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“LEFT JAB AND RIGHT JAB” JULY 22, 2019

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“LEFT JAB AND RIGHT JAB”

“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 JAB” 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.

Mid-States Corridor Project Tier 1 Environmental Study

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August Public Meetings Scheduled

 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:

  • Analysis and comparison of benefits, impacts and costs of a range of reasonable options to identify a preferred corridor for the proposed facility
  • Assessment of the social, economic and environmental impacts of each corridor, along with consideration of ways to avoid, minimize or mitigate impacts
  • Identification of the project’s purpose and need, and consideration of a variety of options to meet both, including improvements to and use of existing facilities and construction of new roadway facilities
  • Analysis of a no-build alternative to serve as a baseline for comparison

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

5:30pm to 7:00pm (local time)

Thursday, Aug. 8: Jasper High School

1600 St. Charles St., Jasper IN

Cafeteria

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

Administration Building, Room 216

850 College Ave.

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.

  • Sign up for project e-newsletters on the website.
  • Receive project text alerts by texting “midstates” to 33222.
  • Email questions and comments to info@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.

 

ADOPT A PET

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Rain is a beautiful female gray & white cat! She has previously lived with other cats and also with dogs, and done fine. She came in on June 6th from a family that had too many animals and got overwhelmed. Rain’s adoption fee is $40 and includes her spay, microchip, vaccines, and more! Contact Vanderburgh Humane at (812) 426-2563 for adoption details!

 

Appeals panel rejects man’s challenge of child molestation conviction

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 Dave Stafford for www.thiendianalawyer.com

A man convicted of Level 1 felony child molesting and sentenced to 48 years in prison failed to convince the Indiana Court of Appeals that his victim’s medical report was improperly admitted or that her testimony was incredibly dubious.

The appellate panel affirmed the Elkhart Superior Court’s conviction in Ryan Baxter v. State of Indiana, 18A-CR-2050.

Baxter was arrested after his 4-year-old stepdaughter, A.W., told her grandmother that he had molested her during a noncustodial visit with her mother and Baxter, her stepfather. The grandmother told A.W.’s biological and custodial father, after which “A.W. underwent a sexual assault examination,” Judge Melissa May wrote for the panel. “The nurse, Nancy Grant, determined A.W. had an injury consistent with prior penile penetration that was healing.”

After being charged with three counts of Level 1 child molesting, an Elkhart County jury convicted Baxter of one count, prompting his appeal. Baxter argued the medical report was inadmissible hearsay because it contained A.W.’s identification of Baxter as the culprit.

“The identification of Baxter as the perpetrator was relevant and necessary in order for Grant to know if she could discharge A.W. into Father’s custody without A.W. being subjected to more abuse after she was released,” May wrote. “Because the identification of Baxter as the perpetrator was necessary to ensure A.W.’s safety, the court did not abuse its discretion by admitting the medical report.”

Likewise, the COA rejected Baxter’s argument that A.W.’s testimony should have been stricken under the incredible dubiosity rule, and therefore the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction.

“Incredible dubiosity is not available to invalidate A.W.’s testimony because her testimony is not inherently contradictory and it is corroborated by other witness testimony. At trial, Grant, a sexual assault nurse examiner, testified A.W. sustained injury to her hymen that was consistent with penile penetration. Grant’s testimony provides circumstantial evidence in support of A.W.’s testimony and invalidates Baxter’s incredible dubiosity argument,” May wrote, citing to Moore v. State, 27 N.E.3d 749, 760 (Ind. 2015), which rejected that rule when testimony is supported by circumstantial evidence.

JUST IN: Sheriff’s Office Arrests Woman for the Murder of her Husband

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Sheriff’s Office Arrests Woman for the Murder of her Husband

An Evansville woman is in custody on charges of murder after deputies responded to a report of suspicious circumstances at west side home yesterday evening.

On Saturday, July 20, 2019 at approximately 6:03 PM the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office responded to 2601 Glenview Drive in order to investigate reported suspicious circumstances. A female 911 caller claimed that she had stabbed her husband with a knife and needed an ambulance and the police. Sheriff’s deputies arrived and made contact with the 911 caller, Mrs. Wendy Payne, who was found in the back yard of the residence.

Sheriff’s deputies observed that Mrs. Payne was covered in blood and heard her state that she had stabbed her husband. Deputies detained Mrs. Payne and made entry into the residence to check the welfare of any possible victims. A deputy observed a male victim lying on the floor of the kitchen. He appeared to have sustained an injury to his upper left chest consistent with that of a stab wound. The deputy also observed a large kitchen knife on a table next to the male. The victim was identified as Mr. Edward Lee Payne, the husband of Mrs. Wendy Payne.

The deputy checked the victim, but could detect no signs of life. German Township Fire Department and AMR personnel responded, but no life-saving measures could be attempted. Mrs. Payne was transported to the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office Operations Center to be interviewed by detectives. While being transported, Mrs. Payne stated numerous times, “I’m going to jail for murder”. A witness on scene indicated the defendant said, “I killed him”.

Detectives interviewed Mrs. Payne, who invoked her right to remain silent and not speak without an attorney present. Mrs. Payne was booked into the Vanderburgh County Jail on a single count of murder.

An autopsy took place today at 11:00 AM at the Vanderburgh County Coroner’s Office. The Coroner will release an official determination of the cause and manner of death. Mrs. Payne will make an initial court appearance later this week.

ARRESTED:

Wendy Owen Payne (pictured above), 51, of Evansville. Murder (Indiana Code 35-42-1-1(1))

PREVIOUSLY: 2019-NR-033

FOOTNOTE: Presumption of Innocence Notice: The fact that a person has been arrested or charged with a crime is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.

-END-

 

Vail sets franchise record in Otters’ win

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Tyler Vail made Evansville Otters history in an 8-2 win against the Florence Freedom Saturday, setting the franchise’s all-time mark for strikeouts when he struck out Florence’s Andre Mercurio in the bottom of the first inning.

eading into Saturday’s start, Vail needed two strikeouts to pass former Otter Andre Simpson’s mark of 303. Vail accomplished the feat in the first inning.

 

Vail, in his fourth season with the Otters, picked up the win Saturday as he finished with five strikeouts. He went six shutout innings, allowing only three hits.

 

With his total strikeout number in an Otters’ uniform at 307, the Easton, Pa. native will see that record number continue to grow as the regular season rolls on.

 

Vail now has five quality starts on the season, going at least six innings and allowing only three earned runs in each start. He improves to 4-5.

 

He also received plenty of run support in Saturday’s start as Evansville’s offense was able to force Florence to use five pitchers.

 

Making a spot start for the Freedom, Zak Spivy took the hill against the Otters. Florence’s original probable starter, Tyler Gibson, was signed by the Cincinnati Reds organization mid-afternoon on Saturday.

 

After two scoreless innings between both teams to begin the game, the Otters’ offense came alive in the top of the third.

 

After David Cronin and Ryan Long were able to reach base, Mike Rizzitello singled to score Cronin from third and the game’s first run in favor of the Otters.

 

Carlos Castro hit a ground ball to Freedom shortstop Austin Wobrock who threw to second base for what appeared to be a force out. Instead, Rizzitello was called safe at second and second baseman Caleb Lopes overthrew Connor Crane at first, allowing Castro to advance to second, Rizzitello to third, and Long to touch home extending the Otters’ lead to two.

 

A sac fly to right field by Dakota Phillips scored Rizzitello as the Otters extended their lead to 3-0.

 

The Freedom had an opportunity to respond in the bottom of the fourth with the bases loaded and two outs, but Vail was able to work out of the jam.

 

The Otters tacked on another run in the top of the fifth on a hit from Castro to score Keith Grieshaber, putting the Otters in control at 4-0.

 

Spivy, the right-hander for Florence, threw five innings, allowing four runs – two earned – on four hits while tossing five strikeouts. He was given the loss, dropping his record to 0-3.

 

In the top of the seventh inning, Castro crushed a two-run home run for his 10th of the year, and Jack Meggs added a two-RBI single give the Otters an 8-0 lead.

 

Otters reliever Cam Opp pitched two scoreless innings in the seventh and eighth innings.

 

The Freedom scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth on RBI knocks by Crane and Isaac Benard off Michael Gizzi to make the final score 8-2.

 

The Otters will conclude their visit to Florence Sunday at 4:35 p.m., seeking a divisional series win. Tyler Beardsley will be on the mound for the Otters, going up against left-hander Mike Castellani.

 

EPD REPORT

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EPD REPORT

News Conference Scheduled Regarding Death Investigation

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The Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of an Evansville man at a private residence in southeastern German Township.

On July 20, 2019 at approximately 6:03 PM the Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence in the 2000 block of Glenview Drive in order to investigate reported suspicious circumstances. Upon arrival, sheriff’s deputies encountered a distraught female outside the rear of the residence. The sheriff’s deputies entered the home and located a deceased male. The deputies observed indications of a violent struggle having occurred.

The female was detained and transported to the Sheriff’s Operations Center while a search warrant was obtained for the residence. The Sheriff’s Office considers the death suspicious. An active investigation is underway, with crime scene investigators still processing the scene. The Vanderburgh County Coroner’s Office is also investigating, with an autopsy scheduled for Sunday, July 21.

The Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office will hold a news conference on Sunday, July 21, 2019 at 1:00 PM at Sheriff’s Office Headquarters. Additional information will be revealed at that time. The Vanderburgh County Coroner’s Office will release the name of the deceased.

Vanderburgh County Recent Booking Records

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https://www.vanderburghsheriff.com/jail-recent-booking-records.aspx

Commentary: I Love Americans And The People Where I Came From

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Commentary: I Love Americans And The People Where I Came From

July 19, 2019 

By Michael Leppert
MichaelLeppert.com

Sometimes timing is everything.

I took my first trip to Europe last year, and it was a big deal to me. My wife and I used the study abroad program our youngest son was experiencing as an excuse to see Spain. It was not high on my list of must-sees, but the excuse was golden. So, off we went.

It was like taking the lid off of the jar of infinity. Now, there is no place on Earth I don’t want to see–even places defined by suffering and awfulness are on the list. My wife’s list is different than mine. Combined, our collective list is comprehensive.

Being in the presence of the world’s most wonderful treasures is something I never expected to actually experience. It wasn’t even a goal. Putting my eyes on the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona last year may have changed that. Or maybe it was just happening upon some other stunning work of Antoni Gaudi while out on a walk. It was a building with a name I don’t remember, on a street I don’t remember either.

I do remember thinking about the famous architect, though. And I remember seeing other visitors standing and staring at the building in awe. It could be meaningless to the people who pass it every day on their way to and from work or school, but it was beautiful to us. I envied and pitied the locals in the same thought.

Those people are Spain to me.

I publish this column on Friday morning from Belfast, Northern Ireland. Timing is the reason for our trip.

I am mostly of Irish descent. I recently discovered through research and technology that other than a great grandpa who passed down my distinctively German last name, the rest of my heritage comes from here. Few Americans hate me for it as far as I know.

Ireland was high on my visit list anyway, but The Open Championship (golf) is being played outside of England/Scotland this week for the first time since 1951. That year, like this year, it was played at Royal Portrush on the north coast of the island.

This land was never just a place to me, and now that I am here, it is even less of one. It is my cultural root—the community from which I came.

It is a mere fraction of Earth’s ingredients that are part of me. Almost all of the rest of the ingredients are from America.

Spain added a little bit to me and my wife last year. Ireland already had and is adding plenty more this week.

I don’t mean the places; I mean the people of the places.

We will take a bus an hour and half north to the coast to one of the most beautiful places I will ever see today. I had never heard of Royal Portrush before a few months ago. I never looked at pictures of it until a few days ago. Pictures won’t do it justice or help me experience the people anyway, so why bother?

It frustrates me to know how many Americans think of people from other places as “them.” By that logic, the family living across the street is just as much.

My friend from my home neighborhood YMCA, is a young man named Makdad. He is from Iraq, and he might be the most pleasant person I know. Of course, so might Jenna, my Starbuck’s barista, who was likely born and raised right in my home town of Indianapolis. I haven’t asked her where she is from just yet.

They have dissimilar roots, yet both are perfectly American.

Not everyone gets to see the world, or more importantly, the world’s people. I wish more could. The more I get out and about, the better my appreciation is of others. I’m not special in that regard.

I am thankful I get to go be an outsider in unfamiliar places, even places which serve as a version of home. This week, I technically got to “go back” from where I came.

Ireland is a great place to surround myself with the Irish. And there are Spaniards, Germans, Iraqis, and yes, other Americans in Portrush this week.

I wish I could tell them all how much I enjoy seeing and learning from them all. These people are not “them” to me–they are “us.”

I love America. I don’t have to hate anyone or any place to love it well. Those struggling as racists would do well to try it.

FOOTNOTE: Michael Leppert is a public and governmental affairs consultant in Indianapolis and writes his thoughts about politics, government and anything else that strikes him at MichaelLeppert.com.

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