We hope that today’s “READERS FORUM” 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.

HERE’S WHAT’S ON OUR MIND TODAY

We are told that state law now allows restaurants and entertainment establishments to apply for a Liquor License if they are within 3,000 feet from a waterway.

We just learned that the Executive Director of the Evansville/Vanderburgh County Building Authority, Dave Rector now manages 20 properties within Vanderburgh County. All we can say about this is thanks to Dave Rector for a job well done.

The Democratic At-Large City Council candidate Kaitlin Moore Morley’s political statement on her campaign mailer has caused some concerns among small business people. Her political mailer stated that “she wants to ensure that economic incentives go to companies that pay their employees at least $15 per hour.”

Oh, please take time and read the new “LEFT JAB, RIGHT JAB” article, sit back, and watch CCO posters Ronald Reagan and Joe Biden intellectually slug it out on national issues that might interest you.

WHAT”S ON YOUR MIND TODAY?

Todays “Readers Poll” question is: Do you think that the Republicans will take control of the Evansville City Council?

The City-County Observer announces the appointment of Timothy Justin Phillips as the new managing editor, effective immediately. Over the last several months, Mr. Phillips has been assisting with the revamping of the City-County Observer website while enhancing our social media presence.

Timothy is a recent graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in English/Journalism from Indiana University Southeast. He is currently working on his Master’s Degree at IUS. While at Paoli Senior high school, he was actively involved with the school newspaper and served as the yearbook editor. His college coursework included mass media communications and photojournalism.

When not fulfilling his editing responsibilities with the City-County Observer, Timothy spends his leisure time hiking and playing competitive chess.

It is common knowledge that the 75 year old publisher of the CCO is posturing to retire soon. Mr. Phillips is being groomed to be his replacement in the very near future. Timothy has shown the ability to manage the complex publishing and marketing challenges that are required to be a competent editor for an online publication.

During the next several weeks, we will be introducing Mr. Phillips to the movers and shakers of this community so that they will get an idea of whom they will be working with at the City-County Observer in the future.

Finally, we expect that once Timothy gets acclimated to the cultural, political, and social climate of this region, he will take the City-County Observer to the next level of publishing.

In closing, Timothy states that he is committed to upholding the mission statement of the City-County Observer by focusing on principals of journalistic integrity. He understands that the role of the media should be to inform and educate our readership. He will serve as the community watchdog by sounding the alarm when citizens’ rights are in danger of being violated by elected and appointed officials.

In conclusion, his hiring will ensure that the City-County Observer will maintain its position as this area “True Watchdog” for years to come.

Legislation authored by Representative Ryan Hatfield (D-Evansville) that will strengthen our animal cruelty laws is headed to the Governor’s desk to be signed into law.

House Bill 1615, approved 92-0 in the House today, will update Indiana’s animal cruelty statutes to crack down on people who choose to harm animals.

“The goal of this legislation is to create better protections for Hoosier animals and people,” Hatfield said.

“FBI Profiler Robert Ressler says, ‘Murderers often start out by killing and torturing animals,’” Hatfield added. “There is a direct link between people who abuse animals and people who abuse other people. When we strengthen animal cruelty crimes to protect animals, we also protect fellow Hoosiers.”

The bill also prohibits an animal control program, animal shelter, or humane society from killing an animal by any means other than humane euthanasia, which is defined in the bill as the use of sodium pentobarbital or a derivative, to be administered in a manner that causes painless loss of consciousness and death.

“This legislation is not everything I would have liked, but it does take significant steps toward sending a clear message that if you choose to abuse animals, you will pay for it,” Hatfield concluded.