed to house 76 prisoners, but over the years the county expanded jail space and added a third bunk to existing double bunk beds in many cells, expanding capacity to 116 beds. The suit claims these additional bunks never received required authorization from the Department of Correction’s chief jail inspector. In its response to the complaint, Henry County acknowledges the additions, but officials “deny that said jail inspection report is an accurate statement of the facts… .â€
Is deemed overcrowded 100 percent of the time by the DOC’s chief jail inspector. Henry County likewise disputes the statements in the report and disputes that the facility is “overcrowded in terms of having more inmates than permanent beds… .â€
Has made some inmates, including Bell, sleep on cellblock floors and near cell toilets due to overcrowding. Defendants deny that allegation.
Has housed inmates in offices and in an indoor recreation area due to overcrowding, despite these areas having no toilets or showers. Henry County denies this in its response.
Is chronically understaffed, unable to adequately monitor prisoners, cellblock inspections do not occur, and that as a result of tensions due to these conditions, “assaults between prisoners are frequent, aggravated by the overcrowded conditions.â€
Bell states in his complaint that he was housed for about four weeks in the jail’s E-Block on a triple bunk cell for an alleged violation of home detention rules after a criminal conviction. At the time he filed the complaint, he alleged there were four people in the cell and, “For the first two weeks he was the fourth person in the cell and was on the floor on just a mattress. … The cell block is extremely dirty.â€
Henry County denies these claims, as well as Bell’s allegation that the cellblock at the time his suit was filed was locked down overnight; that overcrowding in the unit made exercising impossible; and, that overcrowding and lack of recreation and supervision “causes continuous tension and dangerous conditions in the block.â€
Bell also alleges, and the county denies, that he and other prisoners were denied grievance forms by jail staff and also that they were told grievances would only be processed if they were filed on jail grievance forms.
The complaint also cites the report of a consultant hired by the county to look into conditions at the jail, which concluded that overcrowding “does not permit the jail to safely house inmates or provide for certain needs. … The current physical plant does not lend itself to the separations required to safely house inmates.†Henry County admits that language is included in the report it paid for, but replied in March that officials “deny that the language … accurately describes the current conditions†in the jail.
Bell is represented in this litigation by the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana and New Castle attorney Joel E. Harvey. Henry County is represented by the Indianapolis law firm of Stephenson Morow & Semler.
A bench trial before Barker is scheduled for Dec. 14 in the Indianapolis Division of the Southern District of Indiana.
Military service members, first responders and their families have unique mental health needs. Health care professionals and caregivers in our community are invited to engage in active dialogue on how to best address these needs during the 2019 Mental Health Summit at the University of Southern Indiana, held from 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tuesday, July 23, in University Center West.
“The Mental Health Summit is an annual event that in the past has solely focused on the care of active duty service members and veterans,†said Joel Matherly, manager of the Veteran, Military & Family Resource Center at USI. “This year we have expanded our focus to also include how to care for first responders.â€
Guest speakers will include representatives from Help for Heroes, a national program designed to meet the recovery needs of military service members and first responders dealing with mental health and substance abuse issues brought on by on-duty challenges including combat stress; repeated exposure to traumatic events; grief and loss; and family separation. Help for Heroes speakers will address treatment of active duty service members, veterans and first responders who have experienced complex trauma and PTSD.
There will be additional peer-to-peer presentations with a focus on self-care for mental health professionals. Topics include the challenges of losing a client to suicide, the impact of loss on professional practice, and vicarious trauma and resiliency.
Jason Murrey, a Marine veteran and Statewide Suicide Prevention Coordinator for the State of Indiana, will speak on “Self-Care and Impact of Secondary Trauma.†His co-presenter, Steve Hoffman, will offer a first responder point of view for managing secondary traumatic stress.
The cost for mental health professionals and providers to attend the 2019 Mental Health Summit is $25, which includes breakfast, lunch and an opportunity to earn continuing education hours.
During the Mental Health Summit, agencies and community organizations providing services to first responders and military service members are invited to participate in a resource fair, held simultaneously in a room adjacent to the presentations. There will be no charge to host a vendor table, but registration is required. Click here to reserve a vendor table.
“Right Jab And Left Jab†was created because we have two commenters that post on a daily basis either in our “IS IT TRUE†or “Readers Forum†columns concerning National or International issues.
Joe Biden and Ronald Reagan’s comments are mostly about issues of national interest.  The majority of our “IS IT TRUE†columns are about local or state issues, so we have decided to give Mr. Biden and Mr. Reagan exclusive access to our newly created “LEFT JAB and RIGHT JAB† column. They now have this post to exclusively discuss national or world issues that they feel passionate about.
We shall be posting the “LEFT JAB†AND “RIGHT JABâ€Â several times a week.  Oh, “Left Jab†is a liberal view and the “Right Jab is representative of the more conservative views. Also, any reader who would like to react to the written comments of the two gentlemen is free to do so.
FOOTNOTE: Any comments posted in this column do not represent the views or opinions of the City-County Observer or our advertisers.
As residents begin planning their Fourth of July celebrations, the Vanderburgh Humane Society is putting out a plea asking that animals be kept in mind, as there is often an increase of lost pets following the Fourth of July. Festivities for the holiday often include fireworks and other commotion, which can be stressful to pets or result in them getting lost. For the safety and protection of pets, the VHS joins the Humane Society of the United States in recommending the following:
Leave pets at home and inside. Fireworks can be terrifying to pets, even pets who are accustomed to being around crowds and commotion.
Create a home sanctuary. Leave your pet in an area of your home where he or she is safe, comfortable and sheltered from any outside noise and lights. An interior room without immediate access to the outside is preferred. Playing a radio with relaxing music may help mask the sound of fireworks.
Pet-proof your home. When scared, some animals may become destructive so be sure to remove anything from reach that can become damaged or may harm the pet if chewed or eaten.
Identification is essential. Pets may panic, escape and become lost. Updated identification is critical to ensuring lost pets are reunited with their families. A properly-fitting collar, ID tags with phone numbers, and a microchip will greatly increase your chances of getting your beloved pet home safely and promptly. Make sure that all of your contact information is up-to-date with the microchip company and on your pet’s tags. Ideal identification is both a tag and microchip (make sure your chip is registered on a site such as www.petmicrochiplookup.org).
For pets who are not yet microchipped, Evansville Animal Care & Control offers microchipping during business hours for $15. It is a simply insertion with a small needle and takes just a few minutes.
Consult a veterinarian for pets with anxiety. Consult your veterinarian before the Fourth of July to seek out remedies to lower your pet’s stress level if this is a known issue.
“The thunderous noise from firework displays often frightens and disorients pets, and as a result they will often bolt from their owners or yard trying to get away from that noise,” say VHS staff members. “Even the most social, easygoing pets are often affected. You never know who will set off firecrackers right outside your house.â€
Typically, the VHS receives 3 times the normal calls for lost pets around the explosive holiday. When fireworks begin, dogs have been known to jump fences, dig out of their yards, break chains, and even bust through glass windows because of their wild fear. When pets are left alone to panic while owners are at holiday celebrations, ordinarily well-behaved pets may become destructive and unpredictable.
Additional tips to keep pets safe:
Do not leave fireworks out where your pet can eat them. Whether lit or unlit, fireworks are toxic!
Use caution with pool chemicals. Many common pool treatments are poisonous to animals!
Grapes/raisins, onions/garlic, and peanut butter sweetened with xylitol is harmful to dogs. Be sure your pet is not getting table scraps at family barbecues & gatherings.
NEVER leave your pet in a vehicle, even for a few minutes. Temperatures rise much faster inside cars even with the windows down. Dogs (and children!) die every year in hot cars.
Let’s make this a safe and happy Independence Day for people and pets by starting with prevention!
Thursday, July 4th in observance of the holiday. We will not be accepting animals or answering phones to take lost/found animal reports until our regular business hours on Friday, July 5th. For more information, contact Amanda Coburn at 426-2563 ext. 218.
State Rep. Holli Sullivan (R-Evansville) will serve as vice chair of the Interim Study Committee on Roads and Transportation, which examines issues impacting Indiana’s transportation infrastructure and recommends potential legislation.
“Our infrastructure plays an important role in so many aspects of our lives, and this summer, I’ll join other legislators to work on ways to further improve our roads and transportation systems,†Sullivan said. “Specifically, we will take a hard look at innovative approaches to better control the flow of traffic in work zones.â€
Sullivan serves as chair of the House Roads and Transportation Committee, and in 2017, she co-authored the largest infrastructure investment plan in state history. She said the comprehensive, 20-year plan fully funds state infrastructure improvements without passing debt to future generations.
She was also appointed to serve on the National Conference of State Legislatures 2020 Legislative Summit Host Committee, which will prepare and plan for the national legislative summit taking place in Indiana in 2020.
Sullivan said interim study committee hearings, which typically occur at the Statehouse in Indianapolis, can be viewed live online at iga.in.gov. This site also provides committee calendars and meeting agendas. Members of the public are welcomed to attend and testify.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, …”
 Fireworks on the OHIO  Date: Thursday, July 4, 2019  Time: 6:00 pm- 9:30 pm  Where: Evansville Riverfront   Food vendors will begin serving on Riverside Drive at 6pm,  Fireworks will start at 9pm  Â
Listen on 104 FM WIKY for patriotic music to accompany the fireworks
Â
Reagan Day 2019Â – Thursday August 1, 2019
Event :Â Vanderburgh County Republican Party Reagan Day
Date :Â Thursday August 1, 2019
Time:  Registration / Cash Bar 5:30 PM
       Dinner 6:15 pm
Where: Evansville County Club
3810 Stringtown Rd, Evansville
Dash for Cash <>Â Silent Auction
Keynote Speaker:
8th District Congressman Larry Bucshon, M.D.
City Candidates Update:
      City Candidates will give campaign update to attendees
Watch for additional information!
Â
Volunteers are needed to staff the VCRP Tent during this year’s 4-H Fair. The 4-H Fair will be held July 22 – July 27, and volunteers are needed 4:00PM – 8:00PM daily. Duties will include distributing candidate information, passing out balloons to children, and promoting voter registration. The VCRP Tent is located near the 4-H Industrial Building .
House Speaker Brian C. Bosma (R-Indianapolis) released the 2019 interim study committee appointments today for members of the Indiana House of Representatives.
Indiana’s part-time legislature works on policy issues throughout the summer and fall months while lawmakers are not in session. Members are selected to serve on interim committees, which thoroughly vet the state’s top issues, gather public testimony and recommend potential legislation.
“Summer study committees give lawmakers a chance to review and vet ideas for new laws, and make sound policy recommendations for next session,” Bosma said. “Many important topics are on our plate this summer ranging from a deep dive into how to improve career counseling in our schools to rising healthcare and prescription drug costs. I look forward to our committee members getting to work and identifying ways we can make our great state even better.”
Many interim committees will begin meeting in July with a majority of their work concluded by the end of October. The list of assignments for the 2019 legislative interim study committees, and other legislative appointments is available here.
Interim study committee hearings, which typically occur at the Statehouse in Indianapolis, can be viewed live online at iga.in.gov. This site also provides committee calendars and meeting agendas.
Click here for a list of assigned study committee topics.
 Honoring the legacy of women’s suffrage in Evansville –
(from June 28, 2019 News Update)
Recently, Gov. Eric Holcomb ceremonially signed into law legislation I co-authored commemorating 100 years of women’s right to vote. The new lawcreates the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission that will organize and promote activities to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Nineteenth Amendment, which was adopted in August 1920. I am honored to recognize the sacrifices made to secure this invaluable right.
Women here in Evansville played an important role in campaigning for the right to vote when members of the Evansville Franchise League mobilized and encouraged women to peacefully protest for the right to cast a ballot in an election.
To learn more about the history of women’s suffrage in Evansville and Indiana, click here.
On Saturday July 13, 2019, Governor Eric Holcomb will bring together Hoosiers for a big event and a major announcement in the iconic Hoosier Gym in Knightstown.
 Circle this date on your calendar and hold it to join in the celebration of Indiana and our state’s incredible momentum.
 Trump Becomes 1st Sitting US President to Enter North Korea:
  President Donald Trump made history Sunday (6/30/19) by becoming the first sitting U.S. President to step foot on North Korean soil. President Trump met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) Sunday afternoon at around 3:45 pm local time. The two leaders shook hands then walked approximately 20 steps into North Korea before returning to the DMZ.
FOUR REASONS INDEPENDENCE IS IMPORTANT FOR SENIORS
Everyone should have the opportunity to live independently with dignity – especially our senior populations.
Why Seniors Need Independence
Loss of independence can be discouraging to older adults. They have spent their entire lives living independently, working jobs, raising families, and making decisions. The natural effects of aging can sometimes make independent living harder than it once was. Difficulties with mobility, behavioral health conditions such as isolation and loneliness, and financial strains are just some of the contributors to a loss of independence in aging adults. While we cannot avoid some barriers to independence, we can take the time to understand the importance of independence in seniors and look for ways to increase opportunities for independent living. The following benefits are common results of senior independence and demonstrate how important it is to empower older adults to live independent lives.
Feel Like An Individual.
The ability to make choices throughout the day has a big impact on how you feel about yourself. When you are no longer managing the decisions in your life, you might feel less of an individual. Older adults have lived their whole lives with their own personalities and beliefs. If they reach a point when they cannot express themselves, they won’t feel like themselves. These feelings can lead to depression, anger, or destructive behavior. Make sure you or your loved one is able to maintain their sense of self in the environment they live in.
Maintain Balance And Strength.
Retaining balance and strength is a huge determining factor in someone’s ability to stay independent. It also motivates older adults to stay active, which may result in health benefits that foster independence. If strength is not routinely worked on, it’s likely an aging individual will lose muscle mass and core balance. Loss of strength and balance can lead to dangerous falls that leave a senior in a hospital or assisted living facility. Injuries also make it hard to maintain independence. Maintaining physical ability is a great way to prevent falls that lead to a long-term loss of independence. There are mobility devices that provide support for seniors who need help walking, such as walkers and railings.
Sense of Purpose
Loss of independence can be isolating. Seniors who are isolated often develop feelings of hopelessness and depression, and the negative effects on their mental health can lower their quality of life. Independence gives seniors a sense of purpose. They have opportunities for achievement, can contribute to the lives of their family, friends, and neighbors, and enjoy activities that they have always done.The chance to set and reach goals has a big impact, even if they seem small. Independence allows older adults to take on the unique challenges of aging head on and overcome them with a sense of accomplishment. Even if a senior is limited by mobility, they can still gain a sense of purpose through involvement in volunteer activities.
Aids With Memory Skills
The effects of independent living can contribute to improved health conditions in some older adults. Increased memory skills are just one to name, and an important factor in living a fulfilling life. Memory loss gradually happens as we age, but independence and activity boost memory skills. Higher activity levels increase blood flow to the brain, and using the mind often helps to preserve memory.
“Smiles and Says Hi!†Greets all customers and associates, assists in a friendly, courteous manner and adheres to the “Yes we Can†policy efficiently resolving…
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 Fireworks on the OHIO
Responsive employer
