IS IT TRUE that last week a group of the more privilege individuals of this area attended a “plush” political fund raising event for Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch at the home of a local business tycoon?  …this event raised $200,000 for the re-election campaign of the Holcomb and Crouch ticket?  …did we forget to say that Mayor Winnecke gave a glowing introduction speech of Lt. Governor Crouch?

IS IT TRUE that Mayor Winnecke re-election political war chest is alleged to have $750,000 in it?

IS IT TRUE we are hearing that many citizens are extremely pleased with the way that District #77 State Representative Ryan Hatfield is conducting himself?

IS IT TRUE it looks like the rampant drug related homicides investigation in our area is beginning to take a financial toll on the Vanderburgh County Coroner’s 2019 budget?

IS IT TRUE we have an outstanding group of law enforcement professionals that are doing everything they can to protect us?  …Its almost impossible for members of law enforcement to stop anyone from killing someone?  …It’s obvious that it’s time for our  elected officials  to look for more creative ways to help of our law enforcement agencies so they can do a better job fighting violent crime?

IS IT TRUE we are hearing that there is a quiet movement a foot to find a way to fund a discount grocery operation on North Main Street?  …we are told that the Director of the Evansville DMD may have found a one?  …we are told that this could be a developing story?

IS IT TRUE we wonder how many people have received summons to appear at the Warrick, Posey and Vanderburgh County Superior Court-Small Claims Division to dispute the validity of a medical debt allegedly owed for medical services at area hospitals during the last two years?

IS IT TRUE that ProPublica newspaper claims that medical bills are often riddled with errors? …that they also suggests that you should ask your medical provider if they have a financial assistance policy, which could result in a sliding scale discount?

IS IT TRUE we are told that First Ward City Council candidate Ben Trockman is having a mega political fundraising event at the Knob House located on the property of the Knob Hill Tavern?  …this event is being held this coming Tuesday between 5:30 to 8:00 pm?

IS IT TRUE if any candidate running for the Evansville City Council and would like to put their upcoming political event in the CCO  please send the information to City-County Observer@live.com?

IS IT TRUE last year the Indiana Department of Revenue’s Tax Advisory Council convened behind closed doors for its inaugural quarterly meeting? … that the Revenue Tax Advisory Council was created in December of 2017?  …the group’s mission is to “shape the future of tax administration by providing input regarding agency operations, policies and legislative proposals,” according to the department?  …we wonder if they met behind closed doors this year? …we are highly disappointed that not one individual appointed to this Advisory Council is from this area?

Please take time and read our newest feature articles entitled “OBITUARIES, LEFT JAB, AND RIGHT JAB,  BIRTHDAYS, AND HOT JOBS” posted in our sections.  Oh, You can now be able to subscribe to get the CCO daily.

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

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

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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.

Mike Stepto “Living Outside The Box” Speaker

(Tucker Publishing joins the City-County Observer as a co-sponsor of this event)

Steve Hammer the Chairman of the “Living Outside The Box” speaker series announced the sponsors of this event will be the City-County Observer and Tucker Publishing. This event will be held on Wednesday, June 26th in the private room at Pangea Kitchen at noon. This event is filled to capacity.

We orginally planned to make this event an invitation only but it got out of control when we started to receive many requests from interested people that wanted to attend this event. We originally planned to invite 20 guest but it quickly mulipulyied to 40 guests.  Even more amazing is we now have a waiting list around 23 people who want to attend the next “Living Outside The Box” speaker series event.

This month features speaker is Mike Stepto career spans over 25 years with the iconic Evansville family business, the Pet Food Centers.

Mr Stepto is the the President and CEO of Pet Food Center a regional Pet Retail Chain.will be the City-County Observer and Tucker Publishing  “Living Outside The Box” speakers series on June 26, 2019 at PANGEA restaurant.

Mike Stepto earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Occupational Safety and Health at Murray State University Murray, Kentucky. earned his Associate of Arts Degree at Kemper Military School and College in Boonville, MO. Mr. Stepto and his family are member of St. Benedict Catholic Church.

He’s a supporter of numerous charities; Vanderburgh Humane Society, Tri-State MS Society, PC Pound Puppies, It takes a Village, Memorial High School Athletics, Vanderburgh County 4-H, Eagle Scout, Boy Scouts of America and a member of the Knight of Columbus Chapter 12541, Holy Redeemer.

Mike Stepto is married to Tiffany Nunn Stepto and they have two children, Alan Michael a Junior at Memorial High school and Phoebe who attends St Ben’s Catholic school.

Event Chairman Steve Hammer stated “that our monthly speaker series will focus on home grown businesses successes and challenges. Mr. Hammer says; “Living Outside The Box” speakers series will feature unique and insightful stories of success and perseverance from prominent business leaders that tend to fly under the public radar.”

Hammer also added; “We understand that there are a lot of successful entrepreneurs who, because of economic, technological, or political challenges, have experienced a negative impact on their businesses.”   “We are going to actively search for local business people who went through economic adversity due to bureaucratic restrictions, governmental intervention, or increased competition, but had the good business sense to “Living Outside The Box” to allow their products or services to continue to thrive. We also hope that this will turn out to be a great resource for local developing businesses.”

For additional information concerning our next ‘Living Outside The Box” speaker event please contract Steve Hammer by calling him at 812-589-3802.

FOOTNOTE: Get your own copy of “Living Outside the Box” on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Living-Outside-Box-outside-courage/dp/1092964894/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

The Fourth of July is fast approaching and many area residents are stocking up on bottle rockets, sparklers and firecrackers. We’ve summarized Indiana’s Fireworks Laws below so that you can stay safe and legal this Independence Day.

Indiana Code 22-11-14-6 allows you to discharge fireworks on your property until 11 PM. On a legal holiday (which by statute includes every Sunday) you may discharge fireworks up until midnight.

You may only discharge fireworks on your own property, on property that you have permission to use, or at a special discharge location authorized by the fire department having jurisdiction. If you are under 18 years of age, you must have an adult present in order to possess or use fireworks.

Discharging or possessing fireworks in violation of IC 22-11-14-6 is punishable a Class C Infraction. Damaging another person’s property with fireworks is punishable as a Class A Misdemeanor. Causing serious injury to another person with fireworks is punishable as a Level 6 Felony. Under IC 35-45-3-2 a person who places or leaves a spent firework on the property of another person commits Littering as a Class B Infraction.

Vanderburgh County Code 12.24.010(u) prohibits the possession or discharge of fireworks within a county maintained park. The City of Evansville further restricts the use of fireworks within the corporate limits. The Evansville Municipal Code regulating fireworks may be found here.

Sheriff Dave Wedding explained, “Even though the law permits the discharge of fireworks on any day of the year, intentionally annoying your neighbors during the work week could result in a citation for disorderly conduct.” Sheriff Wedding added, “Our office wants everyone to have a great time this Fourth of July, we just ask that residents be courteous to their neighbors and exercise a little common sense.” 

Pictured Above: Fireworks complaints in the county have been on a downward trend in recent years. The Sheriff’s Office received only twenty-seven (27) complaints last summer, compared to thirty-four (34) in 2017 and up to seventy-one (71) during the summer of 2013. (Data Source: Evansville City – Vanderburgh County Joint Department of Central Dispatch)