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More Than 800 Firefighters Attend Weekend Officers School in Owensboro

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PAUL WILCOXEN KENTUCKY, OWENSBORO

Firefighters and emergency personnel spend several hours each year training and preparing for the next emergency.

In Owensboro over the weekend, more than 800 men and women convened at the convention center to learn advanced techniques through the Bryant Stiles Officers School hosted by the Green River Firefighters Association.

“What this allows is for the firefighters to come in and get some advanced leadership training in how to manage a fire scene, how to recognize PTSD, suicidal tendencies amongst emergency responders [and] how to build a successful training program,” said GRFA treasurer Pat Thompson.

“It’s programs you don’t normally get on a weekly [or] monthly bases at your local fire department.”

The event featured a total of 31 classes over the three-day event.

“They’re great classes,” said Eva Antee, a firefighter from Hopkinsville, KY. “You learn a lot from them, and they’ve got some great instructors.

“I’m glad they’ve continued with these classes all these years because you do learn a lot.”

The Green River Firefighters Association has hosted the seminars from close to three decades but moved the event from Owensboro in 2009 when the Executive Inn closed.

“We moved it to Lexington,” said Thompson. “But when the convention center opened back up, we’re not in our fifth year back here at the convention center.”

Thompson says most of the firefighters are from Kentucky, but the school also sees men and women from Illinois and Indiana back the trek, as well as from Tennessee and West Virginia.

“All of our instructors come from nation-wide,” said Thompson. “We have some from Rhode Island, Louisiana, California, and Florida. We have instructors from all over the country.”

Antee says she’s hoping to learn more about being a safety officer and making sure her firefighters are going and returning safely.

“I love helping people,” she said. “We need more people out here to help others and show that we care.”

Antee adds that it’s important to continue to train.

“We don’t know everything,” she stated. “Each class that we go into, we do learn more. I’m very anxious about learning more and I wish other people would take consideration and doing the same thing with helping people.”

Thompson also says that one area that is getting more outside attention when it comes to firefighters is cancer awareness.

“It’s not new to us, but it’s newly recognized,” said Thompson. “Cancer awareness has been a big topic.

“Things are being made different now. It’s not all wood anymore its plastics. So, our firefighters are being exposed to more harmful chemicals and things that are in the fire, so we’ve got to learn ways to better take care of ourselves.”

When it all comes down to it, Antee says she sees all her fellow firefighters as a family.

“I look at them like we’re all family,” said Antee. “We should all stick together. You learn from them as well because there’s a lot of them that are more experienced than some.”

Thompson notes, the Green River Firefighters Association are already working towards next year’s convention.

“People love coming to Owensboro,” said Thompson. “When we came back five years ago it was tremendous that the city and county built [the convention center].

“When you have thirty-something classes offered and you’re trying to tie down instructors and nailing them down and get them here, you’ve got to start planning events so we have discussed things that we can do better than we did this year and what we’re going to keep for next year and what we’re going to add.”

The Evansville Water And Sewer Utility Board Needs $110 Million In Bond Funds

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On February 5th, the Utility Board approved a Bond Resolution that came before the City Council for the first reading on February 11.  The 2nd reading is scheduled for February 25th  and Utility representatives will be prepared to address the Council during the second reading.

I will cover the essential points during my presentation on Feb 25th.    The bond ordinance is a complex ordinance and legal document necessary for the Utility to move forward with bond issues.  We will have our bond financial advisors present to address any technical, financial or legal questions concerning the bond ordinance.

My Elevator Speech Version Is:

The Utility needs $110 million in bond funds for required Consent Decree projects that need to completed or begun in 2019-2020.  When the Council approved the 2018 Bond Ordinance last November, the utility was able to restructure some of the past bond and new debt to take advantage of issuing State Revolving Fund (SRF) bonds over a long period.  (35 years vs 20 years)  Plus, amend the past bond ordinances to incorporate language required by the State Revolving Fund to enable the Utility to seek special funding from SRF.

The Good News Is:

The utility will be able to fund the bond payments for the $110 Million bonds (the mixture of General Revenue Bonds and SRF Bonds) with without the need for a sewer rate increase.

As A Side Note – We are still in negotiations with the EPA, IDEM and DOJ to change the scope and timing future Consent Decree Projects to reduce the future burden on ratepayers but have not yet reached a final resolution.  While we have made progress in our negotiations, we still have several changes we are requesting the EPA to approve.  Whenever we do reach an agreement, that agreement will have to be approved by EWSU, EPA, IDEM, DOJ and the Federal Court … which will not be a quick turnaround.  As a reminder, the Consent Decree covers projects over a 24 ½ year period ending in 2040.

As a matter background and maybe a bit redundant … below is a summary of what the 2018 Sewer Bond Ordinances accomplished:

What The Ordinances Accomplish:

All three ordinances basically accomplish the same thing through amendments to prior bond ordinances:

Allows the utility to restructure past Sewage Word Revenue Bonds (2009, 2010A, 2012E, 2016C, 2017A, 2018A) through the State Revolving Fund (Indiana Finance Authority) by allowing the bonds to mature over a period not later than 35 years.  The prior bonds issued could not mature over more than 20 years.

We have several projects with a project life of more than 35 years that we can refinance through SRF at a lower interest rate than the interest rate in effect for outstanding bonds.

Ordinance No G-2018-30 also allows us to finance the remaining bonding capacity of $107,355,000 (2016 ordinance) with bonds maturing over a period no longer than 35 years … as opposed to the existing 20-year limitation.

The ordinances make some legal technical corrections that the State Revolving Fund requires for their bond documentation.  Sorry, I don’t know the specifics, but I do know those changes have been approved by SRF and our bond counsel (Barnes and Thornburgh)

Why?

The ordinances allow the utility to restructure existing bonds and future bonds that will allow EWSU to lower the Utility’s Annual Debt Payments (ie. 35 years vs a 20 year bond), thus allowing the Utility has the capacity to borrow additional funds to pay for mandated EPA projects (Integrate Overflow Control Program (IOCP) projects and Non-IOCP Projects without asking the council to approve additional sewer rate increases to fund the debt service for the additional debt.

The change also allows us to optimize the amount of low-interest rate bonds we can obtain from the State Revolving Fund (Indiana Finance Authority) rather than a General Revenue Bond.

In other words, we lower the utility’s cost of capital.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Thanks

Allen Mounts

CEO Of The Evansville Water And Sewer Department

Improving Efficiency In Our County Court By Wendy McNamara

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Vanderburgh County Circuit Court is the foundation of our local court system. This court hears small claims, minor offenses, and civil and criminal cases. I proposed legislation that would allow additional magistrates to assist the judges and reduce the workload in this system.
Currently, there are seven judges and four magistrates who oversee numerous cases. The judges and magistrates are responsible for hearing all pre-trial cases, nearly 7,000 every year. In order to thoroughly respond to the rising number of cases filed, they need more help.
My legislation would allow for an additional circuit court magistrate and superior court magistrate. This would minimalize the caseload for judges and move cases through the system faster and more efficiently.
I proposed this legislation after the Interim Study Committee on Courts and the Judiciary supported Vanderburgh County’s request for additional magistrates. The study committee determined this change is necessary to accomplish the amount of work that needs to be done in the county court.
This bill is now moving on to the Senate for consideration. To learn more, click here.

RESULTS OF USI TRACK AND FIELD

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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Led by second-team All-GLVC honoree sophomore Grady Wilkinson (Mt Carmel, Illinois), the University of Southern Indiana men’s track and field team finished eighth at the GLVC Championships over the weekend.

SPRINTS

Freshman Gavin Jacobs (Plainfield, Indiana) and sophomore Trey Slaughter (Newburgh, Indiana) were the only two Screaming Eagles to compete in the sprinting events. Jacobs finished 17th in the 200m dash with a time of 23.45 seconds. Slaughter finished the 60m hurdles with a season-best 8.81 run for 11th-place.

MID-DISTANCE

USI was able to place three in the 800m towards the overall score after junior Darius Payne(Louisville, Kentucky) finished fourth with a time of 1:56.53. Sophomore Arie Macias (Godfrey, Illinois) was just behind in seventh 1:59.09 and freshman Tyler Garrett (Martinsville, Indiana) was eighth in 1:59.23.

Freshman Jacob Wisniewski (Bloomington, Indiana) gained more points for USI in the mile after a sixth-place performance, crossing the line in 4:26.85.

DISTANCE

Wilkinson led both distance races for the Eagles, scoring in both events as well. First, in the 3000m, Wilkinson crossed the line in sixth with a time of 8:54.98. The day before in the 5000m, Wilkinson was able to garner a second-place finish for the only All-GLVC second-team honor over the two-day event, stopping the clock in 15:19.04.

RELAYS

The 4x400m relay team of Garrett, Macias, Payne, and junior DeMontrae Lapsley (Indianapolis, Indiana) was able to notch in one point for the Eagles with an eighth-place finish in 3:31.51.

FIELD EVENTS

Sophomore Tyrell Nickelson (English, Indiana) leaped to a height of 6’0.5″ in the high jump with sophomore Quinton Gogel (Huntingburg, Indiana) tossing a distance of 40’6.25″ in the shot put. Lastly, Gogel threw a mark in the weight throw of 35’10”.

TEAM SCORES

USI finished tied for eighth with 23 points out of 11 teams scored. Host Indianapolis won the conference championship with 163 points. McKendree, Missouri S&T, Lewis, and Bellarmine finished second through fifth, respectively.

NEXT CHALLENGE

The Eagles will open the outdoor season on March 22-23 in Nashville, Tennessee on the campus of Vanderbilt for the Black & Gold Invitational.

160 Beds Built for Henderson School System Families

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FEBRUARY 23RD, 2019 AMANDA PORTER INDIANA

Volunteers were hard at work Saturday in Henderson for the build-a-bed project. Fifty beds were built and painted ready to be delivered to children in the Henderson school system.

A local teacher brought the project to the area after seeing it in another part of the state. This is the fourth year for the project with 160 beds built during that time. One volunteer says that kids falling asleep every night is an issue that affects the local community.

“what we have is these children that will be getting these beds will not have to sleep on the floor. They won’t have to sleep on an air mattress. They won’t have to sleep with mom or dad. They won’t have to sleep with brothers and sisters because they’ll have their very own bed to sleep in,” says volunteer director Susan Sauls.

Sauls’ four agencies work together to determine the families that are in the most need of a bed.

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FOREIGNER “The Hits On Tour” AT OLD NATIONAL EVENTS PLAZA

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Founded in 1976, Foreigner’s debut album produced the hits “Feels Like The First Time,” “Cold As Ice” and “Long, Long Way From Home.”

The album Double Vision followed, as did a string of hits like “Urgent,” “Juke Box Hero” and “Waiting For A Girl Like You.” Those songs helped give Foreigner’s next album, 4.

its impressive run at #1 on the Billboard chart. At the zenith of 80’s sound, Foreigner’s fifth album, Agent Provocateur, gave the world the incredible #1 global hit,” I Want To Know What Love Is.” This musical milestone followed the record-breaking song “Waiting For A Girl Like You.” On September 13th, 2017 Foreigner’s catalog sales were celebrated in Business Insider magazine as hitting the Top 40 among the Best Selling Music Artists of All Time.

The Beatles were justifiable #1, but Foreigner came in ahead of Britney Spears, Bob Dylan, Phil Collins, Prince, Queen, Bon Jovi, and Def Leppard.

 

 

‘Last Major Hurdles’ Cleared In ISBA Health Plan

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Marilyn Odendahl for www.theindianalawyer.com

In a unanimous decision, the Indiana State Bar Association board of directors has approved the key pieces needed to establish the association’s new health insurance plan for members.

The board, meeting Feb. 18, approved the creation of the voluntary employees’ beneficiary association trust, which will be used to collect premiums from members participating in the health coverage and pay the medical claims. Also, the board approved the membership requirement, mandating that at least 20 percent of a firm’s Indiana-licensed attorneys be ISBA members in order to participate in the health insurance plan.

“These were the last major hurdles we needed to clear in order to build a health care plan that will serve all Indiana attorneys,” said Joe Skeel, ISBA executive director. “We have only a few minor details left, and we are excited we soon will be able to enroll members.”

The ISBA has been aware of the trouble members, especially solo and small firm practitioners, have had in finding affordable health insurance. Now partnering with health care tech startup Apostrophe, Inc., which will serve as the third-party administrator, the ISBA is building its own health plan that, unlike coverage from the major health insurance carriers, will cover solo practitioners.

Enrollment in the plan will begin soon, with coverage starting June 1.

REPUBLICANS REJECT HATFIELD AMENDMENT TO FUND PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE ON U.S. HIGHWAY 41

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INDIANAPOLIS – Republicans rejected a proposal authored by Representative Ryan Hatfield (D-Evansville) that would have funded a pedestrian bridge over U.S. Highway 41 in Evansville near Benjamin Bosse High School.

Hatfield authored the amendment to House Bill 1001, the biennial state budget. It would have allocated $1 million of state funding to the construction of a pedestrian bridge over U.S. Highway 41 in Evansville at Washington Avenue.

“Children in Evansville have to cross Highway 41 to get to school every day,” Hatfield said. “Students should not have to risk their safety in order to attend school. We have a pedestrian bridge for nearly every other high school in town and it is time we protect Bosse students too.

“If we can’t ensure a child feels safe on their daily walk to school, we are not doing enough to protect our students,” Hatfield added.

 

EPA Seeks Nominations for Members of Great Lakes Advisory Board

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking nominations of qualified candidates who desire to serve as members of EPA’s Great Lakes Advisory Board (GLAB).

The GLAB was re-established in December 2018 following Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler’s approval of the Board’s charter. It will provide advice and recommendations to the EPA Administrator through the Great Lakes National Program Manager on matters related to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and the implementation of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement between the United States and Canada.

The GLAB will be composed of approximately fifteen members who will serve as representative members of non-federal interests. EPA will consider candidates representing a broad range of interests, including business groups, environmental organizations, academia and state, local and tribal governments. In selecting members, EPA will consider the differing perspectives needed to address the GLAB’s charter.

Other criteria used to evaluate nominees will include:

  • Experience with Great Lakes issues;
  • Leadership and consensus-building experience in Great Lakes organizations, businesses and workgroups;
  • Membership in professional societies involved with Great Lakes issues;
  • Academic leadership and expertise;
  • Community leadership; and
  • Representation of multiple constituencies within the Great Lakes basin.

The GLAB will meet in person or by electronic means twice a year. In-person meetings will be held in the Great Lakes region.

Any interested person or organization may nominate qualified persons to be considered for appointment to the GLAB. Individuals may self-nominate. Nominations may be submitted electronically with the subject line “GLAB Nomination 2019” to Barnes.Edlynzia@epa.gov, or by regular mail to Edlynzia Barnes, Designated Federal Officer, G

VANDERBURGH COUNTY SHERIFF OFFICE ARREST WARRANTS

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