 U.S. Senator Mike Braun released the following statement regarding the retirement of Congresswoman Susan Brooks:
“Susan Brooks is a hard-working public servant who has spent her career fighting for Hoosiers. In Congress, she was the first woman from Indiana to chair a committee, and has become one of the most effective lawmakers in Washington: her dedicated work on behalf of her constituents and our state will be missed.â€
A motorcyclist was seriously injured this afternoon in northwestern Vanderburgh County after losing control of his motorcycle and striking an embankment.
On Friday, June 14, 2019 at 4:07 PM the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office and Scott Township Fire Department responded to a motorcycle crash in the area of Owensville Rd, just north of Nisbet Rd.
Once on scene, first responders located a male lying in a field located on the east side of the roadway. The motorcyclist was unresponsive, but breathing. Scott Township Fire and EMS rendered aid to the motorcyclist. On scene investigation indicated that the motorcycle had been traveling north on Owensville Rd near Nisbet Rd when it left the roadway and struck a ditch and embankment a short distance later.
The motorcyclist, who was not wearing a helmet, sustained facial lacerations and a possible head injury. The motorcyclist was transported to the hospital by ambulance with life-threatening injuries.
Pursuant to state law regarding crashes involving serious bodily injury or death, the motorcyclist consented to a post-crash blood draw. The crash will remain under investigation pending toxicology results. Alcohol is believed to have been a factor in the crash.
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?
Please go to our link of our media partner Channel 44 News located in the upper right-hand corner of the City-County Observer so you can get the up-to-date news, weather, and sports.
Todays “Readers Poll’ question is: Are you pleased to hear that Saratoga Gaming of New York has sold Ellis Park to Laguna Development Corporation located in Albuquerque, New Mexico?
THE NEW-HARMONY GAZETTE.SPECIAL RELEASE
By: Dan Barton June 13, 2019
Reps. Bucschon and Shimkus, and Senators Braun, Young, Duckworth, and Durbin Introduce the Restore the Harmony Way Bridge Act
(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Representatives Larry Bucshon, M.D. (R-IN) and
John Shimkus (R-IL) with Senators Mike Braun (R-IN), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL),
Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced the Restore the Harmony Way Bridge Act (H.R. 3245) (S. 1833), a bill that the House of Representatives passed by unanimous consent in the 115th Congress.
“I am optimistic that this legislation will pass both chambers of Congress and finally breath life back into the New Harmony Bridge that extends from Indiana to Illinois across the Wabash River,†said Dr. Bucshon. “The Restore the Harmony Way Bridge Act will convey the Harmony Way Bridge and write the next chapter for this historic bridge.â€
“Conveying the New Harmony Bridge to Illinois and Indiana Bridge Authorities is the best way to preserve and restore this local treasure,†said Rep. Shimkus. “I appreciate the strong support this effort has received from my friends on both sides of the Wabash River.â€
“The Harmony Way Bridge is one of southern Indians’s lost treasures, and I’m proud to pitch in to the great work Representatives Bucshon and Shimkus have done on both sides of the Wabash to help get this piece of Hoosier history back up and running.†Senator Mike Braun
“I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing this bipartisan, bicameral legislation which will grant certainty to the New Harmony community,†said Senator Young. “Passage of this bill would allow Posey county, along with its neighboring communities, to dictate the future of this important, historic landmark.â€
“Investing in Illinois’s infrastructure is one of my top priorities in the U.S. Senate,†said Senator Duckworth. “I’m glad to join my colleagues in helping introduce this bipartisan legislation to eliminate red-tape, jumpstart repairs to restore the Harmony Way Bridge and build upon the important connection between our states.â€
“Giving local bridge authorities responsibility over the historic New Harmony Bridge will help restore and preserve it for generations of Hoosiers and Illinoisans to come,†Senator Durbin said. “Proud to join my colleagues in introducing this bill today.â€
Background
The Harmony Way Bridge was an engineering marvel that was built in 1930. The size of the Parker truss spans made it the largest of its kind in Indiana. It was permanently closed in 2012 due to structural integrity issues. The federal law that led to the bridge’s construction has also prevented it from being refurbished and reopened by the states of Indiana and Illinois. The Restore the Harmony Way Bridge Act will convey the bridge to the New Harmony River Bridge Authority (Illinois Bridge Authority) and repeal the 1941 federal statute, removing the conditions set out on the bridge. The Restore the Harmony Way Bridge Act was cosponsored in the House by every member of the Indiana and Illinois delegations.
Contact
Rep. Bucshon
Andrew Hansen 202-225-4636 andrew.Hansen@mail.house.gov
Rep. Shimkus
Jordan Haverly 202-225-5271 jordan.Haverly@mail.house.gov
Senator Braun
Zach Riddle 202-228-5434 Zach_Riddle@Braun.senate.gov
Senator Young
Heidi Reutebuch 202-224-5623 Heidi_Reutebuch@young.senate.gov
Senator Duckworth
Sean Savett 202-224-2854 Sean_Savett@duckworth.senate.gov
Senator Durbin
Joe LaPaille 202-224-2152 Joe_LaPaille@durbin.senate.gov
By Abrahm Hurt
TheStatehouseFile.com
INDIANAPOLIS—Staff turnover is down, caseload sizes are dropping and the ratio of supervisors to case managers has improved in the year since an outside review found numerous shortcomings in the Indiana Department of Child Services.
Information and updates about the progress at DCS were shared Thursday when Gov. Eric Holcomb held a ceremonial signing of two child welfare bills passed in the 2019 legislative session that included support for foster care families and aligning with new practices.
“I want to thank the General Assembly for working tirelessly on legislation to improve DCS policies and practices so that the agency can serve the right child at the right time in the right way,†said Terry Stigdon, director of DCS.
In June 2018, the Child Welfare Policy and Practice Group (CWG) gave DCS a report of 20 recommendations that came after a six-month examination of the department. CWG is a nonprofit organization that works to help children and families by implementing successful systems and practices within organizations.
Recommendations from the report included improving the workplace culture, lightening the caseload for employees and increasing pay.
Holcomb contracted with CWG after former DCS Director Mary Beth Bonaventura resigned in a letter critical of the administration, saying the agency didn’t have the resources to keep children safe.
During the 2019 session, legislators passed two laws that address some of the issues raised in the outside report.
Senate Enrolled Act 1, authored by Sen. Erin Houchin, R-Salem, provides more support for foster care families and in-home placement for children.
House Enrolled Act 1006, authored by Rep. Greg Steuerwald, R-Avon, extends the age foster children can receive services to 21, expands the definition of neglect and updates the DCS caseload standard to comply with national guidelines.
Stigdon said that nearly a year after CWG delivered the final report all 20 of the outlined recommendations are either in progress or have been implemented.
Stigdon said the annual turnover rate for family case managers is down nearly 19% due in part to the supplemental funding provided by Holcomb. In 2017, the turnover rate was nearly one in three while the rate dropped to almost one in four in 2018.
Last year, Holcomb redirected $25 million from the state’s budget surplus to address some of the DCS issues. And lawmakers increased the DCS budget in the fiscal year 2020 by $243 million and by $223 million in fiscal year 2021 for a yearly allocation of more than $800 million.
Holcomb said there have also been improvements in DCS culture, which was described in the CWG report as one of fear. Employees told investigators they were concerned that a single wrong step will bring catastrophic consequences and that their managers won’t have their backs in difficult situations.
“What we continue to hear from the back office to the front lines is the culture has improved such that people are truly enjoying, not just seeing these numbers, these good numbers, the results come in, but the way that they’re affecting people’s lives,†he said.
Stigdon said another indicator of culture change is people wanting to stay.
“We now have family case managers that not only want to stay, but they’re doing the job that they signed up for because they’re caseloads are manageable,†she said. “They can spend time with families and help those families get to where they can be sustainable and healthy. And then we can get out of the way.â€
As of May 2019, DCS was 99% in compliance with the 12/17 caseload standard compared to
January 2018 when they were only 77% compliant. The 12/17 standard says case managers are supposed to have no more than 12 active cases and monitor no more than 17 children.
Holcomb said the state has come a long way, but they’re not done.
“One tragic case is too many, and we have to be ready to address every single case that comes to us and that’s what we’re doing,†he said. “We’re not shying away from any of these occurrences. We’re leaning into this work.â€
FOOTNOTE: Abrahm Hurt is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalists.
Vectren, a CenterPoint Energy company, provided sixteen food pantries throughout Evansville, Chandler, Boonville, Newburgh, Mt. Vernon and New Harmony with 4-packs of LED bulbs to distribute to patrons throughout the summer. Through its energy efficiency program, Vectren is providing more than 50,000 bulbs to be given to those in the community who frequent the area’s various food pantries.
“By providing LED bulbs to the food pantries, we are helping low-income families take simple, effective steps to lowering their energy costs,†said Lynnae Wilson, chief business officer, Indiana electric. “Vectren is committed to assisting customers to conserve energy and save money.â€
If all bulbs are installed replacing traditional 60-watt light bulbs assuming three hrs/day of use, nearly 232,000 kWhs of energy consumption will be saved annually – enough to power 2,780 homes for a month or 215 homes annually.
Vectren offers instant discounts on LED bulbs at area retailers such as Home Depot, Wal-Mart and Batteries + Bulbs. Visit www.vectren.com/lighting for a list of all stores. Learn more about Vectren’s energy efficiency programs at www.vectren.com/saveenergy or call 1-866-240-8476.
About CenterPoint Energy
Headquartered in Houston, Texas, CenterPoint Energy, Inc. is an energy delivery company with regulated utility businesses in eight states and a competitive energy businesses footprint in nearly 40 states.
Through its electric transmission & distribution, power generation and natural gas distribution businesses, the company serves more than 7 million metered customers primarily in Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma and Texas. CenterPoint Energy’s competitive energy businesses include natural gas marketing and energy-related services; energy efficiency, sustainability and infrastructure modernization solutions; and construction and repair services for pipeline systems, primarily natural gas.
The company also owns 53.8 percent of the common units representing limited partner interests in Enable Midstream Partners, LP, a publicly traded master limited partnership that owns, operates and develops strategically located natural gas and crude oil infrastructure assets.
With approximately 14,000 employees and nearly $29 billion in assets, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 150 years. For more information, visit CenterPointEnergy.com.
New Harmony Theatre will begin its 32nd season this summer with Good People by David Lindsay-Abaire. The play runs Friday, June 21 – Sunday, June 23 and Thursday, June 27 – Sunday, June 30 at the Murphy Auditorium in historic New Harmony, Indiana.
The wolves are at Margaret’s door. She’s 50 and fired—from a minimum wage job. Facing eviction and struggling to care for her daughter with special needs, Margie thinks an ex-boyfriend who has become a successful doctor might be her opportunity to get out of Southie. Of course, he’s married – which puts a dent in Margie’s plans. With a humorous approach, Lindsay-Abaire navigates the struggles, changing relationships and gritty determination that come with having next to nothing in America.
Good People is directed by New Harmony’s artistic director, Elliot Wasserman. Veteran New Harmony Theatre actors Jeff Williams and Sue Schriber are joined by Annie Edgerton and Laurie Carter Rose to round out an award winning cast. University of Southern Indiana students Brennen Hobson and Jesmelia Williams will also make their debut on New Harmony Theatre’s stage.
They will be joined by a design team from including USI faculty members Paul Weimer as scenic designer, Maya Michele Fein as lighting designer, and Shan Jensen as costume designer; USI staff members Kevin Gray as sound designer and Andy Hammond as technical director; and Actors Equity Stage Manager Margaret Kayes and Actors Equity Assistant Stage Manager Ben Shipley.
Single tickets are $30 for an adult, $28 for seniors age 60+, $10 for ages 25 and under, and $24 for USI employees. Season package tickets are also available. Shows start at 7:30 p.m. on Friday nights, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Saturdays, and a 2 p.m. matinee on Sundays. Thursday evening performances are on June 27, July 18, and August 1 and begin at 7:30 p.m. at only $24 per ticket. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit USI.edu/nht or call the box office at 812-465-1635. Follow on Facebook at New Harmony Theatre for updates and photos.
Are you wanting more theatre? Tickets are now on sale for the rest of the season. Join us for Always…Patsy Cline, directed by Eric Altheide from July 12-14 and July 18-21, and the 1988 Pulitzer Prize winner Driving Miss Daisy, directed by Elliot Wasserman from July 26-18 and August 1-4. For more information on the remainder of the season visit USI.edu/nht or call the box office at 812-465-1635. Follow on Facebook at New Harmony Theatre for updates and photos.
NAME THAT PHRASE
Gavel Gamut By Jim Redwine
When I want to take a walk I prefer my most comfortable pair of boots. When I want to return to a destination I choose the route I previously successfully traveled. Even when I mow my yard I normally approach the task the same way each time. Surprises are okay for birthdays and Christmas, but for almost everything else familiarity tends to work best if it is an option.
So when the New Harmony, Indiana Working Men’s Institute asked me to speak this Fourth of July after the initial glow of pride the rush of trepidation led me to seek out shelter in time-tested material such as the following offerings. As most of the original authors have already received their “summonses to join that innumerable caravan..â€, I presume a little plagiarism will pass without complaint.
As to July 04, 1776
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. The British had provided America with a system of government, but imposed taxes upon us to pay for it without allowing us to be represented in our own government.
It was a time of dark and stormy nights filled with British soldiers being quartered in our homes without our permission and Americans being impressed to serve on British ships. Such treatment incited the embattled American farmers to stand at Lexington and Concord and fire the shots heard ‘round the world. At least one patriot decided death was preferable to dishonor and wondered why some still remained silent while their brethren were already in the field.
Others declared the course of human events made it necessary to sever America’s ties to Great Britain and take its rightful place among the nations of the world. From 1620 until 1776 people had dithered and wondered whether to be or not to be free. Whether it was nobler to suffer Britain’s slings and arrows or to take up arms and oppose them. In other words, should we drink high taxed tea or dump it in the harbor?
Fortunately for us our Forefathers and Foremothers chose liberty over acquiescence, freedom over paternalism and sacrifice over dishonor. Thanks to all of them.
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