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The Mid-States Corridor Project examines the concept of an improved highway connection in southwest Indiana. The Mid-States Corridor is anticipated to begin at the William H. Natcher Bridge crossing of the Ohio River near Rockport, continue generally through the Huntingburg and Jasper area and extend north to connect to Interstate 69 (either directly or via SR 37). The Mid-States Corridor Regional Development Authority (RDA) and the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) have started a Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which is required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for major construction projects that will include federal funding. The Tier 1 EIS will include the following:
The Tier 1 EIS is expected to take just over two years to complete with a Record of Decision (ROD) expected in summer 2021. The ROD is the Federal Highway Administration’s final approval of the preferred corridor. After a Tier 1 ROD, a more detailed Tier 2 environmental study will determine specific alignments and preferred alternatives within the selected Tier 1 corridor. Public Meetings Scheduled Public involvement is a key part of the environmental study process. The first of several public meetings are planned for early August. The meetings will introduce members of the community to the Mid-States Corridor Project, explain the tiered study approach, describe the potential preliminary corridors and introduce ways for the public to stay informed and provide feedback. Meetings are planned for Washington, French Lick and Jasper at the following locations: Monday, Aug. 5: Washington High School              608 E. Walnut St., Washington, IN Auditorium (Enter through Gate 4 off 7th St.) 5:30pm to 7:00pm (local time) Tuesday Aug. 6: Springs Valley High School 326 S. Larry Bird Blvd., French Lick, IN Cafeteria at 5:30pm to 7:00pm (local time) Thursday, Aug. 8: Jasper High School 1600 St. Charles St., Jasper IN Cafeteria at 5:30pm to 7:00pm (local time) Each meeting feature an open house format. A short project presentation is planned for 6 p.m. each evening. Project team members will be at multiple stations to answer questions and comment cards will be available to offer public input. Additional public meetings will be held at project milestones. Find more information regarding the Mid-States Corridor project including how to sign up for e-newsletters, text alerts, social media updates and to learn about the project office location/hours of operation please visit www.midstatescorridor.com. Project Office Location  A Mid-States Corridor project office is located at Vincennes University Jasper Campus. The office is in the Administration Building and is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET, and by appointment. A project representative will be available during office hours to answer questions, and handouts and displays from the public meetings will be on site. Mid-State Corridor Project Office Vincennes University Jasper Campus in Administration Building, Room 216 850 College Ave. in Jasper, IN 47546 Members of the community can reach the project office by calling 812-482-3116. There are several ways to follow project progress, ask questions and offer feedback. Find project information online at www.midstatescorridor.com.
Information and updates are also provided on social media, Facebook (Mid-States Corridor) and Twitter (@MidStatesStudy). The Mid-States Corridor Project examines the concept of an improved highway connection in Southwest Indiana. The Mid-States Corridor Regional Development Authority and the Indiana Department of Transportation are conducting the required Tier 1 Environmental Study for the project to determine a preferred corridor. Find more information at www.midstatescorridor.com.
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Mid-States Corridor Project Tier 1 Environmental Study August Public Meetings Scheduled
Vanderburgh Democrats August 2019 NewsletterÂ
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Gov. Holcomb Makes Appointments To Various Boards, Commissions, And Task Forces
Governor Eric J. Holcomb today announced several new appointments and reappointments to various state boards, commissions, and task forces.
Indiana Law Enforcement Academy Task Force
The Governor made four appointments to the new task force, who will serve until Dec. 31, 2019:
- Jim Markle (Valparaiso), executive director of the Northwest Indiana Law Enforcement Academy
- Bryan Shearer (Ligonier), chief of the Ligonier Police Department
- Dr. David Wantz (Indianapolis), president and CEO of the Independent Colleges of Indiana
- Dave Wedding (Evansville), sheriff of Vanderburgh County
The governor also made three new appointments representing various state agencies, who will serve until Dec. 31, 2019:
- Doug Carter, superintendent of the Indiana State Police
- Steve Hunter, director of the Division of Law Enforcement, Indiana Department of Natural Resources
- Manuel Mendez, director of Agency/Program Continuous Improvement, Office of the Governor
 Governor’s Workforce Cabinet
The governor made one new appointment to the cabinet, who will serve until April 30, 2021:
- Megan Glover (Zionsville), cofounder and CEO of 120WaterAudit
The governor also made two new appointments representing various state agencies, who will serve until April 30, 2021:
- Robert Carter, commissioner of the Indiana Department of Corrections
- Dr. Jennifer Walthall, secretary of the Family and Social Services Administration
 The governor designated Teresa Lubbers, commissioner of the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, as chair of the cabinet.
 Indiana Charter School Board
The governor made three new appointments to the board, who will serve until June 30, 2023:
- Dr. Michelle Gough (Indianapolis), senior vice president of Project Lead the Way
- Dr. Vanessa Allen-McCloud (Gary), president & CEO of the Urban League of Northwest Indiana, Inc.
- Kim Preston (Indianapolis), Midwest regional advocacy director with ExcelinEd
Indiana State Commission on Aging
The governor made two new appointments to the commission, who will serve until June 30, 2023:
- Debra Lambert (Fort Wayne), CEO of Byron Health Center
- Daniel Mustard (Columbus), executive director of Mill Race Center, Inc.
Indiana State Police Board
The governor made one reappointment to the board, who will serve until June 30, 2023:
- James Olszewski (Lowell), retired Lake County deputy prosecutor
 Jail Overcrowding Task Force
The governor made three appointments to the new task force, who will serve until Dec. 31, 2019:
- Tracy Brown (Lafayette), Tippecanoe County commissioner
- Doug Huntsinger (Indianapolis), deputy director of the Indiana Commission to Combat Drug Abuse
- Ralph Watson (Carmel), director of Hamilton County Community Corrections
AG Hill Warns Hoosiers To Beware Of Online Scammers
Attorney General Curtis Hill is warning Hoosier consumers to beware of scams perpetrated by online posers in the wake of a recent Equifax settlement following the company’s 2017 announcement of a data breach affecting approximately 147 million people.
Scammers have been setting up fraudulent websites that imitate the appearance of an authentic site created to enable people affected by the breach to file claims.
The website www.equifaxbreachsettlement.com is authentic. (See the Federal Trade Commission’s recent post about this website.)
Would-be scammers, however, have begun setting up imposter websites – misspelling “breach†as “breech†in one URL, for example, and misspelling “settlement†in other web addresses.
“Anyone seeking to file claims at the new settlement website must absolutely make certain they are on the correct site,†Attorney General Hill said. “Verify that you have received the proper website address from a trusted source such as the FTC. If you are typing the URL manually, be careful to enter the website address correctly.â€
Online scammers imitating other websites are often engaged in “phishing†— an effort to get people to reveal such personal data as credit card numbers.
Consumers who believe they are the victims of scam attempts are asked to report them to the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division by calling 1-800-382-5516 or going online at www.in.gov/attorneygeneral/ and clicking the “File a Complaint†box at the bottom of the page.
HOT JOBS IN EVANSVILLE
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Denial Of Last-Minute Public Defender Request Upheld
Olivia Covington for www.theindianalawyer.com
A man who was convicted of domestic battery after being denied his request for a public defender has failed to convince the Indiana Court of Appeals that his 11th-hour request for counsel should have been granted.
Quintin Davis’ Class A misdemeanor conviction was affirmed Wednesday in Quintin D.E. Davis v. State of Indiana, 19A-CR-631. Davis and his girlfriend, L.W., had gotten into a fight over who could have the last bottle of Pepsi in their home, leading to L.W. spilling the Pepsi and Davis taking L.W.’s bag of Skittles and smashing her phone into the side of the bed. L.W. wanted to leave after that, but Davis apologized and allowed L.W. to break his phone in retaliation.
The next morning, L.W. was preparing to move out when Davis took her cigarettes, prompting another argument. This time, Davis pushed L.W. onto her 2-year-old son, then pinned her down and began hitting her in the face. L.W.’s daughter witnessed the altercation and was crying.
L.W. called police, but the two then resumed their fight, with Davis breaking L.W.’s laptop and L.W. falling onto a glass table. When officers arrived, Davis cursed at them, balled his fists and didn’t comply with their orders.
Davis was charged with three counts, including felony battery against a public safety officer and misdemeanor counts of domestic battery and resisting law enforcement. He told the Delaware Circuit Court in January 2018 that he intended to represent himself, and after a hearing the trial court found him competent to proceed pro se.
Davis argued on appeal that the trial court abused its discretion in denying his request for a public defender, but the Indiana Court of Appeals disagreed. Relying on Koehler v. State, 499 N.E.2d 196 (Ind. 1986), Judge Patricia Riley said Davis had been “fully advised†of the difficulties of proceeding pro se a full year before his trial, and he did not waver in his decision to proceed pro se until the day of trial.
“Granting Davis’ request would most likely have resulted in a substantial continuance in order for counsel to get familiar with the facts of the case and would have required additional sacrifice from the victim who would have to make an additional trip to Indiana,†Riley wrote. “Although Davis relies on the trial court’s statement that he could request an attorney ‘at any time’ to support his contention that he should have been assigned an attorney midway through the bench trial, the trial court tempered that broad statement with the qualifier that Davis had to send the court ‘a letter or a motion.’â€
“… Despite the trial court’s denial of his request for counsel, Davis effectively defended against the charges pro se,†Riley continued. “Not only did he manage to impeach the victim during cross-examination, but he also was found not guilty on two of the three charges the State brought against him.â€
Thus, the appellate panel concluded the trial court did not err in denying Davis’ request for counsel.
$30 Million Available In Second Round Of Next Level Trails Grant Program
Gov. Eric Holcomb and Indiana Department of Natural Resources director Cameron Clark have announced details of the second round of the Next Level Trails grant program, including three workshops in August for interested applicants.
Next Level Trails, which will dedicate $90 million of State funds over the life of the program, is the largest infusion of trail funding in state history. The grant program is divided into two components: a $70 million fund for regional projects and a $20 million fund for local projects.
Each requires a minimum 20 percent project match, which can include monetary contributions, land value, and in-kind donations of materials and labor. Projects funded through this program must be open to the public.
“LEFT JAB AND RIGHT JAB†AUGUST 1, 2019
“LEFT JAB AND RIGHT JABâ€
“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.
VANDERBURGH COUNTY FELONY CHARGES
 Below are the felony cases to be filed by the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office
Charles Ryan Purdue: Unlawful possession of syringe (Level 6 Felony)
Jenny Lou Meuth: Assisting a criminal (Level 6 Felony)
Dalton Peerman: Possession of a narcotic drug (Level 6 Felony), Leaving the scene of an accident (Class B misdemeanor), Possession of marijuana (Class B misdemeanor), Operating a vehicle while intoxicated (Class C misdemeanor)
Brandon Scott Michael Oldham: Failure to appear (Level 6 Felony), Possession of methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony), Resisting law enforcement (Class A misdemeanor), Possession of paraphernalia (Class C misdemeanor)
Terry Dean Johnson: Attempt Aggravated battery (Level 3 Felony), Attempt Aggravated battery (Level 3 Felony), Attempt Battery by means of a deadly weapon (Level 5 Felony), Attempt Battery by means of a deadly weapon (Level 5 Felony), Intimidation (Level 5 Felony), Intimidation (Level 5 Felony), Criminal recklessness (Level 5 Felony), Criminal recklessness (Level 5 Felony), Criminal recklessness (Level 5 Felony), Criminal mischief (Class B misdemeanor), Criminal mischief (Class B misdemeanor)
Jileesha Marie Duckworth: Residential entry (Level 6 Felony), Domestic battery (Class A misdemeanor), Battery resulting in bodily injury (Class A misdemeanor), Criminal mischief (Class B misdemeanor)
James Michael Leslie: Intimidation (Level 6 Felony), Battery resulting in bodily injury (Class A misdemeanor)
William Issac Montrose: Domestic battery (Level 5 Felony)
VANDERBURGH COUNTY FELONY CHARGES
 Evansville, IN – Below are the felony cases to be filed by the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office today.
Alexander Lyzale Owsley: Operating a vehicle as an habitual traffic violator (Level 6 Felony)
Jason Wade Folz: Possession of methamphetamine (Level 4 Felony), Possession of a controlled substance (Class A misdemeanor)
Chad Douglas Williams: Failure to register as a sex or violent offender (Level 6 Felony), Failure of a sex offender to possess identification (Class A misdemeanor)
Michael Lee Kneer: Possession of methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony), Attempt Obstruction of justice (Level 6 Felony), Resisting law enforcement (Class A misdemeanor)
Jeffrey Eugene Canary: Unlawful possession of syringe (Level 6 Felony), Possession of a controlled substance (Class A misdemeanor)
Jerry Wayne Smith:Â Attempt Auto theft (Level 6 Felony), Attempt Obstruction of justice (Level 6 Felony)
Phillip Lee Smith: Carrying a handgun without a license (Level 5 Felony)
Brittiny Quintele Crowley: Battery against a public safety official (Level 6 Felony), Attempt Battery against a public safety official (Level 6 Felony), Resisting law enforcement (Class A misdemeanor)
Bailey Bree Scott: Burglary (Level 4 Felony), Theft (Class A misdemeanor)
Melissa Jo Kennady: Possession of methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony), Possession of paraphernalia (Class A misdemeanor)
Kiahnna Rashel Wilkerson: Domestic battery (Level 6 Felony)
Cathy Darlene Williams: Battery by bodily waste (Level 5 Felony), Battery by bodily waste (Level 5 Felony), Battery against a public safety official (Level 6 Felony), Battery against a public safety official (Level 6 Felony), Intimidation (Level 6 Felony), Resisting law enforcement (Class A misdemeanor)
Donald Ray Brigham: Neglect of a dependent (Level 6 Felony), Unlawful possession of syringe (Level 6 Felony)
Theresa Gayle Busse: Domestic battery (Level 6 Felony)
Darrell Lee Wetzel: Criminal trespass (Level 6 Felony)
Joseph Paul Green: Resisting law enforcement (Level 6 Felony)
Derek A. Owens: Battery on a person less than 14 years old (Level 6 Felony)
Lawrence Wayne Williams: Battery resulting in moderate bodily injury (Level 6 Felony)
William Lee Monroe: Dealing in methamphetamine (Level 2 Felony), Possession of methamphetamine (Level 3 Felony), Resisting law enforcement (Level 6 Felony), Unlawful possession of syringe (Level 6 Felony), Failure to appear (Level 6 Felony)
Daunte Lukan Garner: Dealing in a schedule I controlled substance (Level 4 Felony), Possession of methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony)
Charles Edward Quick: Possession of methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony), Possession of paraphernalia (Class A misdemeanor), Possession of marijuana (Class B misdemeanor)
Phillip Morgan Evans: Residential entry (Level 6 Felony)